portent
loomed in the heavens above the doomed city or even above the house of
Judge Owen, and that still an earthquake was muttering and rumbling
under it, destined to tumble it into the most fatal confusion.

At about half-past eight that evening, a ring at the door announced
visitors. Judge Owen had not yet returned, but all the other members of
the family, and one who expected to _become_ a member of the family--of
course, Colonel John Boadley Bancker,--were sitting at that moment in
the front parlor. For some reason or other, not necessary to be here
explained, Emily went herself to the door and admitted the visitors.
They proved to be Miss Josephine Harris, who had just alighted from a
carriage at the door, and a male companion in uniform. Some time elapsed
before the military gentleman, who was introduced to the young hostess
as "Captain Robert Slivers," managed to get over the door-step, so very
lame was he. But he managed to spare a hand for one moment from one of
his crutches, the instant after; for Emily, who was half frightened out
of her wits and half inclined to burst into uncontrollable laughter,
felt a "pinch" on her arm which nearly made her scream aloud.

The military gentleman hobbled along into the room after them, and was
introduced to the others there assembled. One of the burners of the
chandelier only had been lit, but it quite sufficed to reveal an
extraordinary figure. Captain Robert Slivers seemed to be about fifty to
fifty-five, to judge by his gray hair and moustache; but any idea of the
precise looks of his face was rendered impossible, by an immense green
patch which concealed not only the right eye, but all that side of the
nose and the temple, while the string running around his forehead took
away any expression from that important part of the human countenance,
and an oblong strip of black court-plaster extended diagonally from the
left eye nearly to the corner of the mouth, creating an impression of
very severe tattooing. A pair of green spectacles were mounted on the
bridge of the nose, and the left glass did duty over the corresponding
eye, while the other was unseen as relieved against the shade. So much
for the facial appearance and adornments of this hero, and his other
claims to notice were not less extraordinary. Sartorially, he wore an
undress military cap, with the "U.S." on the front, and a dingy blue
uniform with the shoulder-straps of a Captain of infantry. Physically he
s