e alone with her husband, deploring, as she
went, the little interest which the young people of the present day took
in the politics and prosperity of their country.

While thus silently absorbed in her own thoughts, the attention of
Virginia Temple was arrested by the door of her room being opened, and
on looking up, she saw before her the tall figure of a strange, wild
looking woman, whom she had never seen before. This woman, despite the
warmth of the weather, was wrapped in a coarse red shawl, which gave a
striking and picturesque effect to her singular appearance. Her features
were prominent and regular, and the face might have been considered
handsome if it were not for the exceeding coarseness of her swarthy
skin. Her jet-black hair, not even confined by a comb, was secured by a
black riband behind, and passing over the right shoulder, fell in a
heavy mass over her bosom. Her figure was tall and straight as an
Indian's, and her bare brawny arms, which escaped from under her shawl,
gave indications of great physical strength; while there was that in the
expression of her fierce black eye, and her finely formed mouth, which
showed that there was no mere woman's heart in that masculine form.

The wild appearance and attire of the woman inspired Virginia with
terror at first, but she suppressed the scream which rose to her lips,
and in an agitated voice, she asked,

"What would you have with me, madam?"

"What are you frightened at, girl," said the woman in a shrill, coarse
voice, "don't you see that I am a woman?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Virginia, trembling, "I am not frightened, ma'am."

"You are frightened--I see you are," returned her strange guest.--"But
if you fear, you are not worthy to be the wife of a brave man--come,
deny nothing--I can read you like a book--and easier, for it is but
little that I know from books, except my Bible."

"Are you a gipsey, ma'am?" said Virginia, softly, for she had heard her
father speak of that singular race of vagrants, and the person and
language of the stranger corresponded with the idea which she had formed
of them.

"A gipsey! no, I am a Virginian--and a brave man's wife, as you would
be--but that prejudice and fear keep you still in Egyptian bondage. The
time has come for woman to act her part in the world--and for you,
Virginia Temple, to act yours."

"But what would you have me to do?" asked Virginia, surprised at the
knowledge which the stranger seemed to possess