Lieut.-Col. H. C. Hasbrouck, commandant of Cadets at West Point, has kindly read the proof of chapters relating to the battle of Gettysburgh. My story is also related to the New York Draft Riots of 1863, an historical record not dwelt upon before in fiction to my knowledge. It is almost impossible to impart an adequate impression of that reign of terror. I have not hoped to do this, or to give anything like a detailed and complete account of events. The scenes and incidents described, however, had their counterpart in fact. Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby of New York saw a young man face and disperse a mob of hundreds, by stepping out upon the porch of his home and shooting the leader. This event took place late at night. I have consulted "Sketches of the Draft Riots in 1863," by Hon. J. T. Headley, the files of the Press of that time, and other records. The Hon. Thomas C. Acton. Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police during the riot, accorded me a hearing, and very kindly followed the thread of my story through the stormy period in question. E. P. R CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON, N.Y., AUG. 7, 1885. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. A RUDE AWAKENING CHAPTER II. A NEW ACQUAINTANCE CHAPTER III. A NEW FRIEND CHAPTER IV. WOMAN'S CHIEF RIGHT CHAPTER V. "BE HOPEFUL, THAT I MAY HOPE" CHAPTER VI. A SCHEME OF LIFE CHAPTER VII. SURPRISES CHAPTER VIII. CHARMED BY A CRITIC CHAPTER IX. A GIRL'S LIGHT HAND CHAPTER X. WILLARD MERWYN CHAPTER XI. AN OATH AND A GLANCE CHAPTER XII. "A VOW" CHAPTER XIII. A SIEGE BEGUN CHAPTER XIV. OMINOUS CHAPTER XV. SCORN CHAPTER XVI. AWAKENED AT LAST CHAPTER XVII. COMING TO THE POINT CHAPTER XVIII. A GIRL'S STANDARD CHAPTER XIX. PROBATION PROMISED CHAPTER XX. "YOU THINK ME A COWARD" CHAPTER XXI. FEARS AND PERPLEXITIES CHAPTER XXII. A GIRL'S THOUGHTS AND IMPULSES CHAPTER XXIII. "MY FRIENDSHIP IS MINE TO GIVE" CHAPTER XXIV. A FATHER'S FORETHOUGHT CHAPTER XXV. A CHAINED WILL CHAPTER XXVI. MARIAN'S INTERPRETATION OF MERWYN CHAPTER XXVII. "DE HEAD LINKUM MAN WAS CAP'N LANE" CHAPTER XXVIII. THE SIGNAL LIGHT CHAPTER XXIX. MARIAN CONTRASTS LANE AND MERWYN CHAPTER XXX THE NORTH INVADED CHAPTER XXXI. "I'VE LOST MY CHANCE" CHAPTER XXXII. BLAUVELT CHAPTER XXXIII. A GLIMPSE OF WAR CHAPTER XXXIV. A GLIMPSE OF WAR, CONTINUED CHAPTER XXXV. THE GRAND ASSAULT CHAPTER XXXVI. BLAUVELT'S SEARCH FOR STRAHAN CHAPTER XXXVII. STRAHAN'S ESCAPE CHAPTER XXXVIII. A LITTLE REBEL CHAPTER XXXIX. THE CURE OF CAPTAIN LANE CHAPTER XL. LOVE'S TRIUMPH CHAPTER XLI. SUNDAY'S LULL AND MONDAY'S STORM CHAPTER XLII. THAT WORST OF MONSTERS, A MOB CHAPTER XLIII. THE "COWARD" CHAPTER XLIV. A WIFE'S EMBRACE CHAPTER XLV. THE DECISIVE BATTLE CHAPTER XLVI. "I HAVE SEEN THAT YOU DETEST ME" CHAPTER XLVII. A FAIR FRIEND AND FOUL FOES CHAPTER XLVIII. DESPERATE FIGHTING CHAPTER XLIX. ONE FACING HUNDREDS CHAPTER L. ZEB CHAPTER LI. A TRAGEDY CHAPTER LII. "MOTHER AND SON" CHAPTER LIII. "MISSY S'WANEE" AN ORIGINAL BELLE. CHAPTER I.