Day was already dawning and they did not sleep again. Mr. Travilla had gone on his regular morning round over the plantation, and Elsie stole softly into the room of her little daughters. Though past their usual hour for rising they still slept and she meant to let them do so as long as they would. They made a lovely picture lying there clasped in each other's arms. Her heart swelled with tender emotions, love, joy and gratitude to Him who had given these treasures and preserved them thus far from all danger and evil. She bent over them pressing a gentle kiss upon each round rosy cheek. Little Elsie's brown eyes opened wide, and putting her arm about her mother's neck, "Mamma," she whispered, with a sweet, glad smile, "was not God very good to give us back our Vi?" "Yes, dearest, oh, so much better than we deserve!" Violet started up to a sitting posture. "Mamma, oh mamma, I did have a dreadful, dreadful dream!--that I was 'way off from you and papa, out in the night in the woods, and I saw--" She ended with a burst of frightened sobs and tears, hiding her face on the bosom of her mother who already held her closely clasped to her beating heart. "Don't think of it, darling, you are safe now in your own dear home with papa and mamma and sister and brothers." Tender soothing caresses accompanied the loving words. "Mamma, did I dream it?" asked the child lifting her tearful face, and shuddering as she spoke. The mother was too truthful to say yes, though she would have been glad her child should think it but a dream. "Perhaps some of it was, daughter," she said, "though my pet did walk out in her sleep; but papa is going to manage things so that she can never do it again. And God will take care of us, my darling." The sobs grew fainter and softly sighing, "Yes mamma," she said, "I asked him to send papa to bring me home, and he did." "And papa came in here this morning and kissed both his girls before he went down stairs. Did you know that?" "Did he? Oh I wish I'd waked to give him a good hug!" "I too;" said Elsie, "Papa loves us very much, doesn't he, mamma?" "Dearly, dearly, my child; you and all his little ones." Vi's tears were dried and when her father came in she met him with a cheerful face, quite ready for the customary romp, but days passed ere she was again her own bright, merry self, or seemed content unless clinging close to one or the other of her parents. While the family were at the breakfast table, Uncle Joe came in with the mail, his face full of excitement and terror. "Dem Ku Kluxes dey's gettin' awful dangerous, Massa," he said, laying down the bag with a trembling hand, "dey's gone an' shot the stage drivah an' killed 'um dead on the spot. Las' night, sah, jes ober yondah in de road todder side o' Mars Leland's place, and--" Mr. Travilla stopped him in the midst of his story, with a warning gesture and an anxious glance from one to another of the wondering, half frightened little faces about the table.