lady, covered hers under a mask of playful raillery. "Are you not ashamed," she said, "to let me catch you tyrannizing over my native city?" "Don't mention it. Havn't the heart to go on much longer. I'll resign the mayoralty to-day if you will accept it." "Offer it to my father, and see if I don't accept for him." This was a more audacious thrust than the young lady was aware of. The idea of a civilian mayor was one that High Authority considered feasible, provided a citizen could be found who was loyal enough to deserve the post, and influential enough to pay for it by building up that so much-desired Union party. "A good suggestion," said the Colonel. "I shall respectfully refer it to the distinguished consideration of the commanding general." He entertained no such intention, the extras of his mayoralty being exceedingly important to him in view of the extent and costly nature of his present domestic establishment. "Oh, don't!" answered Miss Ravenel. "Why not? if you please." "Because that would be bribing me to turn Yankee outright." This brief passage in a long conversation suggested to Carter that it might be well for himself to procure some position or profitable employment for the out-of-work Doctor. If a man seems likely to appropriate your peaches, one of the best things that you can do is to offer him somebody else's apples. Moreover he actually felt a sincere and even strong interest in the worldly welfare of the Ravenels. By a little dexterous questioning he found that, not only was the Doctor's college bare of students, but that his railroad stock paid nothing, and that, in short, he had lost all his property except his house and some small bank deposits. Ravenel smilingly admitted that he had been justly punished for investing in anything which bore even a geographical relation to the crime of slavery. He received with bewildered though courteously calm astonishment a proposition that he should try his hand at a sugar speculation. "I beg pardon. I really don't understand," said he. "I am so unaccustomed to business transactions." "Why, you buy the sugar for six cents a pound and sell it for twenty." "Bless me, what a profit! Why don't business men take advantage of the opportunity?" "Because they havn't the opportunity. Because it requires a permit from the powers that be to get the sugar." "Oh! confiscated sugar. I comprehend. But I supposed that the Government--" "You don't comprehend at all, my dear Doctor. Not confiscated sugar, but sugar that we can't confiscate--sugar beyond our reach--beyond the lines. You must understand that the rebels want quinine, salt, shoes, gold and lots of things. We want sugar and cotton. A barter is effected, and each party is benefited. I should call it a stupid arrangement and contrary to the laws of war, only that it is permitted by--by very high authority. At all events, it is very profitable and perfectly safe."