During all this time Drusilla had not heard from Alexander or even expected to hear from him. She did not grieve after him. In the “sweet old home,” in the love of her dear friends and in the caresses of her darling boy, she was almost as happy as it is given a mortal to be. But though she did not mourn over his absence, neither did she lose her interest in his welfare. She took the principal London and Paris papers upon the bare possibility of gaining intelligence of his movements. Once she found his name in the list of visitors presented to the Queen at one of her Majesty’s drawing-rooms published in the “Court Journal.” On another occasion she saw him announced as one of the speakers at a public meeting at Exeter Hall, noticed in the “Morning Chronicle.” Again he was named as the owner of the winning horse at certain world-renowned races, reported in “Bell’s Life.” That was all she knew about him. Every week Drusilla received mis-spelled letters from her steward or housekeeper at Cedarwood. “Mammy,” chiefly discoursed of cows and calves, hens and chickens, and ducks and geese. Mammy’s “old man” treated of the condition of the “craps,” the health of the “hosses,” oxen, sheep, pigs, and so forth. And Drusilla having been a pupil of that famous agriculturist, the late Mrs. Judge Lyon, was well able to give instructions to her farm-managers. Thus, busily and happily passed the days of the little lady, until events occurred again to change the current of her life. CHAPTER XII. THE MAIL-BAG. Newspaper! who has never felt the pleasure that it brings? It always tells us of so many strange and wondrous things. It makes us weep at tales of woe, it fills our hearts with mirth, It tells us of the price of stock, and what produce is worth; And when and where, and why, and how strange things occur on earth. Has war’s loud clarion called to arms? Has lightning struck a tree? Has Jenkins broke his leg? Or has there been a storm at sea? Has the sea-serpent shown his head? A comet’s tail been seen? Or has some heiress with her groom gone off to Gretna Green? All this and many marvels more you from this sheet may glean. —J. T. WATSON. The autumn passed away as pleasantly as the summer. The time drew near when the family from Old Lyon Hall were to go to Washington for the season. Drusilla wrote to her housekeeper and steward at Cedarwood, giving them full instructions to prepare the cottage for the reception of herself and friends, and she enclosed an order on her banker for the necessary funds. In due time she received a communication from mammy informing her that all things were now ready for the party.