_May Blossom_ is the daughter of an old fisherman, resident in a village on the coast of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, in and some time after the period of the American Civil War. She is beloved by two young men, _Richard Ashcroft_ and _Steve Harland_, both estimable and both by her esteemed. Each of those lovers, on the same day, asks her to become his wife. She accepts the proposal of _Ashcroft_, whom she loves, and in rejecting that of _Harland_ apprises him of her betrothal to his rival, who is also one of his friends. _Harland_, though bitterly wounded, accepts her decision in a right and manly spirit. Later, _Ashcroft_, who is sympathetic with the Confederate cause and who has been secretly in communication with the Confederate Army, is suddenly and privately arrested, at night, by Federal military authorities, as a Rebel spy. The arrest is witnessed by _Harland_, whom _Ashcroft_ beseeches to inform _May Blossom_ of his capture and who solemnly promises to do so. _Harland_, however, believing, or persuading himself to believe, that _Ashcroft_ will inevitably be shot as a spy, and being infatuated by passion, breaks his promise and permits the girl to believe that her affianced lover has perished in a storm on Chesapeake Bay. After the lapse of a year _Harland_, still persistent as a lover, persuades _May Blossom_ to marry him, and for a time they dwell happily together and a child is born to them. On the second anniversary of their wedding, just before the occurrence of a domestic festival which their friends have arranged in their honor, _Ashcroft_, having escaped from prison, arrives at their home, and, in an interview with _May_, tells her of his arrest and imprisonment, and of _Harland’s_ promise, and so reveals her husband’s treachery. _Harland_ is confronted by them and a scene of painful crimination ensues. _Ashcroft_, maddened by jealousy, declares his purpose of forcible abduction of _May_, who, thereupon, speaking as a wife and mother, repels him. _Ashcroft_ departs. _Harland_ can plead no defence for his perfidy in breaking his promise to _Ashcroft_ except the overwhelming strength of his great love, and his wife is agonized and horrified. The domestic festival, nevertheless, is permitted to proceed. The guests arrive. The miserable husband and wife, masking their wretchedness in smiles, are constrained to participate in merrymaking, and finally are caused by the village pastor to kneel before him, receive his blessing, and embrace and kiss each other, after which ceremonial their guests depart and they are left alone. Then _Harland_, condemning himself and feeling that his wife can no longer love him, leaves her, purposing to join the Rebel Army. Their separation lasts six years. _Ashcroft_ is heard of no more. _Harland_ survives and ultimately returns to his Virginia home, where a reconciliation is effected between him and his wife, partly by the benevolent offices of