"An unfortunate fact, which you may depend has been caused by no other reason than the neglect of the Yankee officers to forward your letters," said Harry, then continuing: "Come, cheer up, and throw aside your dullness. Another battle like that of Shiloh, will give the South as many Yankee prisoners as they have of us, and then ho! for home and the "Sunny South!" As soon as we return, I will take you to Jackson, and then you can write your wife to come out, and she can live with my mother, if you are not too proud to accept my hospitality." "Thank you," he replied, "but I must first wait until we are exchanged, and God knows when that will be." "Why, man, I tell you there is no doubt of our whipping the Yanks and capturing a lot of them in the next battle; then adieu to Camp Douglas, and hurrah for the Confederacy once more!" replied Harry, taking his companion by the arm, and dragging him to their tent where dinner had been placed in readiness for them. CHAPTER NINTH. ROOM TO RENT. We must now return to my heroine, who, with her two children, we left slowly travelling toward Jackson, Mississippi. On arriving at Ponchatula, she took the cars on the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad, and in a few hours was in Jackson. On arriving there she proceeded to the Bowman House, and purchasing a newspaper eagerly scanned the columns to find an advertisement of rooms to rent, knowing full well that, with her limited means, she would never be able to remain at the hotel, or live at a boarding house. After looking for some time, without finding the desired advertisement, her eye at last lit upon the following notice under the heading of "To rent:" "TO RENT, "Unfurnished rooms in the one-story tenement buildings on ---- street. For particulars, apply to the undersigned at his office on Main street, near the State House. JAMIE ELDER." After reading it she folded the paper, and remained musing for several minutes, when rising up she went to her children, and, kissing them, told them she was going out for a few minutes, and to play like good children until her return. She then left the hotel, and, after some little trouble, at last found out the office of Mr. Elder, which she entered. "Is Mr. Elder in?" she inquired of a clerk. "Yes, madam," he replied. "Can I see him?" she asked. He gave her no answer, but going to an adjoining door, half opened it, and announced, in a loud voice, that a lady desired to see Mr. Elder. "Admit her," was the reply of that gentleman. Mrs. Wentworth passed the desk, and, entering the room from whence the voice proceeded, found herself in the presence of Mr. Elder, who was seated in an arm chair reading a newspaper. "Be seated, madam," he said, rising and handing her a chair. "What can I have the honor of doing for you this morning?" "This is your advertisement, I believe," she replied, handing him the newspaper.