“Archie or I, or perhaps both of us,” Mrs. Leland answered, leading the way to the parlor.

They sat there a few moments, conversing still upon the same theme.

“You will hardly dare stay here at night now?” Elsie remarked.

“Yes; where else?  I should feel very little safer from the Ku Klux in the woods, and the malaria might rob us all of health and even life.”

“Come to Ion,” said both her visitors in a breath, “you will be most welcome.”

“A thousand thanks,” she answered with emotion.  “I do not doubt my welcome; yet fear to give a clue to my husband’s hiding place.”

“There might be danger of that,” Mr. Travilla said thoughtfully, “but what better, my dear madam, can you do?”

“Stay here and put my trust in the Lord.  He will take care of me and my helpless little ones.

“I have been thinking of one of our noble pioneer women of the West, whose husband was killed by the Indians, leaving her alone in the wilderness with six small children, no white person within several miles.

“Her friends urged her to leave the dangerous spot, but she said, ’No, this farm is all I have for my own and my children’s support, and I must stay here.  God will protect and help us.’  And he did; the Indians, though they knew she was alone, never attacked her.  She lay sometimes all night with a broadax in her hands, ready to defend her babes; but though she could see the savages come into her yard and light their pipes at her brushwood fire, they never approached the house?”

Elsie’s eyes kindled with enthusiastic admiration, then filled with tears.  “Dear, brave Christian woman! and you will emulate her courage and faith.”

“I shall try; the hearts of the Ku Klux of to-day are no less in His hands than those of the Indians of that day or this.”

“That is certainly true and he never fails those who put their trust in him,” Mr. Travilla said, rising.  “Now, wife, I will leave you here while I go for Barton.”

“Oh stay a moment, Edward,” she exclaimed, “a thought has struck me:  it is not usual for you to go for the doctor yourself:  might it not excite suspicion?  And can you not trust Uncle Joe as your messenger?”

“Your plan is best,” he said with a pleased smile.  “Let us then hasten home and dispatch him on the errand at once.”

Dr. Barton found the wound not dangerous, extracted the ball with little difficulty, and left the patient doing well.

The attack on Fairview and the disappearance of its owner, caused considerable excitement in the neighborhood; there was a good deal of speculation as to what had become of him:  some thought it probable that he had hidden in the woods and died there of his wounds; others that he had gone North to stay until the reign of terror should be over.

No one, perhaps, suspected the truth, yet the wrath of the Ku Klux was excited against the Travillas, and the Dinsmores of the Oaks, by the kindness they showed to Leland’s wife and children; and threatening notices were sent ordering them to desist from giving aid and comfort to “the carpet-bagger’s family.”