of this unfortunate portion of our people, and are perfectly careless whether want and misery overtake them or not.  We must not forget that these refugees are as much entitled to a home in this as in their own State.  Their husbands, fathers and brothers are fighting to protect us from subjugation, and if we are unmindful of the comfort of their relatives, it not only entails disgrace upon our name, but renders us deserving of a similar fate, and worse treatment.”

“I agree with you,” said the doctor, “and so far as I am concerned, everything that can be done for them shall be performed, and—­”

Here a knock at the door interrupted the conversation.  Harry opened it, and Drs. Mallard and Purtell were announced.

“Good morning to you, gentlemen,” said Dr. Humphries, as soon as they entered.  “I am very glad you have answered my call so promptly.  The case I desire you to see is one of great seriousness, but I withhold any opinion until you have seen the patient and expressed your ideas about it.”

“I Suppose it is the lady who was accused of theft,” said Dr. Mallard.

“Yes sir,” answered Harry, “it is the same person.”

“I observed her features very attentively during the trial,” remarked Dr. Mallard, “and so convinced was I that she would soon be insane, that I determined, in the event of her being found guilty, to have her released and placed under my care on that plea.  Is she raving?” he added inquiringly of Dr. Humphries.

“Yes,” replied that gentleman, “but in her ravings she makes no allusion whatever to her wretched life of the past few months.  She fancies herself at home in New Orleans again, and as all was then happiness with her, so does everything appear to her mind the reflex of her past days.”

“We had better see her now,” said Dr. Purtell, “for the sooner something is done towards restoring her reason the better.”

“Certainly,” answered Dr. Humphries, “walk this way,” he continued, leading them toward Mrs. Wentworth’s chamber.

At the door he was met by Emma, who had been watching by the bedside of the maniac all the morning.

“Walk easily,” she whispered as the three gentlemen appeared at the door.  “She is now calmer than ever, but the slightest noise will excite her again.”

The medical gentlemen entered the room with noiseless steps, and remained for several minutes watching the sleeping sufferer.  Her emaciated features were flushed from excitement and her breathing was hard and difficult.  In her sleep, she softly murmured words which told of happy years that were past and vanished forever and could never more return.  The broken sentences told of love and happiness, and a deep feeling of sympathy stole into the breasts of her hearers as they listened to her ravings.  Alfred was sitting by the bed looking on the wreck of his wife, and when the doctors entered, he arose and briefly saluted them.  To their words of condolence