“Thank you,” she answered, looking at Elsy.  “This is really a nice looking girl.  Who did you buy her from?”

“She says she is from New Orleans.  Her master is a prisoner in the hands of the Yankees, and her mistress being turned out of her home by Butler, is now somewhere in the Confederacy, but where, the girl cannot tell.  When her mistress left New Orleans, the Yankees would not permit the slave to leave with her, but she succeeded in escaping from their lines, and came to Jackson, where she was arrested, and as no owner claimed her, she was sold to me at auction this morning according to law.”

“Then we will not be doing justice to the owner of the girl, if we keep her constantly.  Perhaps her mistress is some poor soldier’s wife who would be glad to get the money you have expended, or may require her services.”

“I have thought of that before I purchased her, but as she seems honest, I did not make the thought prevent me from getting her.  I have also made up my mind to give her up should her owner at any time claim her, and he is a poor man.”

“I am glad you have so decided,” Emily replied, “for I should not have liked the idea of depriving any Confederate soldier of his slave, particularly if he is a poor man.  And now,” she continued, speaking to Elsy, “do you go in the next room and wait there until I come in.”

Making a curtesy, Elsy left the parlor, and entered the room pointed out by Emily.

“I have some news for you, Emily,” remarked the Doctor as soon as the negro had left the room.

“What is it about,” she enquired.

“Something that will interest you considerably,” he answered.

“If it will interest me, let me know what it is,” she remarked.

“I have received a telegraphic dispatch from Harry,” Dr. Humphries replied.

“Why, how could he have arrived in our lines?” she enquired, as a smile of joy illumined her features.

“Here is what the dispatch says:”  “I arrived here this morning, having escaped from prison.  Will be in Jackson on to-morrow’s train.  Show this to Emily.”

“I am so glad,” exclaimed Emily joyfully, as soon as her father had concluded reading the dispatch, “for,” she continued, “I was beginning to be afraid that our unfortunate prisoners in the hands of the Yankees, would never be exchanged.”

“You need not have labored under any such fear,” Dr. Humphries observed.  “The papers of this morning announce that a cartel has been arranged, and the prisoners held on both sides will be shortly exchanged.”

“Nevertheless, I am glad that Harry has made his escape, for it will bring him to us sooner than we anticipated.  Besides which, it is gratifying to know that he had no occasion to wait for an exchange.”

“That is very true” replied her father, “and as he has safely escaped, you can rejoice, but the dangers which must have, necessarily presented themselves in the attempt, were of such a nature, that you would not have desired him to make the effort had you known them.”