by—­two, three, four, and then the dusky twilight began to fall, bringing with it the heart-aching assurance that her boy would not come home.  The tears, which she had restrained all day, now flowed freely, and her over-excited feelings gave way to a gush of bitter grief.  The next day came and went, and the next, and the next—­but there was no word from Henry.  And thus the days followed each other, until the severe month of January passed away.  So anxious and excited did the poor mother now become, that she could remain passive no longer.  She must see or hear from her child.  Doctor R—­had obtained him his place, and to him she repaired.

“But haven’t you seen your little boy since he went to Lexington?” the doctor asked, in some surprise.

“Indeed, I have not; and Mr. Sharp promised to bring him home on New Year’s day,” replied the mother.

“Mr. Sharp!  Mr. Sharp!” ejaculated the doctor, thoughtfully.  “Is that the name of the man who has your son?”

“Yes, sir.  That is his name.”

Doctor R—­arose and took two or three turns across the floor at this, and, then resuming his seat, said—­

“You shall see your son to-morrow, Mrs. Gaston.  I will myself go to Lexington and bring him home.  I had no idea that the man had not kept his promise with you.  And, as I got Henry the place, I must see that his master is as good as his word in regard to him.”

With this assurance, Mrs. Gaston returned home, and with a lighter heart.

CHAPTER XI.

Perkins anxiously seeks Lizzy Glenn.

One Morning, a few days after the young man named Perkins had related to his friend the history of his attachment to Miss Ballantine and his subsequent bereavement, he opened a letter which came by mail, among several relating to business, postmarked New Orleans.  It was from an old friend, who had settled there.  Among other matters, was this paragraph:—­

“I heard something the other day that surprised me a good deal, and, as it relates to a subject in which no one can feel a deeper interest than yourself, I have thought it right to mention it.  It is said that, about a year and a half ago, a young woman and her father suddenly made their appearance here, and claimed to be Mr. and Miss Ballantine.  Their story, or rather the story of the daughter (for the father, it is, said, was out of his mind), was that the ship in which they sailed from New York had been burned at sea, and that a few of the passengers had been saved in a boat, which floated about until all died but herself and father; that they were taken up almost exhausted, by a Dutch East Indiaman, and that this vessel when near the Cape of Good Hope, encountered a gale, and was blown far off south, losing two of her masts; and that she was finally wrecked upon an uninhabited island, and the few saved from her compelled