LXIII.--How Verty and Miss Lavinia ran a-tilt at each other, and
who was overthrown
LXIV.--The Rose of Glengary
LXV.--Providence
LXVI.--The Hour and the Necklace
LXVII.--How St. Patrick encountered St. Michael, and what
ensued
LXVIII.--The End of the Chain
LXIX.--Conclusion




PREFACE


Perhaps this story scarcely needs a Preface, but the child of the
writer's invention comes to possess a place in his affections, and he
is reluctant to send it forth into the wide world, without something
in the nature of a letter of introduction, asking for it a kindly and
charitable reception. It would be unjust to apply to this volume the
tests which are brought to bear upon an elaborate romance. In his
narrative of the adventures of Verty and Redbud, the writer has not
endeavored to mount into the regions of tragedy, or chronicle the
details of bloodshed on the part of heroes--but rather, to find in a
picturesque land and period such traits of life and manners as are
calculated to afford innocent entertainment. Written under the
beautiful autumn skies of our beloved Virginia, the author would
ask for the work only a mind in unison with the mood of the
narrative--asking the reader to laugh, if he can, and, above all, to