all writers, transport the reader to Jackson, the Capital of the great
State of Mississippi, and there introduce him or her to other
characters who will bear a prominent part in this book.

In the parlor of an elegant resident on Main street, a beautiful girl
was sitting with an open book in her hand. She was not, however,
reading, as her bright blue eyes rested not on the pages, but were
gazing at the half-opened door, as if expecting the arrival of some
one. While she is thus musing, we will endeavour to give a description
of the fair maiden. Fancy a slight and elegant figure, richly dressed
in a robe of _moire antique_, from under the folds of which the
daintiest little feet imaginable could be seen. Her features, though
not regularly carved, made her, at the name time, very beautiful,
while her bright blue eyes and rich golden hair, braided smooth to her
forehead, and ornamented with a jewelled tiara, then much worn, lent
additional charm to her appearance. Her hands were small, and as
Byron, we think, has it, was an undoubted mark of gentle birth.

She remained in this reverie for some time, but was at last aroused by
the entrance, unannounced, of a handsome young man dressed in the
uniform of a lieutenant, when she started up, and meeting him, said in
a half-vexed, half-playful tone:

"Oh, Harry! why did you not come earlier? I have been waiting for your
arrival over an hour!"

"Excuse me, dearest," he answered. "I was just on the point of
starting from my office when I received a mass of orders from
regimental headquarters, which detained me until a few minutes ago.
You must, therefore," he continued, "excuse me for this once, and I