necessary commands, the volunteers moved forward. A crowd of their
relatives followed them to the depot of the New Orleans, Jackson and
Great Northern Railroad, and remained until the cars were out of
sight. After the troops had entered, and the train was slowly moving
off, one of the soldiers jumped from the platform, and, embracing a
lady who stood near, exclaimed:

"Farewell, dearest Eva! God bless you and the children--we shall meet
again." As soon as he spoke, Alfred Wentworth sprang into the cars
again and was soon swiftly borne from the city.

Mrs. Wentworth remained standing where her husband had left her, until
the vast crowd had dispersed, and nothing could be seen of the train
but a thin wreath of smoke emerging from the tree-tops in the
distance. Calling the colored nurse, who had followed with the
children, she bade her return home, and accompanied her back to her
now lonely residence.




CHAPTER SECOND.

THE WIFE AND CHILDREN--A VISITOR


The weeks passed slowly to Mrs. Wentworth from the departure of her
husband; but her consciousness that he was performing his duty to his
country, and the letters he wrote from Virginia, cheered her spirits,
and, in a measure, made her forget his absence.