at almost every hour, and always provided with some little
delicacy, suitable to my condition, of which I had long
since tutored myself to forget even the use. But what
principally afforded me pleasure, was to remark the
consolations which she tendered to my poor drooping Ellen,
who, already more than half subdued by the melancholy
change in our condition in life, frequently spent hours
together in silent grief at the side of my couch, and
watching every change in my countenance with all the
intense anxiety of one who feels the last stay on earth
is about to be severed for ever. Ah! how I then longed
to disclose to this kind and compassionating being the
true position of her on whom she lavished her attention,
and to make her known, not as the inferior honored by
her notice, but as the equal alike worthy of her friendship
and deserving of her esteem; but the wide, wide barrier
that divided the wife of the private soldier from the
daughter and sister of the commissioned officer sealed
my lips, and our true condition continued unrevealed.

"Gentlemen," resumed Halloway, after a short pause, "if
I dwell on these circumstances, it is with a view to show
how vile are the charges preferred against me. Is it
likely, with all the incentives to good conduct I have
named, I should have proved a traitor to my country? And,
even if so, what to gain, I would ask; and by what means
was a correspondence with the enemy to be maintained by
one in my humble station? As for the second charge, how
infamous, how injurious is it to my reputation, how
unworthy to be entertained! From the moment of my recovery