'Tis hardly in a body's power,

To keep at times frae being sour,

To see how things are shared;

How best o' chiels are whiles in want,

While coofs on countless thousands rant,

And ken na how to wear 't.

Burns

Leaving Clara Day and Marah Rocke in a home of safety, plenty and

kindness, in the old doctor's house, we must run down to Hurricane Hall

to see what mischief Cap has been getting into since we left her! In

truth, none! Cap had had such a surfeit of adventures that she was fain

to lie by and rest upon her laurels. Besides, there seemed just now

nothing to do--no tyrants to take down, no robbers to capture, no

distressed damsels to deliver, and Cap was again in danger of "spoiling

for a fight." And then Herbert Greyson was at the Hall--Herbert Greyson

whom she vowed always did make a Miss Nancy of her! And so Cap had to

content herself for a week with quiet mornings of needlework at her

workstand, with Herbert to read to or talk with her; sober afternoon

rides, attended by Herbert and Old Hurricane; and hum-drum evenings at

the chess board, with the same Herbert, while Major Warfield dozed in a

great "sleepy hollow" of an armchair.

One afternoon when they were out riding through the woods beyond the

Demon's Run, a Sheriff's officer rode up, and bowing to the party,

presented a suspicious-looking document to Capitola and a similar one

to Herbert Greyson. And while Old Hurricane stared his eyes half out,

the parties most interested opened the papers, which they found to be

rather pressing invitations to be present at a certain solemnity at

Staunton. In a word, they were subpoenaed to give testimony in the

case of Williams vs. Le Noir.

"Here's a diabolical dilemma!" said Old Hurricane to himself, as soon

as he learned the purport of these documents.

"Here I shall have to bring Cap into court face to face with that demon

to bear witness against him! Suppose losing one ward, he should lay

claim to another! Ah, but he can't, without foully criminating himself!

Well, well, we shall see!"

While Old Hurricane was cogitating Cap was exulting.

"Oh, won't I tell all I know! Yes, and more, too!" she exclaimed, in

triumph.

"'More, too!' Oh, hoity-toity! Never say more, too!" said Herbert

laughing.

"I will, for I'll tell all I suspect!" said Cap, galloping on ahead, in

her eagerness to get home and pack up for her journey.

The next day Old Hurricane, Herbert Greyson, Capitola, Pitapat and Wool

went by stage to Staunton. They put up at the Planters' and Farmers'

Hotel, whence Herbert Greyson and Capitola soon sallied forth to see

Clara and Mrs. Rocke. They soon found the doctor's house, and were

ushered into the parlor in the presence of their friends.




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