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with great cordiality, and complimented him upon the appearance and discipline of his company, which, he said (and he spoke in the name of General Putnam), any captain might be proud to command, and he only wished the rest of the regiment was like it.

Captain Blanchard colored, and looked pleased at this official praise, for although Major Burr was his junior by many years, his rank and well-earned reputation rendered even his praises pleasing, and begged to introduce his brother, the Royalist.

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Ah, yes, captain, I have often seen you," he said cordially extending his hand. "I remember meeting you at Colonel Shee's ball. You seemed to know

Miss Moncrieffe very well."

"Ever since she was born, sir. Her father and myself have been friends from boyhood. She is a very lovely girl."

"Very lovely,” replied Major Burr, hurriedly, for he felt the color was coming to his cheeks, and hastily excusing himself for a few moments, he went to the rear of the shop, where Forbes was engaged, and requested, or rather commanded, him to retire to the back room for a few minutes.

Forbes was fain to comply, and when the door was closed, he was submitted to an examination similar to that which Corbie had undergone, but there was no variance in their narratives, and Major Burr felt that, as they were the only witnesses who could shed any

light upon the occurrences of the evening, whatever they might have been, it would be useless to pursue the investigation further, and with a caution to the gunsmith not to meddle with what did not concern him, he returned to the store and joined the group of officers assembled there. A few moments were passed in social chat, when he took his leave, and rode directly to his quarters, where he reported to General Putnam the result of the inquiries he had just made, and he was about closing with an expression of his confidence in the integrity of Seth Adams, when the old general broke forth in a perfect tornado of denunciation and invective.

"Adams, he knew, was a deserter-had been bought over to the enemy, and, curse him, he'd have him hung if a hundred pounds could accomplish it!"

Major Burr listened, of course, without interruption, for he might as well have attempted to stem the torrent of Niagara as soothe the old general's wrath when once aroused.

When he had exhausted himself, he closed by a threat to have every one of those infernal Tory hothouses of treason closed, and their keepers either imprisoned or hung, and wound up, as he took a tremendous pinch of snuff, by directing his aid to go to the office and prepare a reply to a communication from the commander-in-chief, who had written for certain information on behalf of the committee of Congress.

He was soon immersed in his work, but if he could have been watched, an observer might have noticed that he often laid his pen upon the table, and gave way to fits of musing. At times his thoughts were evidently troubled, and again his countenance was lighted up by a smile of almost rapturous happiness.

Was he thinking of his treason, or Margaret's love, or both?

CHAPTER XXII.

MARGARET FINDS A NEW LOVER.

THE brothers Blanchard were seated in the apartments occupied by the Royalist, and over a bottle of wine had been discussing not only their present pros pects, but had enjoyed a long talk over old times.

"By the way, Edmund," said the elder, "you have called, I find, very often on Miss Moncrieffe. Now don't make a fool of yourself there. Pardon me,” he said, as he noticed his brother's heightened color, "but I speak only for your good. She is a desperate flirt and coquette. I have known her almost from infancy, and I know what I say. As a devoted Royalist, she is of infinite service to us, and is esteemed accordingly; but I know her thoroughly. Mark my words, Edmund, she does not care any more for you than for the orderly who waits on you. She will use you to her heart's content-lead you on surely, and then laugh at your folly. You had better wait until this infernal war is over, and when we reach home you will find some one to appreciate you and make you happy. You have your captain's commission now ?"

"Oh, yes! Governor Tryon sent that to me at

once, with my pay, and I receive my subsistence money regularly every week."

"Then be content for the present. I have no doubt you will earn and receive promotion in due time."

"Do you think," interrupted Edmund, "that commission Miss Moncrieffe asked for, was for me ?"

"I don't know what to think of her conduct in that affair. You are the only commissioned officer at present engaged with us, and it may be that she haswell, I don't know-I can't say," he continued, interrupting his own sentence. "She is a queer, unmanageable girl, and may have taken a sudden fancy ". "To me ?" asked Edmund, eagerly. "Do you think

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"To you! No, Edmund; don't be so foolish. I meant to say that she might have taken a fancy to show an appreciation of your services, or rather what she expects of you. But look out for her; she will lead you a chase, and then hide from you at the last moment."

66 Well," ," said Edmund, rising, with something of a sigh, "I must return to my quarters; it is nearly the hour for drill."

"I will walk with you part of the way. I have to stop at Mrs. Brainard's and see about some shirts she is making up for me," and the young Provincial turned away to conceal a blush which the mention of this name had called to his face. He had not dared to

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