"For the last time, I ask you, Kate will you forsake that man forever?

Kate tore her hand from his grasp and rushing to Burr threw herself into his arms. Then, turning to Frederic, she said, proudly, "This is your answer!"

A

99

MONTH had passed by and Colonel Burr and his companions were still the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassett. The days and evenings had been passed in devising plans and in arguments and speculations connected therewith. The great table in the library was covered with books and papers. Maps had been consulted, authorities referred to, and sheets of paper had been covered with long columns of figures. But, if there were marked indications of a busy time in the library, in other parts of the house, and outside of it, the signs were still more significant.

The big raft had been poled across the stream and was now moored near the little landing. The services of Walters and the negro boy, Bob, were now required in other directions than that of boatmen.

In one of the secluded glades that Burr had noticed in his first jaunt through the island, a little cabin had been erected, and in it one of the new recruits was busily engaged in casting bullets for the muskets and rifles which, securely packed, were hidden in the natural cave, the location of which had been observed by Burr. In some of the outbuildings, Blennerhassett's servants were busily engaged in parching grain and putting it into boxes and barrels for transportation-no one knew whither. Kegs of powder and a number of swords, together with cartridge-belts, bullet-pouches, powderhorns, and other military accoutrements, had arrived upon the island, usually by night, and had been con

cealed in the capacious storehouses. Blennerhassett had contracted for the building of a flotilla of bateaux. These were to be of quite large size, each capable of carrying sixty men with their provisions and military trappings.

At some of the conferences, Blennerhassett, his wife, and Colonel Burr were present; but the usual procedure was for Colonel Burr to advance his propositions to Mrs. Blennerhassett, by whom they were first considered; then she presented them to her husband who rarely failed to finally coincide with her judgment of what was best to be done.

One day, when the three were together in the library, Blennerhassett looked up and, with an appearance of jocularity which he rarely assumed, propounded the important question, "What shall we call this new domain of ours?"

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Judging from the amount of labor it has required and is likely to call for in the future," said Burr, “I should think Workland would be the best name for it."

"If our plans work out as we have designed them,” Blennerhassett remarked, "and everybody is obliged to do his or her part of the work, no drones being allowed in our Utopia, there will be so much time left for recreation and amusement that I think Playland more appropriate.'

"The names suggested by you gentlemen," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, "are both good, but there is a much better one." Burr looked at her, inquiringly: "Homeland," she replied, in response to the interrogative glance.

"Capital!" cried Burr, "what nobler title than King of Homeland."

"I think there is one that is nobler," remarked Mrs. Blennerhassett.

"What is it?" asked Burr.

The lady smiled: "Queen of Homeland."