CHAPTER XXXVI. THE EVENING STAR.

ThemailsintheStateofNorthCarolina,liketheprudentialarrangementsoftheslavestatesgenerally,wereverylittletobedependeduponandthereforeaweekhadelapsedafterthemailingofNina'sfirstletter,describingthedangerofhercondition,beforeitwasreceivedbyClayton.Duringthattimethefuryoftheshockwhichhadstrucktheplantationappearedtohaveabatedand,whileonsomeestatesinthevicinityitwasyetontheincrease,theinhabitantsofCanemabegantohopethattheawfulcloudwasdepartingfromthem.Itwastruethatmanywerestillailingbuttherewerenonewcases,andthediseaseinthecaseofthosewhowereillappearedtobeyieldingtonursingandremedies. Ninahadriseninthemorningearly,ashercustomhadbeensincethesickness,andgonetherounds,toinquireforthehealthofherpeople.Returned,alittlefatigued,shewassittingintheveranda,undertheshadowofoneofthepillar-roses,enjoyingthecoolfreshnessofthemorning.Suddenlythetrampofhorse'sfeetwasheard,and,looking,shesawClaytoncominguptheavenue.Thereseemedbutadizzy,confusedmoment,beforehishorse'sbridlewasthrowntothewinds,andhewasupthesteps,holdingherinhisarms. "Oh,youarehereyet,myrose,mybride,mylamb!Godismerciful!Thisistoomuch!Oh,Ithoughtyouweregone!" "No,dear,notyet,"saidNina."Godhasbeenwithus.WehavelostagreatmanybutGodhassparedmetoyou." "Areyoureallywell?"saidClayton,holdingheroff,andlookingather."Youlookpale,mylittlerose!" "That'snotwonderful,"saidNina"I'vehadagreatdealtomakemelookpalebutIamverywell.Ihavebeenwellthroughitall—neverinbetterhealth—and,itseemsstrangetosayit,butneverhappier.Ihavefeltsopeaceful,sosureofGod'slove!" "Doyouknow,"saidClayton,"thatthatpeacealarmsme—thatstrange,unearthlyhappiness?Itseemssolikewhatisgiventodyingpeople." "No,"saidNina,"IthinkthatwhenwehavenoonebutourFathertoleanon,hecomesnearerthanhedoesanyothertimeandthatisthesecretofthishappiness.But,come,—youlookwofullytiredhaveyoubeenridingallnight?" "Yes,eversinceyesterdaymorningatnineo'clock.Ihaveriddendownfourhorsestogettoyou.Onlythink,Ididn'tgetyourlettertillaweekafteritwasdated!" "Well,perhapsthatwasthebest,"saidNina"becauseIhaveheardthemsaythatanybodycomingsuddenlyandunpreparedintheepidemic,whenitisinfullforce,isalmostsuretobetakenbyitimmediately.Butyoumustletmetakecareofyou.Don'tyouknowthatI'mmistressofthefortresshere—commander-in-chiefandhead-physician?Ishallorderyoutoyourroomimmediately,andMillyshallbringyouupsomecoffee,andthenyoumusthavesomesleep.Youcanseewithyoureyes,now,thatweareallsafe,andthere'snothingtohinderyourresting.Come,letmeleadyou