"Yonder is my home," said the Confederate, pointing to a large granite building. "It is not, perhaps, in strict accordance with military discipline, to keep a prisoner in one's own house, but I have no other place for you."
"I wish your home was farther away," said Abner.
"Why, sir?"
"That I might longer enjoy the free air and sunshine."
The tender-hearted old colonel wiped his face vigorously with his red bandana, and the rest of the journey was made in silence.
On entering the house, the colonel took his prisoner into a reception room, opening from the hall, to wait until his prison room could be made ready.
"You will be granted some privileges here, that you have not had before," said the colonel. "You will be permitted to walk in the grounds once in every two or three days for an hour or so."
"I shall be very grateful to you for the favor, Colonel Mortimer," said Abner.
At this moment his quick ear caught the sound of a gay girlish voice on the stairway, and the swish of silken draperies. Then the door opened and a young girl entered. She cast a quick, surprised glance about the room, as one will, entering a room supposed to be vacant, to find therein a stranger. For a moment she hesitated.
"Come in, Olivia," said the colonel. "My dear, this is our prisoner, Colonel Tompkins. My daughter, colonel!"