An officer in uniform came from the little eating-house near by and approached the party.
"Are there any passengers for the coast here?" he asked.
"I am going to Charleston," the young lady said.
"Where are you from, miss?" Then, seeing her surprise, he continued: "You must excuse the question but I am a quarantine officer and Charleston has quarantined against all points that have been exposed to yellow fever."
"That, then, does not include me," she said, confidently. "I am from Montgomery, where there is no yellow fever, and a strict quarantine."
"A ticket from any of the authorities or physicians in Montgomery."
"No, sir; I am Miss Kitty Blair, and going to visit friends in Charleston."
The officer looked embarrassed. The health-certificate regulation and inland quarantine were new and forced him frequently into unpleasant positions.
"You will excuse me," he said, finally; "but have you anything that could establish that fact, visiting cards, correspondence--"
"I have told you," she replied, flushing a little, "who I am and where I am from."
"That would be sufficient, miss, if all that is needed is a lady's word, but I am compelled to keep all persons from the east-bound train who cannot prove their residence in a non-infected district. The law is impartial."
"And I cannot go on, then?" There were anxiety and pathos in her eyes and tones. The gentleman in gray approached.
"I can fix that, sir," he said, briskly addressing the officer. "I am not personally acquainted with Miss Blair, but I can testify to what she says as true. I have seen her in Montgomery almost daily. My name is Montjoy--Norton Montjoy, Jr. Here are my letters and my baggage is over yonder."
"Are you a son of Col. Norton Montjoy of Georgia, colonel of the old 'fire-eaters,' as we used to call the regiment?"
"Yes, indeed," and a happy smile illumined his face.
"My name is Throckmorton," said the officer. "I followed your father three years during the war, and you are--by Jove! you are the brat that they once brought to camp and introduced as the latest infantry recruit! Well, I see the likeness now."
The two men shook hands fervently. The officer bowed to the lady. "The matter is all right," he said, smiling; "I will give you a paper presently that will carry you through." The new friends then walked aside talking with animation. The quarantine officer soon got into war anecdotes. The other stranger was now left to the amusement of watching the varying expressions of the girl's face. She continued low over her book and began to laugh. Presently, with a supreme effort she recovered herself. Montjoy had shaken off his father's admirer and was coming her way. She looked up shyly. "I am very much obliged to you for getting me out of trouble; I----"