Early one evening, a few days subsequent to the tragical death of Jones, the Ion family carriage, well freighted, was bowling along the road leading toward the Oaks.

A heavy shower had laid the dust and cooled the air, and the ride past blooming hedgerows, and fertile fields was very delightful.  The parents were in cheerful mood, the children gay and full of life and fun.

“Oh, yonder is grandpa’s carriage coming this way!” cried Eddie as they neared the cross-road which must be taken to reach Roselands in the one direction, and Ashlands in the other.

“Yes, turn out here, Solon, and wait for them to come up,” said Mr. Travilla.

“On your way to the Oaks?” Mr. Dinsmore queried as his carriage halted along side of the other.  “Well, we will turn about and go with you.”

“No, we were going to Roselands but will put off the call to another day, if you were coming to Ion,” Mr. Travilla answered.

“No, the Dinsmores had not set out for Ion, but to visit Sophie at Ashlands; Daisy, her youngest child, was very ill.”

“I wish you would go with us, Elsie,” Rose said to Mrs. Travilla.  “I know it would be a comfort to Sophie to see you.”

“Yes, we have plenty of room here,” added Mr. Dinsmore, “and your husband and children can certainly spare you for an hour or so.”

Elsie looked inquiringly at her husband.

“Yes, go, wife, if you feel inclined,” he said pleasantly.  “The children shall not lose their ride.  I will go on to Roselands with them, make a short call, as I have a little business with your grandfather, then take them home.”

“And we will have their mother there probably shortly after,” said Mr. Dinsmore.

So the exchange was made and the carriages drove on, taking opposite directions when they came to the cross-road.

Arrived at Roselands, Mr. Travilla found only the younger members of the family at home, the old gentleman having driven out with his daughters.  Calhoun thought however that they would return shortly, and was hospitably urgent that the visitors should all come in and rest and refresh themselves.

The younger cousins joined in the entreaty, and his own children seeming desirous to accept the invitation, Mr. Travilla permitted them to do so.

They, with Aunt Chloe and Dinah, were presently carried off to the nursery by Molly Percival and the Conly girls, while their father walked into the grounds with Calhoun and Arthur.

“Wal,” whispered Dick to his cousin, drawing him aside unnoticed by the rest, who were wholly taken up with each other, “now’s our time for some fun with those Ku Klux things.  They must be about done, and I reckon will be packed off out o’ the house before long.”

Walter nodded assent; they stole unobserved from the room, flew up to their own for the key, hurried to the sewing-room of their mothers, and finding there two disguises nearly completed, sufficiently so for their purpose, arrayed themselves in them, slipped unseen down a back staircase, and dashing open the nursery door, bounded with a loud whoop, into the midst of its occupants.