midnight
Leroy , always liberal with his wife and children , spared neither pains nor expense to have them prepared for their summer outing . Iola was to graduate in a few days . Harry was attending a school in the State of Maine , and his father had written to him , apprising him of his intention to come North that season . In a few days Leroy and his wife started North , but before they reached Vicksburg they were met by the intelligence that the yellow fever was spreading in the Delta , and that pestilence was breathing its bane upon the morning air and distilling its poison upon the midnight dews . `` Let us return home , '' said Marie . `` It is useless , '' answered Leroy . `` It is nearly two days since we left home .