His wife was a Southern woman, and had died abroad, just at the close of the war, leaving him a little girl, who was the idol of his heart.

He was interested in the South, and came South to try and recuperate from the effects of his wound and of exposure during the war.
The handsomest place in the neighborhood of Elphinstone was "Rosedale," the family-seat of the Berkeleys.

Mr.Berkeley had been killed in the war, and the plantation went, like Elphinstone and most of the other old estates, for debt.

And General Huntington purchased it.
As soon as General Keith heard of his arrival in the neighborhood, he called on him and invited him to stay at his house until Rosedale should be refurnished and made comfortable again.

The two gentlemen soon became great friends, and though many of the neighbors looked askance at the Federal officer and grumbled at his possessing the old family-seat of the Berkeleys, the urbanity and real kindness of the dignified, soldierly young officer soon made his way easier and won him respect if not friendship.