Gordon Keith

EITH'S P

his only patrimony. As in that case also, it stood to the possessor in the place of a good many other things. It help

in it; the Present he did not understand, and the Future he did not know. In his latter days, when his son was growing up, after war had swept like a vast inundation over the land, burying almos

some other old-fashioned things which he did not know the valu

scenes and new manners, Gordon Keith looked back to the old life on the Kei

s, and on the other side looking away through the lawn trees over wide fields, brown with fallow, or green with cattle-dotted pasture-land and waving grain, to the dark rim of woo

be a small hamlet lying about its feet. Had he turned in at the big-gate and driven a mile or so, he would have found that Elphinstone was really a world to itself; almost as much cut off from the outer world as the home of the Keiths had been in the old country. A number of little blacks would have opened the gates for him; several boys would have run to take his horse, and he would have found a l

d wealth with content, and he would have come away charmed with the graciousness of his entertainment. And yet, if from any other country or region than the South, he would have departed with a feel

re irresistible. The calm face, lighting up at times with the flash of his gray eyes, was always commanding: he looked so like the big picture in the library, of a tall, straight man, booted and spurred, and partly in armor, with a steel hat over his long curling hair, and a grave face that looked as if the sun were on it. It was no wonder, thought the boy, that he was given a sword by the State when he came back

, camped on the lawn, and cut down the trees; and Gordon Keith, whilst yet a boy, came to s

rything revolved about her and received her light and warmth. She was the refuge in every trouble, and her smile was enchanting. It was only after that last time, when the little boy stood by his mother's bedside awed and weeping silently in the shadow of the great darkness that was settling upon them, that he knew how absolutely she had been th

ment in the congressional district which he had represented for one or two terms. As his duties took him from home much of the time, he sent Gor

m a fair pedigree, and he looked forward to being a great general himself. He would be Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great at least. It was his preference for a career, unless being a mountain stage-driver was. He had seen one or two such beings in the mountain

s conscious, however, that some change had taken place, and a resemblance to the man-in-armor in the picture over the library mantel suddenly struck the boy. There was the high look, the same light in the eyes, the same gravity about the mouth; and when his father, after taking leave of the servants, rode away in his gray uniform, on his bay horse

d he could never again be fit for service in the field, was sent abroad by his government to represent it in England

eave his boy behind him and have the ocean

than Gordon. As the two lads were the only passengers aboard of about their age, they soon became as friendly as any other young animals would have become, and everything went on balmily until a quarrel arose over a game which they were playing on the lower deck. As General Keith had told Gordon that he must be very discreet while on board and not get into any trouble, the row might have ended in words had not the sym

short scuffle he lifted Ferdy and flung him flat on his back on the deck, jarring the wind out of him. Ferdy re

of the fore-castle, gave him boxing lessons during all the rest of the voyage, teaching him the myst

s on your toes, you are aall right," said Mr. Doherty; "you're rigged for ivery b

had hitherto been spent, except during the brief period when he had been at Dr. Grammer's school, he found himself one summer in a little watering-place on the sh

he stern, was about Gordon's age; the other, a little larger than Gordon, was rowing and used the oars like an adept. In the bow was a flag, and Gordon was staring at it, when it came to him with a rush that it was a "Yankee" flag. He was conscious for half a moment that he took some pride in the superiority of the oarsman over the boys in the other boats. His next thought was that he had a little Confederate flag in his trunk. He had brought it from home among his other treasures. He would show his colors and not le

own tha

er, one of the oars came out of the water, and as the boat veered a little

ting along as straight as an arrow, with the clear water curling about its prow. Gordon wished for a moment tha

e that

and sunburnt, and the eyes were blue and clear and flashing with exc

ag, I say," cal

re you? Strike

f you don't take that flag down I will take it

boy to neglect the am

tealing Yankees!" he called. "I will fight bo

nd sit tight. I will fight fair." Then to Gordon again: "I have

s, seize the other, and steadying himself as

ou try it," he said b

rightened. He gave a vigorous stroke of his oars that

p again in a second, and raising his oar, dealt a vicious blow with it, not at the boy in the boat, but at the flag in the bow

," called the boy in the ster

with a rapid, dexterous swing swept a cataract of water in Gordon's face, drenching him, blinding him, and filling his eyes, mouth, and ears with the unexpected deluge. Gordon gasped and sputtered, and before h

aunched himself at the bow of the other, where the captor had flung the flag, to use both oars. His boat slipped from under his feet, and he fell short, but caught the gunwale of

n the latter disappeared. Norman gazed at the spot with staring eyes. The next second he took in what was happening, and, wi

nd with a supreme effort breaking the drowning boy's hold, he drew him to the top once more. Fortunately for both, a man seeing the trouble had brought his boat to

assailant and rescuer had been every day to make inquiry about him, and his father, M

us against each other thus, and have brought our boys face to face in a foreign la

or the promptness and efficiency with which the o

thought the incident did credit to both combatants. He "only wished," he said, "that in ev

ew of his father's. He had lost his flag; he had been defeate

ood to him. It was but very little sweetened by the

r. The shrill voices of children and the shouts of boys floated in at the open window from somewhere afar off. He was not able to join

ing-suit. Gordon gazed at her without moving or uttering a sound. She came in and closed the door gently behind her, and then walked softly over to the side of the bed and looked down at him with k

look after you and to take you home with me if they

his pinched fac

he said in hi

s, and of her regret that the doctors would not let him be moved. When she left, it was with a promise that she would come back again and see him; and Gordon knew that he had a friend in E

his former foe who had rescued him. But it was too hard an ordeal for the bo

with which boyhood always draws a line between itself and the rest of

tol gripped in his hand, and, queerly enough, his name, too, was Norman Wentworth. But he was not thinking of him. He was thinking of a tall girl with calm blue eyes, whom he had walked with the day before, and who had sent him away dazed and half maddened. Then some one a little to one side

to the presen

ences were not as fatal as I had at one time apprehended. If every generation did not improve on the follies and weaknes

was setting the others on. The cry that came to Gordon was: "Nigger-driver! Nigger-driver!" Sometimes Fortune, Chance, or whatever may be the deity of fortuitous occurrence, places our weapons right to hand. What would David have done had there not been a stony brook between him and Goliath that day? Just a

fter him with shouts of triumph. As he reached the stone-pile he turned and made a stand, which brought them to a momentary stop. Just then a shout arose below him. Gordon turned to see rushing up the hill toward him Norman Wentworth. He was picking up stones as he ran. Gordon heard him call out something, but he did not wait for his words. Here was his ar

a stone far over Gordon's head at the party on the height above. Gordon, who was poising h

down a side alley, Gordon close at his heels, and, by making a turn, they came out a few minutes later on the hill above their

surrendered and offered to enlist on their side. No

il I have given you a good kicking. You know

rebel," s

make good his word, and to do it in such honest style that Ferdy

l as to the wisdom

tell,"

does. I was at school with him last year, and I am going to school with h

closer allies than they would

ed leave to return home immediately, so that Gord

gray eyes, and the ruddy, chubby cheeks so often seen in children of her class. The governess was in a state of great excitement, and was talking French so fast that it was a wonder any tongue could utter the words. The little girl of the fine frock and brown eyes was clutching to her bosom with a defiant air a large doll which the governess was trying to get from her, while the other child stood by, looking first toward one

away and holding it firmly; at which the governess began again almost tearing her hai

Gordon drew her

uvantable--it ees terr-e-ble! Dese young ladie

ttle girl, mocking her, her brown eyes flashing. "She

I do! Madame weel ab

l give it to her," insisted the little girl again. Then suddenly, gaining more courage, she turn

ou shall

little hands had clutched the doll, and turning without a word of thanks, the little cre

med the child, in a disappointed tone, loo

comically mingling her upbraidings of her charge, her ab

oes not know any b

ightened at this fr

e! You shall not play with her

, and I will play with her,"

he boy, much amused by such

our name?" She looked up at

on Ke

ordon Keith?" She

do, Lois H

ands with h

ed by the music, was dancing and keeping perfect time as she tripped back and forth, pirouetted and swayed on the tips of her bare toes, flirting her little ragged frock, and kicking with quite the air of a ballet-dancer. She divided the honors with the dismal Savoyard, who ground awa

tangled-haired child who had run away wit