The Long Roll

eft the highway, opened a five-barred gate, and passed between fallow fields to a second gate, opened this and, skirting a knoll upon which were set three gigantic oaks, rode up a short and

powerful cold

er at once and bring him around again.

hed him-"Richard!" He entered. She was sitting in a great old chair by the fire, idle for a wonder, her hands, fine and slender, clasped over her knees.

he braided rug. "It is always war

cabin.-Tell me all

t, and taking the ash stick from the corner, stirred the glowing logs. "Judge

not

with so many there was no n

, a mother at eighteen, she sat now beside her first-born, still beautiful, and crowned by a lovely life. She had kept her youth, and he had come early to a man's responsibilities. For years now they had walked together, caring for the farm, which was not larg

e, moderation, peace-I am goin

ee Ju

e straightened himself, put down the ash stick, and rose to his f

"One moment-Richard, are you quite, quite

ot like him? He's

y people. S

he back of her chair; the wood shook under the sombre energy of his grasp. "Did I not see how it was last summer that week I spent at Greenwood? Was he not always with her?-supple and keen, easy and strong, with his

ent then. Had there been

the autumn. He was with her to-day." The chair shook again. "And this morning Fauqu

hed. "Oh, I am

ite into heart and brain and life-" He dropped his hand abruptly and turned to the door. "Well, I've got to try now to think only of the country! God knows,

een, the light was strong, and striking from a changed angle. To-day both the sight of a face and the thought of an endangered State had worked to make the light intenser. His old, familiar room looked strange to him to-night. A tall bookcase faced him. He went across and stood before it, staring through the diamond panes at the backs o

ire, as flesh

urtraict of br

sky, withouten

ullius's cabin. When, in another moment, Cleave came downstairs, it was to find them both in wait at the foot, illumined by the lig

in the Virginia Military Institute, an authority on most things, had a movement of impatienc

in of a general and law-giver, talk fell at once upon the event of the day, the meeting that had passed the Botetourt Resolutions. Miriam, with her wide, sensitive mouth, her tip-tilted nose, her hazel eyes, her air of some quaint, bright

Anyhow, I shan't sulk in my tents like your precious

d his mother, "that you

'Major Jackson' except when he's trying to teach natural philosophy. On the drill ground he's 'Old J

er, answered dreamily: "Old Jack is probably in the right of it,

out of her eyes and came back from her own dream of the story she was readin

s just all talk, Richard! You are

d Miriam. "Why, y

ers have died at sixteen, Missy!

uld do it now! But I pray God, night and day-and Miriam, you should pray too-that this storm will not burst! As for you two who've always been sheltered and fed, who've never had a blow struck you, who've grown like tended plants in a garde

d it's a wise man who can read Time's order-book." He rose from the table. "It's like the fable. The King may die, the Ass may die, the Philosopher may die-a

ugh at the court house three days hence, but of Judith Cary. Dundee's hoofs beat it out on the frosty ground. Judith Cary-Judith Cary-Judith Cary! He thought of Greenwood, of the garden there, of a week last summer, of Maury Stafford-Stafford wh

worthy. I will not be so petty nor so bitter! I wish h

Titans, a rampart in the night. The line was long and clean; behind it was an effect of light, a steel-like gleaming. Above blazed the winter stars. "If she love him-if she

Dundee. With a hollow rumbling the carriage passed the streams. It proved to be an old-fashioned coach with lamps, drawn by strong, slow grey horses. Cleave recognized the Silver Hill equipage. Silver Hill must have been supping with Lauderdale. Immediately he divined who

Hill, a young married woman, frank and sweet, put out a hand. "Good-evening, Mr. Cleave! You are on your way to Lauderdale

coach lamp. "It's not a message, Richard. I-I did not know that you were coming to Lauderdale to-night.

oing home

ishes to get bac

tart from L

But had I known," said Judith clearly, "had I k

ice he had used on the hilltop. "I am sorry that I will not see you to-night. I will ride on, however, and talk to Fauquier. You wil

r glove. "Come again to Greenwood! Winter or summ

drew back. "Go on, Ephraim!" s

Maury Stafford waited until Cleave had remounted. "It has been an ex

l be at Silver Hill

Albemarle to-morrow. It is worth somethin

ewise. They parted, and Cleave presently heard the rapid hoofbeat overtake the Silver Hill coach and at once change to a slower rhythm. "Now he is speaking with her through the window!" The sound of wheel and hoof

son,' says he, in that tone of his-dry as tinder, and makes you stop like a musket-shot! 'You are always wrong. Go to your seat, sir.' Well, old Wilson went, of course, and sat there so angry he was shivering. You see he was right, and he knew it. Well, the day went on about as usual. It set in to snow, and by night there was what a western man we've got calls a 'blizzard.' Barracks like

d J

ome and going over with closed eyes after supper as is my custom the day's work, I discovered that you were right this morning and I was wrong. Your solution was correct. I felt it to be your due that I should tell you of my mistake as soon as I discovered it. I apologise for the statement that you were always wrong. You may go, sir.' Well, old Wilson never could tell what he said

knees. "Did you see Cousin Judith? Is she as beautiful as ever?" Will hospitably gave up

es, Will, you may have it.-Fauquier sent his love to you,

ted Miriam. "What did she h

there. The Silver Hill people had taken her for the night. I passed t

e table, but he drew a chair before the fireplace, and from its depths he raised his eyes to his grandfather's sword slung above the mantel-shelf. He sat ther