ck could not see from the front, and which was now open. It was
his own uncle, Colonel George Kenton, C. S. A., his gold braided cap on
the window sill, and his sword in its scabbard lying across his knees.

But Dick changed his mind. His uncle was a colonel on one side, and he
was a lieutenant on the other, and from one point of view it was almost
high treason for them to meet there and talk quietly together, but from
another it was the most natural thing in the world, commanded alike by
duty and affection.

He pushed open the door a little further and stepped inside.

"Uncle George," he said.

Colonel Kenton sprang to his feet, and his sword clattered upon the
floor.

"Good God!" he cried. "You, Dick! Here! To-night!"

"Yes, Uncle George, it's no other."

"And I suppose you have Yankees without to take me."

"Those are hard words, sir, and you don't mean them. I'm all alone, just
as you were. I galloped south, sir, to see my mother, whom I found gone,
where, I don't know, and then I couldn't resist the temptation to come
by here and see your house and Harry's, which, as you know, sir, has
been almost a home to me, too."

"Thank God you came, Dick," said the colonel putting his arms around
Dick's shoulders, and giving him an affectionate hug. "You were right. I
did not mean what I said. There is only one other in the world whom I'd
rather see than you. Dick, I didn't know whether you were dead or alive,
until I saw your face there in the doorway."

It was obvious to Dick that his uncle's emotions were deeply stirred.
He felt the strong hands upon his shoulders trembling, but the veteran
soldier soon steadied his nerves, and asked Dick to sit down in a chair
which he drew close beside his own at the window.

"I thank God again that the notion took you to come by the house," he
said. "It's pleasant and cool here at the window, isn't it, Dick, boy?"

Dick knew that he was thinking nothing about the window and the pleasant
coolness of the night. He knew equally well the question that was
trembling on his lips but which he could not muster the courage to ask.
But he had one of his own to ask first.

"My mother?" he asked. "Do you know where she has gone?"

"Yes, Dick, I came here in secret, but I've seen two men, Judge Kendrick
and Dr. Russell. The armies are passing so close to this place, and the
guerillas from the mountains have become so troublesome, that she has
gone to Danville to stay a while with her