e anxious to witness him in his uniform. However, in our humble
judgment, he will be compelled by etiquette to don it this afternoon, to
receive the officers of the regular army, who will arrive by the stage
about five o'clock, it is expected, to inspect the company and swear
them into the service of the Federal Government at the Court House. We,
for one, have little doubt that, owing to the Major's well-known talent
in matters of apparel, his appearance will far eclipse in brilliancy
that of his fellow-officers."

Crailey dressed slowly, returning to the paper, now and then, with a
perturbed countenance. How would Miss Betty explain this paragraph to
herself, and how account for the fact that she had not seen Crailey, how
for the fact that she had seen Tom? It seemed unlikely that she could
have overlooked the latter--Tom was one of those whom everybody saw,
wherever he went. And what inquiries would she make? For Crailey had no
means of knowing that she would not see the Journal. Tomorrow he would
be gone, it would be all over, but he wanted this last day to run
smoothly. What wild hopes he had of things that should happen when
they all came marching home, no one can say; even if it were not to be
doubted that Crailey ever entertained hopes of any kind whatever, since
to hope is to bestow thought upon the future.

But, however affairs ran with him so far as hope was concerned, he
seldom lacked an idea; and one came to him presently, a notion that put
the frown to rout and brought the old smile to his lips, his smile of
the world-worn and tolerant prelate. He flicked the paper lightly from
him, and it sped across the room like a big bird in awkward flight.
For he knew how to preserve his last day as he wished, and to make all
smooth.

He finished his toilet with particular care, took a flower from a vase
on his table, placed it in his coat, and went down to the dusty street,
where everything was warm and bright with summer. It was joy to be
alive; there was wine enough in the air; and Crailey made up his mind
not to take a drink that day--the last day! The last day! The three
words kept ringing through his head like a minor phrase from a song.
Tomorrow, at noon, they would be churning down the river; and this was
the last day--the last day!

"Still not too late to make another friend at home," he said, stopping
to pat the head of a mangy street cur that came crouching and wobbling
toward him like a staveless little