ct?"

Charlie laughed. "If you mean did I add myself to it," he said, "I
did. I am an enlisted man now, Jed. As soon as Von Hindenburg
hears that, he'll commit suicide, I'm sure."

Jed insisted on shaking hands with him again. "You're a lucky
feller, Charlie," he declared. "I only wish I had your chance.
Yes, you're lucky--in a good many ways," with a glance at Maud.
"And, speaking of Uncle Sam," he added, "reminds me of--well, of
Daddy Sam. How's he behavin' this mornin'? I judge from the fact
that you two are together he's a little more rational than he was
last night. . . . Eh?"

Phillips looked puzzled, but Maud evidently understood. "Daddy has
been very nice to-day," she said, demurely. "Charlie had a long
talk with him and--and--"

"And he was mighty fine," declared Phillips with emphasis. "We had
a heart to heart talk and I held nothing back. I tell you, Jed, it
did me good to speak the truth, whole and nothing but. I told
Captain Hunniwell that I didn't deserve his daughter. He agreed
with me there, of course."

"Nonsense!" interrupted Maud, with a happy laugh.

"Not a bit of nonsense. We agreed that no one was good enough for
you. But I told him I wanted that daughter very much indeed and,
provided she was agreeable and was willing to wait until the war
was over and I came back; taking it for granted, of course, that I--"

He hesitated, bit his lip and looked apprehensively at Miss
Hunniwell. Jed obligingly helped him over the thin ice.

"Provided you come back a major general or--or a commodore or a
corporal's guard or somethin'," he observed.

"Yes," gratefully, "that's it. I'm sure to be a high private at
least. Well, to cut it short, Jed, I told Captain Hunniwell all my
past and my hopes and plans for the future. He was forgiving and
forbearing and kinder than I had any right to expect. We
understand each other now and he is willing, always provided that
Maud is willing, too, to give me my opportunity to make good. That
is all any one could ask."

"Yes, I should say 'twas. . . . But Maud, how about her? You had
consider'ble of a job makin' her see that you was worth waitin'
for, I presume likely, eh?"

Maud laughed and blushed and bade him behave himself. Jed demanded
to be told more particulars concerning the enlisting. So Charles
told the story of his Boston trip, while Maud looked and listened
adoringly, and Jed, watching the young people's happiness, was, for
th