my senses on the spot. Even pampered poodle
dogs are not all fat, Betty, and, as it was, I did come to the years of
discretion that very night. I didn't sleep a wink."

"Nor I."

"I walked the floor till daybreak."

"And I sat by the window."

"I hurled every hard name at myself that I could think of. 'Dolt and idiot'
seemed to stick. By George, I can't get over it. To think that I might have
galloped down that turnpike and swept you off your feet. You wouldn't have
withstood me, Betty, you couldn't."

"Yet I did," she said, smiling sadly.

"Oh, I didn't have a fair chance, you see."

"Perhaps not," she answered, "though sometimes I was afraid you would hear
my heart beating and know it all. Do you remember that morning in the
garden with the roses?--I wouldn't kiss you good-by, but if you had done it
against my will I'd have broken down. After you had gone I kissed the grass
where you had stood."

"My God! I can't leave you, Betty."

She met his passionate gaze with steady eyes.

"If you were not to go I should never have told you," she answered; "but if
you die in battle you must remember it at the last."

"It seems an awful waste of opportunities," he said, "but I'll make it up
on the day that I come back a Major-general. Then I shall say 'forward,
madam,' and you'll marry me on the spot."

"Don't be too sure. I may grow coy again when the war is over."

"When you do I'll find the remedy--for I'll be a Major-general, then, and
you a private. This war must make me, dear. I shan't stay in the ranks much
longer."

"I like you there--it is so brave," she said.

"But you'll like me anywhere, and I prefer the top--the very top. Oh, my
love, we'll wring our happiness from the world before we die!"

With a shiver she came back to the earth.

"I had almost forgotten him," she said in keen self-reproach, and went
quickly over the rustling leaves to the cabin door. As Dan followed her the
day seemed to grow suddenly darker to his eyes.

On the threshold he met Mrs. Ambler, composed and tearless, wearing her
grief as a veil that hid her from the outside world. Before her calm gray
eyes he fell back with an emotion not unmixed with awe.

"I did the best I could," he said bluntly, "but it was nothing."

She thanked him quietly, asking a few questions in her grave and gentle
voice. Was he conscious to the end? Did he talk of home? Had he expressed
any wishes of which she was not aware?

"They are bringing