an I are finding it a knotty question
to which their loyalty is due, State or General Government; where
allegiance to the one ends, and fealty to the other begins."

"There is no question in my mind," she interrupted, angrily. "Of course
your allegiance is due to your State; so don't let me hear any more about
that. Your father and brother never hesitated for a moment; and it would
become you to be more ready to be guided by them."

"Mother," he said, with a pained look, "you forget that I am no longer a
boy; and you would be the first to despise a man who could not form an
opinion of his own. All I ask is time to decide this question
and--another."

"Pray what may that be? whether you will break with Miss Aller, I
presume," she retorted, sneeringly.

"No, mother," he answered with dignity; "there is no question in my mind
in regard to that. Mary and I are pledged to each other, and nothing but
death can part us."

"And" (fiercely) "you would marry her, though she is ready to cheer on the
men who are coming to invade our homes and involve us in the horrors of a
servile insurrection!"

"I think it is hardly an hour since I heard you say the North would not
fight; and since we have shown our determination in capturing Sumter, the
next news would be that we were to be allowed to go in peace. You may be
right; I hope you are; but the fellows I know in the North are as full of
pluck as ourselves, and I fear there is a long, fierce, bloody struggle
before us." He stood before her with folded arms and grave, earnest face,
his eyes meeting hers unflinchingly. "And ere I rush into it I want to
know that I am ready for death and for judgment."

"No need to hesitate on that account," she said, with a contemptuous
smile; "you've always been a remarkably upright young man, and I'm sure
are safe enough. Besides, I haven't a doubt that those who die in defense
of their country go straight to heaven."

He shook his head. "I have been studying the Bible a good deal of late,
and I know that that would never save my soul."

"This is some of Horace's and Elsie's work; I wish they would attend to
their own affairs and let you and others alone." And she rose and swept
angrily from the room.

Walter did not appear at dinner, nor was he seen again for several days;
but as such absences were not infrequent--he having undertaken a sort of
general oversight of both the Oaks and Ion--this excited no alarm.

The first day in fact was s