will go over and tell Katharine that I have at
last made up my mind and cast my lot in with her--I mean with our
country," he said, blushing, but with the thoughtless disregard of
youth as to the meaning and effect of his words.

"Go, my son, and God be with you!" she said solemnly.

He stepped quickly out on the porch, and, swinging into the saddle of
the horse which awaited him, with the ease and grace of an accomplished
horseman, galloped off in the moonlight night followed by the groom.

The little old woman stood rigidly in the doorway a moment, looking
after her departed son, and then she walked quickly down to a rustic
seat on the brow of the hill and sat down heavily, following with
straining eyes and yearning heart his rapidly disappearing figure. The
same pang that every mother must feel, those who have a son at least,
once in her life if no more, came to her heart; all her prayers had
been unavailing, her requests unheeded, her pleas and wishes
disregarded. She had an idea, not altogether warranted perhaps, but
still she had it, that the influence was not so much the example of
General Washington, nor the eloquence of Patrick Henry, nor the force
of neighborly example, nor rigid principle, but the influence of a
sunny head, and a pair of youthful eyes, and a merry laugh, and a young
heart, and a pleading voice. These have always stood in the light of a
mother since the world began, and these have taken her son from her
side. All her hopes gone, her dreams shattered, her sacrifice vain,
her love wasted, she bowed her white head upon her thin hands, and wept
quietly in the silent night. The deep waters had gone over her soul,
and the rare tears of the old woman bespoke a breaking heart.

CHAPTER VIII

_An Untold Story_

There were two roads which led from Fairview Hall to the home of the
Wiltons,--one by the river, and the other over the hills farther
inland. Talbot had chosen the river-road, and was riding along with a
light heart, forgetful of his mother and those tears which indeed she
would not have shown him, and full of pleasant anticipations as to the
effect of his decision upon Katharine.

As he rode along in the moonlight, his mind, full of that calm repose
which comes to men when they have finally arrived at a decision upon
some point which has troubled them, felt free to range where it would,
and naturally his thoughts turned toward the girl he loved. He was
getting along in lif