is cabin,
where it was inevitable that he should be thrown into the society of
the daughter.

Wade Ruggles and the parson noted all this with growing resentment.
When it had continued for several weeks, the two friends had a
conference over the situation.

"I tell you, parson, it won't do to wait any longer," observed
Ruggles, puffing away at his pipe; "things is getting dangerous."

"Do you think so?" asked his companion, who held precisely the same
opinion, but disliked to admit it.

"There isn't a particle of doubt of it."

"Let me see,--we agreed to give him warning didn't we?--just once."

"Yes,--it's only fair that you should let a man know afore you hit
him, so he can brace himself for the shock, as it were."

"Well, if we are going to do it, there is no use of waiting."

"No use! It'll git worse every day. Let's go over to his place now."

"It isn't likely we'll find him there; he spends nearly every evening
in the cabin of Captain Dawson."

Neither fancied the task, and, had not their feelings been so wrought
up, they never could have been induced to undertake it, but because of
their misgivings, nothing could have dissuaded them from their
purpose.

"When he comes to think soberly of it," added Ruggles, "he'll thank us
for giving him warning in time. If we wait much longer, it might be
too late; we couldn't scare him off the track, but now he'll show his
sense by stopping at once."

The two passed out of the house and walked to the cabin of Lieutenant
Russell. Relieved, and yet in a certain sense dismayed, they found the
young officer at home engaged in reading. The instant he saw and
admitted them, he knew the errand on which they had come. Except for
the grave question involved, that which followed would have been a
delicious comedy. The lieutenant could not have treated a brother with
greater cordiality and never did host shine more brilliantly. He fell
to talking of war times, drew out Ruggles, interested the parson and
gave some of his own stirring experiences. They remained two hours and
went away charmed, without having once referred to Nellie Dawson. They
voted the young man a good fellow, concluded they were mistaken about
his admiring the young lady, and thought it lucky they had not made
fools of themselves.

When they were clear of the house, Lieutenant Russell laughed
heartily.

"Their faces gave them away; they were loaded and primed, but I drew
their charges; to-night they wil