The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-10
CHAPTER THiRTY-ONe.
CONTINUED


to gain time.
She did not answer him directly.
Il am glad YOU have come back 10
me-" she said tenderly. for | sham
let YOU 20 into town again until the
excitement is past II is no place for
a hot.headed boy who might easily
be led into folly. and you VIII stay
quietly here with me, won you
Sam can go In tomorrow and oring
out your books. That will be the
best way: won't it, dear?
The boy set his teeth In his en-
deavor TO control the workings OF MS
face. which he felt must betray him.
Il suppose II seemed for The mo-
ment the only thing left Tor men 10
do" Virginia went on gently bul
the realities OF war are so dreadful
that II we would only stop 10 think,
| am sure a better a wiser way coulu
be found 70 settle our difficulties
He moved restlessly in his chair
"Oh. this won't be much OF war.
Aunt Virginia. President Lincoln only
wants men for ninety days. | suppose
he knows what's needed. Inc fei
lows who enlisted tonight VIII PROB
ably go 10 Washington, or maybe
they won't get any further away than
Columbus. where there's TO be Dig
military camp established: but the
enlisting was sort OF interesting 10
watch, everybody was cheering and
there was lot OF enthusiasm and
noise"
How was he going to TEL: her or
what he had done. He had felt the
excitement himself as an Intoxicating
draught that carried forgetfulness
with It. He had gone TO extremes
Of feeling that night Of which he had
hardly. thought himself capable. Men
had slapped him on the back, telling
him he was a fine fellow, brave fel-
low. and every inch Landray. But
more than all. Marian had smiled
upon him with love and pride and
hero-worship; but how was he 10
make his Aunt Virginia understand
this, or the need he had OF the very
experience that was to take him from
her. She must have realized some
thing of what was passing In his
mind, for she said in sudden alarm:
You are not telling me all. Ste
phen-you are keeping back some
thing!
And he answered her with a look
30 miserable. that she was instantly
convinced that this was so.
Dear Stephen, listen to me, you
must stay quietly here and finish Mt
ting yourself for your~ profession. You
will have responsibilities and cares
enough, poor boy, just here, you need
not 60 away from home to seek them;
the family fortunes need rebuilding,
and YOU must do that. They have
been wrecked by just such folly as
this, by this love for adventure. You
must be very sane and reasonable,
you can't give way to these impulses;
dullt you see 1t this way, too?'
Her words did not shake his resolu-
ton In the least, though they made
him profoundly wretched. since he
despaired of her ever compromising
dis distate for the career she had
mapped out for him. Yet II seemed
to him a most brutal thing to do TO
even try and explain this to her.
I'm sorry" he said, with a gulp.
"But you'd better know 1t now-lve
enlisted"
The hand she had been resting on
his arm, fell at her side. There was
Stephen Stephen-how could
you she cried.
IL am sorry" he repeated. and
there was such depth OF misery In
his tone that she forbore TO reproach
him.
Does Mr.. Benson know what you
have done?" she asked. AS In all her
difhculties, she turned now as then.
instinctively to the one person who
had always been equal TO the occa-
sion.
YES" said the boy, Il told him."
but his face clouded.
What did he say? Didn't he think
you had done very wrong" ques-
toned Virginia.
Stephen nodded.
What did he PROPOSE
Never mind. Aunt Virginia. he
proposed all sorts of things. but moth
ing that Ats this case. I'm member
Of Captain McKeever's Company. and
/ shall remain a member as long as
there's any need OF It. I've given my
word, and I've put my name on the
muster-roll. | cant take back my
word, and I can't take OF my name:
but we don't know yet how much OF
q war there Is going TO be, no one
thinks II is going to amount to much.
wish you wouldn't take II so seri.
ously!"
Wont you tell me what Mr.. Ben.
son proposed, Stephen"
There is no use thinking of him,
Aunt Virginia. he can do nothing. for
] shouldn't let him. And anyway. we
have had a row about this very mat
ter
You have quarrelled with Mr.. Ben
son.
--vIf you choose TO call 1t that-yes.
Only I had rather not talk about IL"
But there was one thing more he
wished to tell her: and this was what
had passed between Marian and him.
He knew II would please her II pos
sible, even less than the news OF his
enlistment; but he deemed II well To
get Il all over with al once. then
they could adjust themselves the
he had 90 suddenly created.
What else Is there. Stephen" Vir
sinia asked.
How do you know there is any
thing else?" he inquired.
II can always tell: What Is 1t -
Haven't ] told YOU enough for 10.
niEhty' he said
IL would like to know all"
do you know Mr., Benson's uncle z"
he asked.
(, What about him.