Rivers went away so abruptly."
"Nor I," said Leila. Then there was one of those long silences dear to
lovers.
"What are you thinking of, Jack?"
"Uncle Jim told me last night the story of the early life of Mark
Rivers."
"Tell it to me."
He told it--"But," he continued, "that was not all of him. I have heard
Mr. Rivers hold at the closest attention a great crowd of soldiers with
that far-carrying voice; and then to hear as he led them singing the old
familiar hymns--perhaps a thousand men--oh, it was a thing to remember!
And they loved him, Leila, because behind the battle line he was coolly,
serviceably brave; and in the hospital wards--well, as tender as--well,
as you would have been. I wondered, Leila, why he did not marry again.
The first was a mistake, but I suppose he knew that for him to marry
would have been wrong, with that sad family history. Probably life never
offered him the temptation."
"Perhaps not," said Leila, and they rode out of the woods and over the
meadows. "Let us talk of something less sad."
"Well, Leila, a pleasant thing to discuss is Tom McGregor. I suspect him
of a fortunate love affair with the daughter of the General at Fortress
Monroe."
"Indeed--but what else? Oh, our own great debt to him!"
"Uncle Jim is considering that.
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