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Show 60 HOEBUUK. "I will invest the n1oney abroad," added 1\Ir. Pal1ner. "\V oulcl it not be prndont to sell yonr laud also and invest the 1110 11 ·y abroad'?" asked Albert. "N over!" oxelain1cd tho ±:tthcr, ri::;ing and walkin o· about tho roon1 in eviclon t ex ·i ten1eu t. It was p~~t of a cherished plan to ret~in his land as tho t erritorial :C nnclation of that ocial supremacy to ,vhich he aspired. The propos~l to sell it prieked his most sen~iti ,.o nerve. Bn t, with habitual self-control, he restrained tho expression of his thoughts, anu, after so1ne time, re ·mncd his seat and his composure. "You have said, At bert, that 'vo tnnst choose n side in this ·war.'' "'Or sides,' you added, father.'' "vVhy should a 1nan risk his fortunes with one pa,rty exclu ·ivcly? Or 'vhy should you and I both appear on the s:une side?" These question, snrpri._ecl 1\lbcrt. Tie had l:tkeu for granted that, in such a contest, it wonla lH~ n ceL·~sary for hin1 to act a decided part, antl he ha<l 1~0L drea1necl of aeting in opposition to hi:=; f:tthcr. He had 1nade so1no progress toward a dccil4ion for hinl· self, but ·with a 1nental reservation t.hat his f:ttltcr \Va~ to approve hi. final choice. I [e had been ed tw:tt~;d aL n Northern Uni versit.y, buL ev·en there, he h:tc l afleeleLi to play the Southerner. The young lllCll of v ·irginiil ahvayB treated hin1 ·with cordial frieudsh i p, awl, t,y their frank 1nanners, high spirit and honura blc con~ duct, they won his esteetn anLl excited hiB en1nlation. Fro1n thern he borrowed sou1e sentiuwnts of local patriotism, sucn as the young alway::! cherish, and he \Vas ambitions to appear atnong thetu as a true and nrdent Virginian. lie adopteu his ih.ther·H aspiration HOEBU C K . 01 to impro\:c the social position of the family, and thought h1s ?wn marriage might promote that object. He was not InSC'nsible to the charm~ of Jttlia FaiL"f:tx, fln t1 ·with hereditflry thrift, h:-1 r1 C:l.!euJat ed the ad V~l ntngcs ·which the hand of that hoire s couhl bestow. l Jndcr the in tlnence of various fcelin o-s and calculation_ s, he l~a~ nccusLomecl himself to make loud prof( lss1ons of VIolent Southern Renti1nent., and he could scarcely have told ho,v far they were sincere and llo1v f.1.r affected. IIc 'vas inclined to range hirnsclf still on the side of Virginia in the wnr that "rns nOl\r irnm inent, bnt he was ready to -weigh all advantages on each side before taking an irrevocable step. It had never occurred to him that he n1io-ht secure the h :tdv:1_ntagcs of both sides or of neutrality. PerplcxC'd by Ius father's questions, he looked at him as if he would r<.'a(l an explanation in his face, but that ,vas not to be read like the :fhce of a clock. 1\Ir. Pahncr. instead of explaining a~ked another que tion- . "To 'vhich sitlc do yon incline, Albert?" "I have believed that it was yonr desire to identify our £1mily \Vith this COinmunity, and it ,voulcl seen1 tnost consi,c.tent with yonr vie·ws tbnt I should ernbrace the cnu. e of Virginia," cautiously replied the son_ After auother panse the father said- " Yon have visited l\1iss Fairfax?'' 'Not often." "What course \Yill her father pursue in the war?" "Doubtless he ''rill adhere to Virginia." "l-Ie owns a fine c. tate (?" " Yes, sir." "It ·will be confiscated." Again there was silence. The sngo-estion of con- .. fisoation was new to Albert, and b~th gentlemen |