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Show 100 n.oEBUCK. " You. forgit, ~lark, that I've prmnised to go. ~Iy w·on1 1. s ont ." . . "I h:u1 forgot that. I reckon I'll have to g1~~ 1t -,;Vell n1otlwr I'll take care of you and Ehza. uI'pl.l be' of s'o n1c usc' if I help yon to spare father f,o r the war. But if I only had a horse!" The next tnorninry J\iark and his father ·were in th~ 0 •. little yarc1 before the cabin, lliscussing a propo::nt10n which the son had brought forwaril, to the effect that he would volunteer for infantry service. Tne cavalry wa~ so n1nch n1ore agreeable to the taste and views of the young n1an that at first he thought of no~hin~ el e, and in the agitation of the previous cve1nng 1t had not occurred to hi1n that he could be a soldierwith~ out a horse. But it can1e into his mind at night, while he lay in bed, ·wakefully turning the problem that had bailiecl him inside out in sBarch of a solution. In the 1norning, although extremely reluctant to abandon the hope of serving in cavalry, he an~ nonncecl his new plan. "\Vh ile it was under discussion, Colonel Fairfax and his daughter Julia rode up before the cabin, followed by a servant, who led a saddled horse. They saluted the elder anu younger 1\1arlin v1ith cordial kindness, and when 1\lrs. :Lvladin, hearing their voices, came out, they had n1any pleasant words for her. After a few 1ninutes had been given to the chat of compliments, Colonel Fairfax said to Abraham: "I heard of your rcn1arks in the court-house yesterday, and of your ofi'er to volunteer if you could get a horse. I am too okl to be a t;olJicr n1ysclf, nnd I ,vish you to ride the horse I have brought, as n1y substitute. \V e have long been friends, ancl I hope you will not refuse to use my hon:;c. Lead hiin up here, John." ROEBUCK. 101 "Thnnk yo.n, colone1; you're mighty kind; h!l.t l ' ,·e made a bnrgatn for a hos ~. ,, ' ~ h~nr l of that too. It "\Va. " rh en yon off~ rerl jn the com t-honse to swnp yonr Jnnlc for a ho. l Rome . _:) lse, nne . one smu yon should have a lloi·se D t r 'I ' · u · your li1l~~ l y cannot do 'vithout the n1ule." ·lt[y "'OI'd's out, colonel." ""\IV ch1 o ,'v as the person who })rOmi·s·ed yon t1 1e h orse 7" on t know. I didn't see him I .. t h 1 : · , · JIS earn 11s VOlCC. ::Perhaps he ·will not. con1e forwnrc1 ·with the horRc" ~Veil no,v, colonel, do yon think there's , ich a }~0~·~ son 1n the conn tv rz Is tl . . , ., : · 101 e nny swh a gentletn~n as wouldn t ma1(C h n:; "\\ronl o-ooc1 ?" ""\V b h e cnnnot tell. yon had better nlake snre of n, moirnsee.." you 'vill do Ine a great f:a vor by :Lccepting• co: I mu t let. the nlan have the nlule, colonel ef he ~s up ~o his bargain, n.n<l then I'll ha \.re a hoss . ~~~~1 ~bhged to yon, though, colonel, all th~ sat~e' 1~· 1e on't coine I'll swap with you that is ef 'v~ \.111 agTec." ' ' . "hi~eally, Abrahatn, I feel nlneh eli al'I)Ointetl I W1vs V to. do .s o me tJ n· n g f,o r the 'var an<.l for yon." · th } hile Hus conversntion 'v!Ls goino· on l\lark eyecl . e 1orse th a t 'vas 1' 11 'vant of n, ricl::-c, r. ''{' hile he ', \YI"\S lll Want of h . . · u . t . a OI se, nnd ln::; head 'vas busy with the eqsntol .' bto n ho,v th esc.t "\VO 'vants might be supplied hen-vic: y o?e operatlon, beneficial to the cavalry ser~ tl 1 · ~nh.,a h~r1 110 Rnspicion of l1is de.'ire to obtain tol es a1 01se for h iR 0 b T • • wn use, nt she 'vas n,l ways reac1y " () a lund ·word to every one. ltiark ' " Sfi·l l1 8 1l e, '"1· tb her s'veet s1nile " you will Is oon be old cnott. g· 1 l to :fight for our count'r y too and an1 sure yon 'vill be a ga11ant soldier." ' |