"Oh, my sons, my sons! How can I spare you, too?" murmured Mrs. Dare.
"How can I let you leave me, now that I have lost your dear father!"

"It will be only temporary, mother. You can see, when you give the
matter more thought, that it is the best thing to do."

"Perhaps so, Dick, darling," acquiesced Mrs. Dare, "but it is hard!"

Throwing their arms about their mother's neck, the youths kissed her,
and presently she grew more calm.



Chapter III

Ben Foster Brings Important News


"Oh, Dick, is it true that you and Tom are going to enter the army and
fight for liberty?"

"Yes, it is true, Elsie. Aren't you glad?"

"Y-yes, Dick," replied Elsie Foster, hesitatingly. "I'm glad you are
to be a soldier, but I-well, you might get killed you know, and-and-"

"Would you care, Elsie?"

Elsie Foster was the daughter of Robert Foster, the nearest neighbor