Forward, March by Kirk Munroe (mobi ebook reader .TXT) 📕

's laughing face became gravewhenever the subject was mentioned, but the young man was not to bemoved from his resolve.

Mardi Gras came and passed, but Ridge, though escorting his sister andcousin to all the festivities, took only a slight interest in them. Hewas always slipping away to buy the latest papers or to read thebulletins from Washington.

"Would you go as a private, son?" asked his father one evening when thesituation was being discussed in the family circle.

"No, no! If he goes at all--which Heaven forbid--it must be as anofficer," interposed Mrs. Norris, who had overheard the question.

"Of course a gentleman would not think of going as anything else,"remarked Dulce, conclusively.

"I believe there were gentlemen privates on both sides during the CivilWar," said Spence Cuthbert, quietly.

"Of course," admitted Dulce, "but that was different. Then men foughtfor principles, but now they are going to fight for--for--"

"The love of it, perhaps," suggested the girl from K