for the use of your name an hour or two longer."

"Oh, very well! I am satisfied," replied Allan.

"So am I."

"But I am not," interposed Mr. Raynes. "I think the fellow is an
impostor, if nothing worse."

"Anything you please; but my time is out, and I must report for duty,"
replied Somers boldly, as he took off the borrowed coat, and restored it
to the owner. "I am very much obliged to you for the use of this garment.
When we meet again, I trust we shall understand each other better."

Owen Raynes was an easy-going young man; familiar with the practical
jokes of the army, enjoying them with the most keen relish when no one's
feelings were hurt, and no damage was done to person or property. He was
not, therefore, disposed to put a serious construction on what seemed to
him to be one of these farces; but his father took an entirely different
view of the affair. He wanted to argue the question, and show that it
could not be a joke; but Somers was too impatient to listen to any
eloquence of this description.

Sue, who had now actually found the young man who had been indicated as
her "manifest destiny," was in no hurry to part with him; and when the
father proposed that Owen and Allan should accompany the impostor, as he
insisted upon calling him, to the brigade headquarters, where his pass
was dated, she decidedly objected to the proposition. The earnestness of
Mr. Raynes, however, at last vanquished her and the young man; and they
started to escort our young lieutenant to the place indicated.

Now, Somers, being a modest man, as we have always held him up to our
readers, and being averse to all the pomp and parade of martial glory in
its application to himself, was strongly averse to an escort. He
preferred to go alone, tell his own story, and fight his own battles, if
battles there were to be fought. Owen and Allan were unutterably
affectionate. They received him into their small circle of fellowship,
and stuck to him like a brother. They were both good fellows, splendid
fellows; and, under ordinary circumstances, Somers would have been
delighted to cultivate their friendship. As it was, he ungratefully
resolved to give them the slip at the first convenient opportunity.

Unhappily for him, no opportunity occurred, for his zealous friends would
not permit him to go a single rod from them; and Somers had about made up
his mind to trust the matter to the judgment of Major Platner, who had
shown a remarkable discri