been
expected of men little used to oratory.

But it was the termination of the speech that stirred all hearts. With a
dexterity only to be compared to its easy grace, the orator left the
sterner side of the question for a tenderer one to which he had already
referred in passing, and which was the side of all political questions
which presented themselves to such men as he. Every man, it was to be
hoped, knew the meaning of home and love and tenderness in some form,
however poor and humble and unpatriotic; to every man was given a man's
privilege of defending the rights and sacredness of this home, this love,
with his strength, with his might, with the blood of his beating heart if
need be. To a Southern man, as to all men, his right to be first in his
own land in ruling, in choosing rulers, in carrying out the laws, meant
his right to defend this home and that which was precious to him within
it. There were a few before him upon this summer's day, alas, alas! that
Fate should will it so, who had not somewhere a grave whose grass moved
in the softness of the wind over dead loves and hopes cherished even in
this hour as naught else was cherished. "And these graves----"

He faltered and paused, glancing towards the doorway with a singular
expression. For a few seconds he could not go on. He was obliged to raise
to his lips the glass of water which had been provided for him.

"Oh!" was sighed softly through the room, "his emotion has overpowered
him. Poor fellow! how sad he looks."

Mrs. Marvin simply followed the direction his eyes had taken. She was a
practical person. The object her eye met was the figure of the boy who
had come in a few minutes before. He was leaning against the doorpost,
attired in a cool suit of white linen, his hands in his pockets, the
expression of his handsome darkling young face a most curious one. He was
staring at his father steadily, his fine eyes wide open holding a spark
of inward rage, his nostrils dilated and quivering. He seemed bent upon
making the orator meet his glance, but the orator showed no desire to do
so. He gave his sole attention to his glass of water. To this clever,
elderly Southern matron it was an interesting scene.

"If he sprang up in two minutes and threw something deadly and murderous
at him," she said to herself, "I should not be in the least surprised;
and I should not be the first to blame him."

But the rest of the audience was intent upon the Colonel, who, re