recruits, who were of every class, quite a little crowd there to
look at the drill. Among them were two women of the poorest class, one
old and faded, rather than gray, the other hardly better dressed, though
a slim figure, straight and trim, gave her a certain distinction, even
had not a few ribbons and a little ornament or two on her pink calico,
with a certain air, showed that she was accustomed to being admired.

The two women found themselves together once during the day, and their
eyes met. It was just as the line of soldiers passed. Those of the elder
lighted with a sudden spark of mingled triumph and hate, those of the
younger flashed back for a moment and then fell beneath the elder's
gaze. There was much enthusiasm about the war, and among others, both of
the Mills boys enlisted before the day was ended, their sister going in
with them to the room where their names were entered on the roll, and
coming out with flashing eyes and mantling cheeks. She left the place
earlier than most of the crowd, but not until after the drill was over
and some of the young soldiers had gone home. The Mills boys' enlistment
was set down in the district to Vashti, and some said it was because she
was jealous of Little Darby being at the end of the company, with a new
gun and such a fine uniform; for her hatred of Little Darby was well
known; anyhow, their example was followed, and in a short time nearly
all the young men in the district had enlisted.

At last one night a summons came for the company to assemble at the
Cross-roads next day with arms and equipment. Orders had come for them
to report at once at the capital of the State for drill, before being
sent into the field to repel a force which, report said, was already
on the way to invade the State. There was the greatest excitement and
enthusiasm. This was war! And everyone was ready to meet it. The day was
given to taking an inventory of arms and equipment, and then there was a
drill, and then the company was dismissed for the night, as many of them
had families of whom they had not taken leave, and as they had not come
that day prepared to leave, and were ordered to join the commander next
day, prepared to march.

Little Darby escorted his mother home, taciturn as ever. At first there
was quite a company; but as they went their several ways to their home,
at last Little Darby and his mother were left alone in the piney path,
and made the last part of their way alone. No