ifted his hat
gravely.

At no time was Chad alone with Margaret, and he was not sorry--her
manner so puzzled him. The three lads and three girls walked together
through Mrs. Dean's garden with its grass walks and flower beds and
vegetable patches surrounded with rose bushes. At the lower edge they
could see the barn with sheep in the yard around it, and there were the
very stiles where Harry and Margaret had sat in state when Dan and Chad
were charging in the tournament. The thing might never have happened
for any sign from Harry or Dan or Margaret, and Chad began to wonder if
his past or his present were a dream.

How fine this courtesy was Chad could not realize. Neither could he
know that the favor Margaret had shown him when he was little more than
outcast he must now, as an equal, win for himself. Miss Jennie had
called him "Mr. Buford." He wondered what Margaret would call him when
he came to say good-by. She called him nothing. She only smiled at him.

"You must come to see us soon again," she said, graciously, and so said
all the Deans.

The Major was quiet going home, and Miss Lucy drowsed. All evening the
Major was quiet.

"If a fight does come," he said, when they were going to bed, "I reckon
I'm not too old to take a hand."

"And I reckon I'm not too young," said Chad.

CHAPTER 18.

THE SPIRIT OF '76 AND THE SHADOW OF '61

One night, in the following April, there was a great dance in
Lexington. Next day the news of Sumter came. Chad pleaded to be let off
from the dance, but the Major would not hear of it. It was a
fancy-dress ball, and the Major had a pet purpose of his own that he
wanted gratified and Chad had promised to aid him. That fancy was that
Chad should go in regimentals, as the stern, old soldier on the wall,
of whom the Major swore the boy was the "spit and image." The Major
himself helped Chad dress in wig, peruke, stock, breeches, boots,
spurs, cocked hat, sword and all. And then he led the boy down into the
parlor, where Miss Lucy was waiting for them, and stood him up on one
side of the portrait. To please the old fellow, Chad laughingly struck
the attitude of the pictured soldier, and the Major cried:

"What'd I tell you, Lucy!" Then he advanced and made a low bow.

"General Buford," he said, "General Washington's compliments, and will
General Buford plant the flag on that hill where the left wing of the
British is entrenched?"

"Hush, Cal," said Miss Lucy, laughing.

"