let honor be hanged and the
service go to Old Scratch! You'll be happy with your fine farm and your
pretty wife."

"Come, come, Le! My dear fellow, come!" called Mr. Force.

Leonidas broke away from the kindly arms that held him and hurried into
the sleigh, which started off so suddenly that the young midshipman
literally dropped into the seat that had been kept for him beside
Odalite.

The sleigh sped over the snow-clad, moonlit ground, through the north gate
of the lawn and into the forest.

Before reaching Chincapin Creek it turned off to the left and took the
road to the railway station.

Their way lay through the forest for many a mile. Odalite and Leonidas sat
in the back seat, covered with the same bearskin, and with their hands
clasped together. Very few words passed between them. But the frequent
hand pressures silently spoke.

Wynnette and Elva sat in front of them, and chattered incessantly to
encourage themselves and their party, very much upon the same principle
that boys are said to whistle in going through a churchyard at night, to
keep up their spirits--for the children loved their cousin dearly and
hated to part from him.

Mr. Force sat on the front seat beside Jake, who drove.

The horses went at full speed and fairly flew over the ground.

When they emerged at last from the forest they saw the lights in the
railway station gleaming in the distance, and soon after heard the far-off
thunder of the approaching train.

"Faster, Jacob! Faster!" cried Mr. Force. "Oh, Le, my boy, what a close
shave this is! How much you have risked for the sake of spending a few
more hours with us!"

"Well, I gained the hours, and I shall catch the train!" exclaimed the
young man, as the sleigh suddenly pulled up before the ticket office at
the same instant that the train ran into the station.

"Don't get out! there's no time!" exclaimed Le, as he suddenly strained
Odalite to his bosom, kissed her passionately and started from his seat. A
hasty handshake with his uncle and then with Jake, both of whom called
blessings down on him; a hasty kiss to Wynnette and Elva, both of whom
burst out crying and bellowed lustily; then a last long kiss again to his
dear Odalite, who received it in a suffocating silence; and the next
moment the young man had jumped from the sleigh and disappeared in the
station, and almost immediately the train went on.

The party in the sleigh waited in total silence but for the sobs of
W