try!
Oh, Sam, Sam!"

Sam took her in his arms.

"You're my own brave soldier's wife," he said. "I'd be almost ready to
die for you, but if I don't, I'll come back and marry you. I'll write
to uncle for a commission to-night, and ask his advice about resigning
here either now or later. It hardly seems true that I may really go to
a real war." And his tears fell and mingled with hers.

Sam's uncle fell in readily with Cleary's scheme. He was a politician
and a man of the world, and he saw what an advantage it would be for
his nephew to seek promotion in the volunteers, and how much a close
friend among the war correspondents could help him. Furthermore, he had
heard of Sam's excellent record at East Point and was disposed to lend
him what aid could be derived from his influence with the
Administration. When Sam's father learned that his brother approved of
the project, he offered no objection, and a few weeks after Cleary had
broached the subject, both of the young men sent in their resignations,
and these were accepted. Cleary left at once for the metropolis to
perfect his plans, while Sam remained for a few days at the Point to
bid farewell to his betrothed. His uncle had at once sent in his name
to the War Department as a candidate for colonel of volunteers with
letters of recommendation from the most influential men at the Capital.
While Sam was still at East Point he saw in the daily paper that his
name had been sent in to the Senate as captain of volunteers with a
long list of others, and almost immediately he received a telegram
from his uncle announcing his confirmation without question. On the
same morning came a letter from Cleary telling him to come at once to
town and make the final arrangements before receiving orders to join
his regiment. We shall draw a veil over the last interview between Sam
and Marian. She was proficient in the art of saying farewell, and
nothing was lacking on this occasion to contribute to its romantic
effect. They parted in tears, but they were tears of hope and joy.

Cleary met Sam at the station in the city and took him to a modest
hotel.

"It's going to be bigger thing than I thought," he said, as they sat
down together for a good talk in the hotel lobby, after Sam had made
himself at home in his room. "I'm going to run a whole combination.
I've got in with a man who's a real genius. His name's Jonas. He
represents the brewers' trust, and