o fully appreciate their
loss, though they grieved deeply for the tall, handsome, golden-haired,
blue-eyed father who had been their jolly comrade, riding, romping with
them, rowing, playing all manner of games, and always ready to relate
some thrilling tale, and who, after eleven years of married life, had
remained as much their mother's lover as upon the day he married her.
Indeed, all the countryside mourned for Turner Ashby, for such a
personality could not be snatched from its environment without leaving a
terrible blank for many years.

Athol was like him in character, but not the least in personal
appearance, for both children were Seldon from the crowns of their dark
heads to the tips of their small feet. Their chum, and inseparable
companion, Archie Carey, might more readily have been taken for Turner
Ashby's son: he was so tall, fair-haired and blue-eyed. Two years their
senior and living upon the adjacent estate of "Uplands," he had grown up
in an uninterrupted companionship with Athol and Beverly, and was
regarded by them very much as an elder brother so far as camaraderie
went, though by no means accorded an older brother's privileges by Miss
Beverly. Indeed, she was more often the leading spirit in the fun,
frolics or scrapes into which they were constantly plunging, as for
example the one alluded to in the opening chapter. But that must have a
chapter all to itself.

CHAPTER III

FROM THE DORMER WINDOW

Woodbine, as has been said, lay about two miles from Four Corners, the
road leading to the post office clearly visible for almost its entire
length.

It had always been the custom at Woodbine and Uplands to send to Four
Corners twice daily for the mail, the children as a rule doing the errand
and only too glad of the diversion, for they never failed to hear some
bit of neighborhood gossip at the post office, or meet friends from some
of the adjacent estates. Moreover, there was invariably the speculation
regarding the writers of the letters taken from the box even when the
letters were addressed to other members of their respective families, for
neither Beverly, Athol or Archie had extensive correspondence with the
world beyond the mountains. Just now, however, a new and vital interest
had arisen, for after a grave family conclave it had been definitely
settled that the time had arrived when Beverly and Athol must break away
from the old