Elsie Yachting with the Raymonds. Finley Martha
movement with intense interest and delight, – the long skirmish lines firing in advance or retreat, picking off distant imaginary leaders of a pretended enemy in reply to the ringing skirmish calls of the key-bugles, deploying at the run, rallying at the reserves and around the colours.
That last seemed to delight Lulu more than anything else. "Oh," she exclaimed, "isn't it lovely! Wouldn't they all fight for the dear old flag if an enemy should come and try to tear it down!"
"I'm inclined to think they would," returned Mr. Keith, smiling at her enthusiasm. "Now look at the flag waving from the top of the staff yonder."
The words had scarcely left his lips when there came the sudden bang of the sunset gun, and the flag quickly fluttered to the earth.
Then followed the march of the cadets to their supper, and our little party turned about and went in search of theirs.
On leaving the table they went out upon the hotel porch and seated themselves where the view was particularly fine, the gentlemen conversing, Max and Lulu listening, both tired enough to be quite willing to sit still.
The talk, which was principally of ordnance and various matters connected with army and navy, had greater interest for the boy than for his sister, and Lulu soon laid her head on her father's shoulder, and was presently in the land of dreams.
"My poor, tired, little girl!" he said, low and tenderly, softly smoothing the hair from her forehead as he spoke.
At that she roused, and lifting her head, said coaxingly, "Please don't send me to bed yet, Papa! I'm wide awake now."
"Are you, indeed?" he laughed. "I think those eyes look rather heavy; but you may sit up now if you will agree to sleep in the morning when Max and I will probably be going out to see the cadets begin their day. Would you like to go, Max?"
"Yes, indeed, sir!" answered Max, in eager tones; "it's about five o'clock we have to start, – isn't it?"
"Yes, Max. Lieutenant Keith has kindly offered to call us in season, and become our escort to the camp."
"Oh, Papa, mayn't I go too?" pleaded Lulu, in the most coaxing tones. "I won't give you the least bit of trouble."
"You never do, daughter, in regard to such matters; you are always prompt, and ready in good season."
"Then do you say I may go, Papa?"
"Yes, if you will go to bed at once, in order to secure enough sleep by five o'clock in the morning."
"Oh, thank you, sir! Yes, indeed, I will," she said, hastily rising to her feet, and bidding good-night to Mr. Keith.
"I too," said Max, following her example.
"Good children," said their father; then noticing the longing look in Lulu's eyes, he excused himself to his friend, saying he would join him again presently, and went with them.
"That is a beautiful, bright, engaging, little girl of yours, Raymond, – one that any father might be proud of," remarked Keith when the Captain had resumed the seat by his side.
"She seems all that to me; but I have sometimes thought it might be the blindness of parental affection that makes the child so lovely and engaging in her father's eyes," returned the Captain, in tones that spoke much gratification.
"I think, indeed I am sure, not," returned Keith. "About how old is she?"
"Thirteen. Actually, she'll be a woman before I know it!" was the added exclamation in a tone of dismay. "I don't like the thought of losing my little girl even in that way."
"Ah, you'll be likely to lose her in another before many years!" laughed his friend. "She'll make a lovely woman, Raymond!"
"I think you are right," answered the father; "and I confess that the thought of another gaining the first place in her heart – which I know is mine now – is far from pleasant to me. Well, it cannot be for some years yet, and I shall try not to think of it. Perhaps she may never care to leave her father."
"I don't believe she will if she is wise. You are a fortunate man, Raymond! Your son – the image of his father – is not less attractive than his sister, and evidently a remarkably intelligent lad. He will make his mark in the navy; and I dare say we shall have the pleasure of seeing him an admiral by the time we – you and I – are gray-headed, old veterans."
"Perhaps so," returned the Captain, with a pleased smile; "but promotion is slow in the navy in these days of peace."
"Quite true; and as true of the army as of the navy. But even that is to be preferred to war, – eh, Raymond?"
"Most decidedly," was the emphatic reply.
"You leave for home to-morrow evening, I think you said?" was Keith's next remark, made in an inquiring tone.
"That is my plan at present," replied the Captain, "though I would stay a little longer rather than have the children disappointed in their hope of seeing everything about here that has any connection with the Revolution."
"They seem to be ardent young patriots," said Keith. "It does one good to see their pride and delight in the flag. How their eyes shone at the sight of the rally round the colours."
"Yes; and they feel an intense interest in everything that has any connection with the Revolutionary struggle. They get it in the blood; and it has been their father's earnest endeavour to cultivate in them an ardent love of country."
"In which he has evidently been remarkably successful," returned Keith. "I am much mistaken if that boy does not do you great credit while in the Naval Academy, and, as I remarked a moment since, after fairly entering the service."
"A kind and pleasant prediction, Keith," the Captain said, giving his friend a gratified look.
"How many children have you, Raymond?" was the next question.
"Only five," the Captain said, with a happy laugh, – "five treasures that should, it seems to me, make any man feel rich; also, a sweet, beautiful, young wife, who is to her husband worth far more than her weight in gold. 'Her price is above rubies.' And you, Keith, – you have not told me whether you have yet found your mate."
"No, not yet. I sometimes think I never shall, but shall soon become a confirmed old bachelor," Keith replied. Then, after an instant's pause, "I wonder if Lulu's father would give her to me should I wait patiently till she is old enough to know her own mind in such matters, and then succeed in winning her heart?"
"Ah, Keith, is that a serious thought or a mere idle jest?" queried the Captain, turning a surprised and not altogether pleased look upon his friend.
"A sort of mixture of the two, I believe, Raymond," was the laughing reply; "but I haven't the least idea of putting any such mischief into your daughter's head, – at least, not at present. But if I ask your permission half a dozen years hence to pay my court to her, I hope it will not be refused."
"Well, Keith," the Captain said, after a moment's silence, "I should be very loath to stand in the way of your happiness, – still more of that of my dear daughter; but the time is so far off that we need not discuss the question now. My little girl seems still the merest child, with no thought of the cares, pleasures, and duties of womanhood; and I wish to keep her so as long as I can. That is one reason why I rejoice in being able to educate her myself in our own home; and thus far the loves of the dear ones in it have seemed all-sufficient for her happiness. And I own to being particularly pleased with her oft-repeated assurance that she loves Papa better than she does any one else in all the wide world."
"Ah, I do not wonder that she does, for her father is altogether worthy of all the love she can give him!" Keith said, with a half-sigh, thinking of the loneliness of his lot compared with that of the Captain.
"Keith," the Captain said, after a moment's silence, "you tell me your furlough will not expire for some weeks yet. Can you not spend them with us at the sea-shore?"
Donald demurred a little at first, saying he had made other plans; and besides, his going might interfere with his cousins' arrangements.
"Not the slightest danger of that," the Captain averred; "and I am certain that one and all will be delighted to see you."
"And