He was about to speak, but before the words were uttered, there was a cheer
from the open doorway, and a man, waving a despatch in his hand, came
running into the crowd.
"Last night there was a secret session," he cried gayly, "and Virginia has
seceded! hurrah! hurrah! Virginia has seceded!" The gay voice passed, and
the speaker, still waving the paper in his hand, ran down into the street.
The men upon the porch looked at one another, and were silent. In the
bright sunshine their faces showed pale and troubled, and when the sound of
cheers came floating from the courthouse green, they started as if at the
first report of cannon. Then, raising his hand, the Governor bared his head
and spoke:--
"God bless Virginia, gentlemen," he said.
* * * * *
The next week Champe came home from college, flushed with enthusiasm, eager
to test his steel.
"It's great news, uncle," were his first joyful words, as he shook the
Major's hand.
"That it is, my boy, that it is," chuckled the Major, in a high
good-humour.
"I'm going, you know," went on the young man lightly. "They're getting up a
company in Leicesterburg, and I'm to be Captain. I got a letter about it a
week ago, and I've been studying like thunder ever since."
"Well, well, it will be a pleasant little change for you," responded the
old man. "There's nothing like a few weeks of war to give one an appetite."
Mrs. Lightfoot looked up from her knitting with a serious face.
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