As Harry and the ladies were leaving Colonel Taylor came to them and said: "Young man, I am the voice of your country. I call you to Florida. Will you go with us next week?" Harry looked into Bim's eyes. "The campaign will be over in a year and I need you badly," the Colonel urged. "I can not say no to the call of my country," Harry answered. "I will join your regiment at Beardstown on its way down the river." That night Harry and Bim stood by the gate talking after Mrs. Kelso had gone into the house. "Bim, I love you more than ever," said the boy. "Abe says you can get a divorce. I have brought the papers for you to sign. They will make you free. I have done it for your sake. You will be under no obligation. I want you to be free to marry whom you will. I would be the happiest man in the world if you were to choose me. I haven't the wealth of some of these city men. I can only offer you my love." "Be careful and please let go of my hand," she said. "The time has come when it would be possible to spoil our story. I'm not going to say a word of love to you. I am not free yet. We couldn't marry if we wanted to. I wish you to be under no sense of obligation to me. Many things may happen in a year. I am glad you are going to see more of the world before you settle down, Harry. You will stop in New Orleans and see some of its beautiful women. It will help you to be sure to know yourself a little better and to be sure of what you want to do." There was a note of sadness in her voice as she spoke these words which be recalled with a sense of comfort on many a lonely day. "I think that I know myself fairly well," he answered. "There are so many better men who want to marry you! I shall go away with a great fear in me." "There are no better men," she answered. "When you get back we shall see what comes of our little romance. Meanwhile I'm going to pray for you." "And I for you," he said as he followed her into the house where the older people sat waiting for them. Harry gave the papers to Bim to be signed and attested and forwarded to Mr. Stuart in Springfield. On their way to the hotel Samson said to Harry: "I don't believe Bim is going to be carried away by any of these high-flyers. She's getting to be a very sensible person. Jack is disgusted by what he calls 'the rank commercialism of the place.' I told him about that horse-thief Davis. He was the man who was going to the party to-night with the ladies. He's in love with Bim. Jack says that the men here are mostly of that type. They seem to have gone crazy in the scramble for riches. Their motto is: 'Get it; do it honestly if you can, but get it.' I guess that was exactly the plan of Davis in trying to get a horse.