Grace listened and her face grew red. She could not get Louis out of her mind. “Maybe it will take a long while to arouse the North, but when they are aroused--” She did not finish. “Oh, pshaw! We’ll lick ’em out of their boots; see if we don’t!” ejaculated Andy. “Why, you ought to hear the talk down at the post-office and over to the tavern. Half the district is fairly wild over the news, and Frederick Mason is going to organize a company of volunteers if they’ll have ’em, and Captain Montgomery is going to try to fit out some cavalry. I’d like to join Captain Montgomery--he’s such a good fellow,” and Andy’s eyes beamed at the prospect. Mrs. Arlington said nothing, but as she thought of her only son riding to battle her eyes filled with tears and she had to turn away. The proclamation calling for Union troops was speedily followed by a similar call for men in the South. The call was an urgent one, and aroused the warm Southern blood to its highest pitch. Military companies and troops of cavalry were formed everywhere, and young and old went forth to fight against those who threatened their plantations, their industries and their firesides. The enthusiasm of the South was equal to that of the North in every particular. It was understood that Mr. Arlington could not take part in this conflict. When, even with his cork leg, he might have joined the cavalry, his general condition was such that his wife would not for one moment entertain the idea of his leaving home. “You have fought enough, father,” she would say. “Let the younger men carry this war through.” “But I feel as if I ought to go,” he would plead, but she would shake her head, and then he would remain silent. As the days went by and news came of how the South was gaining a little here and there, attacking this fort and that arsenal and capturing them, Andy grew more and more impatient. Captain Montgomery had begun to form his cavalry troop and the youth watched them wistfully as they went through their drill on Lee Run Square. “Father, I’m going to join; that’s all there is to it,” he said at last. “If I don’t go they’ll call me a coward, and I want to go awfully bad. I’ve got a horse and money enough to buy trappings and a sword, and there’s no reason why I should stay home.” At this the eyes of the veteran glistened. “I know the feeling, Andy,” he said. “I’ve been thinking it over a good deal, too. Since I cannot go I don’t know but that you might--if you can get your mother to consent.”