The two children were attracted to each other, grew very fond of each other, became inseparable companions--seemed to have but one life between them. Even total strangers, who knew nothing whatever of the family arrangements in regard to these children, observing their devotion to each other, would say: "This boy and girl were made for one another. It would be a sin ever to part them. They are a perfect pair." And Abel Force would smile and say nothing. No one objected to his plan. But the faithful guardian, in justice to his ward, would not allow him to grow up with the demoralizing anticipation of marrying an heiress to live on her fortune. After the boy had passed out of the hands of the family governess, and had taken a course in Charlotte Hall College, his guardian called on him to make choice of some profession. Le unhesitatingly chose the navy. So, after some considerable trouble and expense, Mr. Force succeeded in getting the youth sent to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. It happened about the same time that Abel Force was elected as a State senator, and went with his family to spend the winter in the State capital. So the young people were not separated. The end of the legislative session was, also, so near the commencement of the long summer's vacation of the Naval Academy, that Mr. Force, with his family, always remained over in the city for the exercises, at the close of which he took his ward with him to Mondreer. This habit continued year after year, until Leonidas Force had completed his course at the academy, and had graduated with honors. Then he accompanied his guardian and the family home for the last time, to spend a brief leave of absence before starting on his first long sea voyage. Leonidas was now about eighteen years of age, and Odalite about thirteen. During that short visit home the two young people became more inseparable companions than ever. That they were destined for each other was well known to everybody, and so well understood by themselves that no formal word on the subject was spoken between them, or thought necessary to be spoken. They seemed to know and feel that they belonged to each other forever and ever. Only when the day of parting came--of parting "for three eternal years," as they put it in their despair--Odalite cried as if her heart would break, and refused to be comforted; and Midshipman Leonidas Force, U. S. N., disgraced his uniform by crying a little for company. But then, "the bravest are the tenderest." This was just three years before the opening of our story. After their separation the young pair corresponded as frequently as possible under the circumstances.