"I cannot agree with you, sir. But let that drop. May I ask the news? Have our troops been hopelessly defeated?" "I cannot answer you, Mrs. Ruthven. Our side has won a battle and the Confederate troops have taken to the mountain side. They may engage us again before long." "Your troops are encamped but a short distance from here, I believe?" "It is true." "Are we to consider ourselves as prisoners of war?" "By no means, Mrs. Ruthven. I am informed that your house is something of a hospital. Let it remain so." "Thank you." "You certainly did not expect ill treatment, did you?" went on the colonel curiously. "You seem to be a gentleman, I must admit, but I have heard such stories of violence and rapine that I have some reasons to be apprehensive." "The stories are in most cases baseless and without truth. I hope you are not prejudiced enough to think that Federal officers are destitute of honor and humanity. Every true soldier, no matter under what banner he draws his sword, respects a lady, and would be the last to injure or annoy her." "I can believe that of you, sir, but you are an exception." "I cannot accept the compliment. I know many of my brother officers, and I am glad to say that what is true of me is true also of them." "But your President, Mr. Lincoln, I am told is a cruel monster, intent upon the destruction of the South." "You are sadly misinformed, Mrs. Ruthven. There never beat a warmer, kinder heart than that of Abraham Lincoln, I know, for I have seen him and spoken with him, and I know that no one sorrows more over the stricken homes and bloodshed of this unhappy strife. He is misjudged now, but posterity will do him justice." "I cannot believe it. If he deplores the evils of war, why does he not end it at once, and order his hordes of Yankee invaders to throw down their arms?" "Because the life of the nation is at stake. I do not wish to speak severely of your leaders. They are actuated by a mistaken sense of right. Amid the clash of arms, Reason is silent. We are fighting, not against the South, but for its best good." "You plead well, Colonel Stanton, but I am not convinced," answered the lady of the house. At that moment Jack came up again, bringing Marion. "Marion!" cried Harry Powell, and ran up to her. "Harry!" she returned, and put out her hand to him. "Will you shake hands with a Yankee?" he asked. "Jack was rather backward about doing it." "I am always ready to shake hands with my cousin," she returned, and blushed. Colonel Stanton was then introduced, and a minute later Harry Powell asked about St. John Ruthven. "Is he in the ranks, aunt?" he questioned. "He is not," answered Mrs. Ruthven, and drew down her mouth. "He cannot leave his mother," put in Marion contemptuously. "Evidently you think he ought to go?" "He is a strong, able-bodied man. I would go, were I in his place." "So would I," put in Jack. "Then he isn't very patriotic."