Part 26 (2/2)
”How swiftly and beautifully you work, Ned!” she exclaimed as he rose with face flushed and gazed a moment admiringly on the witchery of her exquisite figure.
”How would you like me for a steady gardener?”
”I hope you're not going to lose your job on your brother's paper?”
”It's possible.”
”Why?”
”We don't agree on politics.”
”A reporter don't have to agree with an editor. He only obeys orders.”
”That's it,” Ned answered, with a firm snap of his strong jaw. ”I'm not going to take orders from this Government many more days from the present outlook.”
Betty looked him straight in the eye in silence and slowly asked:
”You're not really going to join the rebels?”
The slender boyish figure suddenly straightened and his lips quivered:
”Perhaps.”
”You can't mean it!” she cried incredulously.
”Would you care?” he asked slowly.
”Very much,” was the quick answer. ”I should be shocked and disappointed in you. I've never believed for a moment that you meant what you said. I thought you were only debating the question from the Southern side.”
”Tell me,” Ned broke in, ”does your father mean half he says about Lincoln and the South?”
”Every word he says. My father is made of the stuff that kindles martyr fires. He will march to the stake for his principles when the time comes.”
”You admire that kind of man?”
”Don't you?”
”Yes. And for that reason I can't understand why you admire a trimmer and a time server.”
”You mean?”
”The Rail-splitter in the White House.”
”But he's not!” Betty protested. ”I can feel the hand of steel beneath his glove--wait and see.”
Ned laughed:
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