A series of rapidly recurring questions addressed to the Secretary were answered in a way that fully confirmed this suspicion.

The effect of this upon the excitable and impulsive young man will appear as our story progresses.
It was while Mark's application was pending, and a short time before his visit to Washington, that he came up to Fairview, the residence of his grandfather.

Mark had always been a favorite with the old gentleman, who rather encouraged his desire to enter the navy.
"The boy will distinguish himself," Mr.Lofton would say, as he thought over the matter.

And the idea of distinction in the army or navy, was grateful to his aristocratic feelings.

"There is some of the right blood in his veins for all." One afternoon, some two or three days after the young man came up to Fairview, he was returning from a ramble in the woods with his gun, when he met a beautiful young girl, simply attired, and bearing on her head a light bundle of grain which she had gleaned in a neighboring field.