His father was willing that he should go, his mother was bitterly opposed; Dulce begged him to give up his design, and even Spence Cuthbert's laughing face became grave whenever the subject was mentioned, but the young man was not to be moved from his resolve.
Mardi Gras came and passed, but Ridge, though escorting his sister and cousin to all the festivities, took only a slight interest in them.

He was always slipping away to buy the latest papers or to read the bulletins from Washington.
"Would you go as a private, son ?" asked his father one evening when the situation was being discussed in the family circle.
"No, no! If he goes at all--which Heaven forbid--it must be as an officer," interposed Mrs.Norris, who had overheard the question.
"Of course a gentleman would not think of going as anything else," remarked Dulce, conclusively.
"I believe there were gentlemen privates on both sides during the Civil War," said Spence Cuthbert, quietly.
"Of course," admitted Dulce, "but that was different.

Then men fought for principles, but now they are going to fight for--for--" "The love of it, perhaps," suggested the girl from Kentucky.
"You know I don't mean that," cried Dulce.

"They are going to fight because--" "Because their country calls them," interrupted Ridge, with energy, "and because every true American endorses Decatur's immortal toast of 'Our Country.

May she always be in the right; but, right or wrong, our country.' Also because in the present instance we believe it is as much our right to save Cuba from further oppression at the hands of Spain as it always is for the strong to interpose in behalf of the weak and helpless.