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Page 3
"Why, father!" cried Ridge, amazed to hear his usually fearless and
self-assertive parent adopt this tone. "I thought that you were--"
"Independent of all men," interrupted the other, finishing the sentence.
"So I believed myself to be. But I am suddenly confronted by business
embarrassments that force me temporarily to adopt a different policy.
Truly, Ridge, we are threatened with such serious losses that I am making
every possible sacrifice to try and stem the tide. I have even placed
our summer home on the Long Island coast in an agent's hands, and am
deeply grieved that you should have thrown up a position, promising at
least self-support, upon such slight provocation."
"But he ordered me about as though I were a servant, instead of
requesting me to do things in a gentlemanly way."
"And were you not a servant?"
"No, sir, I was not--at least, not in the sense of being amenable to
brutal commands. I was not, nor will I ever be, anybody's slave."
"Oh well, my boy!" replied the elder, with a deep sigh, "I fear you will
live to discover by sad experience that pride is the most expensive of
earthly luxuries, and that one must consent to obey orders long before he
can hope to issue commands. But we will discuss your affairs later, for
now I must look over my letters."
While Mr. Norris was thus engaged, Ridge opened the morning paper, and
glanced carelessly at its headlines. Suddenly he sprang to his feet with
a shout, his dark face glowing and his eyes blazing with excitement.
"By heavens, father!" he cried, "the United States battle-ship _Maine_
has been blown up in Havana Harbor with a loss of two hundred and sixty
of her crew. If that doesn't mean war, then nothing in the world's
history ever did. You needn't worry about me any more, sir, for my duty
is clearly outlined."
"What do you propose to do?" asked the elder man, curiously. "Will you
try to blow up a Spanish battle-ship in revenge?"
"No, sir. But I shall enlist at the very first call to arms, and offer
my life towards the thrashing of the cowards who have perpetrated this
incredible crime."
Thrilled to the core by the momentous news he had just read, Ridge
hastened to impart it to his mother and sister. At the same time he
ordered a horse on which he might ride to the city for further details of
the stupendous event. As he was about to depart, Spence Cuthbert and her
escort, returning from their ride, dashed up to the doorway.
"Have you heard the news?" cried Ridge, barely nodding to Dodley.
"Yes," replied Spence. "Isn't it dreadful? Mr. Dodley told me all about
it, and after hearing it I couldn't bear to ride any farther, so we came
back."
"I wish he had told me before you started," said Ridge, "so that I might
have been in the city long ago."
"You were so busily and pleasantly engaged with your roses that I
hesitated to interrupt you," murmured Herman Dodley. "Now, however, if I
can be of any assistance to you in the city, pray consider me at your
service."
"Can you assist me, sir, to obtain a commission in the army that will be
summoned to visit a terrible punishment upon Spain for her black
treachery?"
"Undoubtedly I could, and of course I would do so with pleasure if the
occasion should arise. But there won't be any war. The great Yankee
nation is too busy accumulating dollars to fight over a thing of this
kind. We will demand a money indemnity, it will be promptly paid, and
the whole affair will quickly be forgotten."
"Sir!" cried Ridge, his face pale with passion. "The man who utters such
words is at heart a traitor to his country."
"If it were not for the presence of ladies, I would call you to account
for that remark," muttered Dodley. "As it is, I shall not forget it.
Ladies, I have the honor to wish you a very good-morning."
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