"Jeb!--and Marian!" he added, his voice ringing with delight. "Which is going to be the captain, Amos?" he chuckled. "By Gad, they're coming up! He'll make a fine officer!"
But Amos Strong was looking tenderly at the girl; then he turned and caught the Colonel's hand, crying:
"Roger, we'll set the pace for every city and town throughout our country. We'll equip the company, so it'll be ready to go at the first crack--and Jeb will be a credit!"
"One who'll capture hearts as well as Huns, I'll warrant--if he's not already a helpless prisoner!"
The two old men looked at each other and smiled, and it was while they were in this attitude that Marian and Jeb entered.
She stopped on the threshold, scarcely believing her eyes; and Jeb, looking over her head, was no less mystified. That these two sworn enemies should be standing there, holding hands in all friendliness, surpassed the miraculous.
The men had turned cordially to welcome her, but hesitated at the amazement that was pictured in her face. Their reconciliation had been so spontaneously genuine that it seemed already to be a thing of long standing, and they did not penetrate Marian's embarrassment until she timidly advanced, asking:
"Is it all right for us to come in, Daddy? Were you and Colonel Hampton really shaking hands?"
He approached swiftly and took her in his arms, turning to the Colonel and repeating the girl's question:
"By gad, Amos, we've been shaking hands every day for forty years, only we didn't know it!"
"How, in thunder, could I come in, when your perverted editorial columns were----"
"Stop!" Marian cried, running to him and throwing her arms about his neck. "Do you want it to begin all over again, just when I have you both together for the first time in my life?"
But her father laughed good-naturedly, knowing that as soon as he called "Truce!" the irate Colonel would subside.
"How in the world did it happen?" she asked, still clinging to the Colonel's neck and looking up into his eyes which were fast growing moist with tears of happiness. "Tell me at once, which of you was generous enough to make the first move?"
"Poof and nonsense!" he exclaimed, trying to frown upon her severely. "There was no generosity about it! I reckon Amos and I know where each other lives!"