“The battleship Maine was blown up last night in Havanna harbor by the damned—I beg your pardon, ladies—by the pesky Spaniards and nearly three hundred officers and men were killed.”
“Oh!” said Holly, softly.
“I never!” gasped Miss India.
“It is known that the Spanish did it?” asked Winthrop, gravely.
“There can be no doubt of it,” answered the Major. “They just got the news half an hour ago at the station and particulars are meager, but there’s no question about how it happened.”
“But this,” cried Julian, “means——!”
“It means intervention at last!” said the Major. “And intervention means war, by Godfrey!”
“War!” echoed Julian, eagerly.
“And if it wasn’t for this da—this trifling leg of mine, I’d volunteer to-morrow,” declared the Major.
“How awful!” sighed Miss India. “Think of all those sailors that are killed! I never did like the Spanish, Major.”