Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-12-04

ring the short walk, but when they
were parting on Miss Barclays door
step, she gave her hand to Richard
;, kecne, and said, earnestly:
(. " Do not doubt that all | can do for,
your sister will be labor of love.
There has been vacant place in my
heart, a lonely longing for some one
to care for, and she will fill it, IT,
her eyes filled with tears" if any
thing should happen, she shall be as
near to me as she would have been to
you" ..-
Richard Keene pressed the hand he
held. .~ s-.. g. .."
~ believe you," he said emily
is good child Yon will not fiud in
her GOODNESS or ingratitude." .Es
That evening Kate Barclay sat
, alone, living over in thought the part
ing which she knew was taking place,
fancying how those two, who were all
the world to each other, would say
good-bye-a goodbye which might
all Il o possibly, be forever. She almost
repented of her own doing-not quite
for she knew her soldiers heart was
in his work, and could she felt that if
I he had been her own brother sine would
have sent him forth as cheerfully. She
was not dealing to another such meas
urc as she would not have borne to
have dealt to herself.
1t was little past nine o'clock
when the bell rang, and the servant
announced Mr.. Kccnc. She had not
expected after their bargain was made
to see him again but she was glad
after all that he should have reckoned
her among the number of those to
whom it became him to say farewell
He came in us calm and self-possessed
as ever.
1--WE been bidding Emily good
bye" he said, as he sat down. had
to leave her at nine o'clock, and |
thought might venture to come to
you. After all, it is by your means
that 60, and that makes sort of tic
between us bond which it would
be presumption to call friendship, and
yet, which will make me think of you
when | am gone"
Kate had not courage to tell him
that his young sisters thoughts would
scarcely follow him with more con-
slant interest than her own. She
asked him instead how Emily had
borne the parting.
Bravely," he answered "Ho
fknew the chid's heart had been almost
broken, but she had kept back any ut
terance of complaint or lamentation,
whose memory might unnerve him
when the hour came to test his cour-
| age"
Then there was silence between
: them for few moments, and he was
, the first to break it,
81 will tell you honestly why l
came here tonight, Miss Barclay. I
have been thinking how possible it
r was that | might never come back,
and if that happened | feared that you
might regret that you sent me away.
wanted to guard against your vcx-
. ing yourself with such needless sor-
row. 1t was the one longing of my
heart to go, and if | could have effect
ed it in any other way should have
. done so long ago. Come what may
shall never be sorry. have bnt
, one life, and there is nothing | would
like so well TO do with it as to give it
to my country | can trust Emily to
D You with out fear, and she was all I
+ had to keep me back. In any event
/ want you to be thankful, and | shall
e be that you helped me to GO"
n kate's tears were choking her. How
r manly he was, how unselfish, trying,
= even in this last hour, to shield her
4 whom he scarcely knew, from pos
sible pang. She could not speak, but
s she put out her hand lie took it ten
4 derly
!. Il am going now. he said, his eyes
!, resting upon her, as if he longed to
D soothe away her tears, as he might
y have done his sisters. "God keep
. you, Miss Braclay, and give mo
strength to fight valiantly in the cause
@ for which YOU have sent me to do bat
Q tle."
4 Before she could speak the God
II bless you" that trembled OH her lips,
: he was gone. Would she ever sec
him again--her soldier? ..-
Il The next Saturday, the principal of
h the establishment at Gramercy Park
&c was summoned to an interview with
Miss Barclay. The latter lady ex-
y planned briefly the relation of protect
/ ress in which she stood to Miss Emily
"a keene, and expressed her desire that
o hereafter her ward should spend all
e her vacations aud every Sunday at
.. her house. The poor, solitary bereav-
y ed child was glad enough to go witt,
+ her, and this was the beginning Of
j true, sisterly love between these two.
" AS months passed Oh, they grew
A. nearer and nearer to each other, until
i, Emily could not tell who was dearer,
n the brother FAR away or the new Sis
ter she had found at home. kate's
e life had been solitary heretofore, since
n her parents died. The young girl fill
), cd up void in it, and made her both
d better and happier.
is They read war news together, and
traced on maps the routes of tho
is armies. Emily was scarcely more ex-
Is cited over the news of a battle, than
/ was her friend, who followed with
,e ceaseless anxiety and daily prayers
the fate of the soldier she had sent to
n the field.
,c For a long time he seemed to be
10 Fortunes soldier also. lie had been
noticed for his valor, and promoted
s. from the ranks but he had passed
"a through all pcrils unharmcd. Often
Miss Barclay recalled their first inter
r. view-saw again, as for the first time
;. the tall, athletic fgure--the resolute
e masterly face--the clear, honest eyes !;
d perhaps she liked Emily all the bet
s ter that those same honest gray eyes
h shone from under her thoughtful fore
y head d
IL All this time. while danger seemed
l. not to touch Richard keene, she had q
,e presentiment that his hour of doom
4 ,pas .,,,inas Che mayor sn,Ea nf thi,