Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-07
KATE's SOLDIER.


Kate Barclays eyes flashed With o splendid
resolve, fine blaze of courage.
"lf you were, would you not do jus. the
same as noT-sit still and wish something
else2"
"Why do you judge me so unklndIy, Major
Rossi"
The lips began to pout now, little TEN.
per 20 blend with the courage 10 the fne eyes
"Because you do not do what you can even
now. If you were lot my cousin, suppose
should Lot speak 30 plainly. AS it is, il vexes
me when hear you wishing, morning, noon
and night, to be and do the impossible; and yel
never trying to do what is ready to your hand
Do you think there is no better use for the
money you arc wasting 30 carelessly il silks snd
lacea2 How much was Madame Ferrara's bill
last quarter" e.
"Money WON'T fight, and the Government
pays the sodiers-better, heard you say GO
yesterday, than any army is paid in Europe"
| "Yet, by giving little more than the Gov.
eminent gives, think you could hire home one
who would not go other wise, to fight for you II
"a man whom little more money would
influences! A man who would go for money
and would not 60 without it! Why! such q
cowsFdly soul would get drummed ous of the
ranks after the fret battle"
Major Ross smiled, calm, a1sesning smile
such as always provoked his cousin, for il seem.
ed to her like an assertion Of superiority.
"You just look at one side OF your question,
Kate, and then jump at your conclusion.
know man who told me yesterday he would 60
to war il he could afford il; man who is neither
cold or oOSardly. He has q sister, q girl of fiji
teen. The two are orphans, and his mothers
dying breath gave her to his care. They were
well born, but they had fallen into poverty, and
he resolved that his sister should have the edu-
cation of lady. She 10 at school now. If he
had the means to leave her provided for, he
would enlist; but what if he should die, and
that poor, pretty, undisolplined child should be
left along In the world, with no means of sup.
port, no protector, no ffiend7 Could he ansWes
to his mother when lie met her 10 the country
which soula apeope2"
Kate had listened with breaGhless attention
"Would he fight well7" she asked musug
ly.
"No man better. There ia not a drop o.
coward blood in bis veins. He is the very Oh,
would choose TO have stand beside ME In th,
front of the fray"
"If he were sure his sister would be pr0Vd
ed for in the event Of his death, you think h,
would got"
81 know it. His whole heart is in the fish
low. IL he we're sure that she could be eecur
ed from future privati0n or friendlessness, hi
name would be enrolled Tomorrow"
Kate's face gloWed with eager resolve.
"He shall be sure. cannot give my life {
my country ought not to shrink from glvln
anything else. That girl is an orphan like me
She shall be my aister. will undertake be-
expenses while her brother ia away, aud II b
dies, che shall share dollar for dollar with IN
all possess. ...4 ...
Major Ross looked st his young cousin almos
, reverentiy. He was just beginning to see be
low the happy careless surface of her nature
but he made no comments on her reaolve.
"Wait here" he said simply, sand | viii
bring your soldier"
In half an hour he returned. lie brough
, with him tall, athletic, stroog man, with
face brave and masteriul rather than hand
: some.
"Miss Barclay, this Ia Mr.. Keene-Richsr
; Keene."
So much Of introduction performed, MsiO
Ross went out ard Iett Kate TO make her bal
gain.
= Mr.. Keene was thoroughly we'll bred In tn
{ peculiar circumstances iii which he was placed
sorely trying they wouli have been TO mos
men, he was able to steer cleaT Of any falls
pride or embarrassment.
miss Barclay" he said, bosiDg,"l under
: stand that by way of doing your part toWar
, the war, y0u wish to hire me Us q substitute t
!. fight your battles for you. My terms are easil
stated. ALI | ask is security that my sister'
7 education will be carried on as / have com
q menced it, until che is able TO support herse
D by teaching"
$ 81 am ready to provide fox all her expense
and 10 charge myself with the care Of the fC
4 ture, should there be need OF my protection.
i $50 much as that Is not necessary. While
9 live could not allow you TO Undertake all be
. expenses So far as my pay as a soldier ca
!. 60, 1t must be applied to her support. For tn
y rest, accept your offer In the splrit in which
is made | will remember you when fight
and, Heaven helping me, you ahali no. b
ashamed Ut your substitute" s1
Kste's eyes grew misty. He was so calm i
= his resolve TO dare danger and death--,eeme
10 consider himself 80 little. She longea 20 be
him, as a sister might have done not 90 be TO
rash---notto to court unessary peril, but somethin
. restrained her. She only ashed:
"When will you take me 50 your sistef?'
! ie better 1 should be introduced to her by you
. She will feel more thas she belongs TO me whe
q you have confded her 90 my protection"
: "You are right will take you now, II yo
4 please. / wish to march with the Twenty
d Eighth regiment to morrow, and there is n
!, time 70 lose. Poor Emily--lt will be hard o.
: : her." At"
! la Eve minu,es more, Miss Barclay was walk
Ing toward Gramercy Park with her soldier b
9 her side. She stole . look nov and then at hi
face. Il was calm and Asm.-no marks Their
! of weakness OF irresolution. She began TO b
proud OF him.