Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-10-30


love between those two. s.sna
AS the months passed on they grew
nearer and nearer to each other, uatil Emil
ly could scarcely have told which was
dearer, the brother far away. or the new
sister she had found at home. Kate's life
had been solitary hitherto. since her pa
rents died. The young girl filled mp void
in il. and made her both better and happi-
er.
They read war news together and traced
on maps the routs of the armies. Emily
herself was scarcely more excited over the
news of a battle than was her friend. who
followed with ceaseless anxiety and daily
prayers he fate Of the soldier whom she
had sent into the field. For long time
he seemed to be Fortunes soldier also.-
He had been noticed for his valor. and pro-
NOTED from the ranks; but he had passed
though all perls unbarmed. Often Miss
Barclay recalled their first interview-saw
again. as for the first time, the tail. sthlet-
ic fgurc-the resoute. masteriul face-the
clear. honest eyes; perhaps she liked Emily
all the better that those same honest gray
eyes shone from Under her thoughtful fore
head.
All this time. while langer seemed not
to tonch Richard Keene, she had PRESENT.
ment that his hour of doom was coming
! She never spoke Of this to Emily. and tho
child. lulled to sense of security by his
immunity from harm. was growing to think
of him cheerfully. His letters came often.
written in good spirits. addressed always
to his sister. but never without some cor
dial, reverent, almost tender mention of her
who sent him forth to fight the great fight
in her stead. Still the subt lie sense which
forete.ls coming danger haunted Miss Bar
/ it.
A day came at last when she opened
the paper feeling what its contents were
before she saw them. She read there that
Richard Keene was dead. The Federals
had been repulsed. leaving their dead. Of
whom he was one. for the enemy to bury.
She read the tidings calmly. She knew
he hal died as he would have wished, for
she recalled his parting. words. Her sol
dier was gone-her stake in the war. Her
hope of success seemed to have died with
him. She did not feel like weeping
She scarcely knew that she felt at all; only
the cold. dull ache that made her clasp her
hand tight to her heart reminded her. She
said to herself. still calmly.
Il must go to Emily and tell her that
sent her brother to his DEATH"
She put on her things. and wondered
vaguely that she did not weep as she saw
har I'll e. IL
Emily came to her. in the same room.
the front parlor at school. where they had
met first-cama in joyful with welcome. but
started back appalled, by the white. still
face she met. Miss Barclay went up to her
and said. drearily.
Emily. am all you have now. He is
gone!''
The girl to who m the i'll news came with
such fell su'ldenness bnrst into passion Of
grief: and then. trying to comfort her. her
friend wept also. and the tears were a
strange solacc. She took Emily home with
her-her sister from hencefnrth. She
might go back to school another year, per-
haps-at present they had need Of each
other.
How dreary the months were which !ol.
lowed Emily was the 6rst to learn resig-
nation for the loss OF her dead, who died
SO gloriously. Kate was haunted forever.
a. she had feared she would be. by the
idea that she had sent him to his death;
and not even the memory of his own as
surances. those generous last words Of his.
cou!d give her comfort.
The summer came-the summer of '62
bringing brl-song and blossom The
lonely sa!tscented sea breeze rippled the
waves. and shook the pinetrees into melo-
dy. From afar Miss Barclay seemed to
catch scent and sound. 1t roused her to
wish to tread the sea side rocks. and press
her careless footstreps in the Write sands
of the beach. They went to q pleasant,
quiet nook. which. as yet, not enough peo-
pie had found TO spoil. And there the
roses began to come slowly back to Miss
Barclays cheek. and the light to her eyes
: She might grow cheerful again in time,
she thought, If only her fancy would cease
to picture one awful scene-a battle field,
: where the sun searched with red beams
for the slain. and found one face. face she
knew. with clear honest eyes. and mouth
tlot WOuiu iuOfc. Dtu thC}
wound him--mutilate him after he was
dead? She had heard such things-she
, wished she could forget them.
l Walking alone one day. she heard on
t the path behind her voices-Emily's and
| another. She turned suddenly. Were
, her senses dazled? Did she dream? Do
r the dead walk? She saw face over which
> Southern sod must have long grown. un-
? less it bleached white. unbnried, on the
! gsstly battle field. Sight and sense failed
: her. For the first time in her life she
, fsinted When she recovered she saw on
5 ly Emily. The child spoke ergerly:
''It is my brother. alive. HIMSELF. He
was wounded. not dead. They took him
; prisoner. and last week he was exchanged
When he came to New York be found we
were here. and followed us"
She poured the words into Kate's cal
: with might and main. bent on her un-
, derstanding the truth lest she might faint a
, gain. But such swoons don't happen twice
, in one day. Mis- Barclay comprehended
all now. and was herself again; ready,
with courteous greeting. for him who came
, down the path-the returned warrior, with
the scar scanning his broad brow. and
, showing how near he had come to the fate