The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-10-29
Frsm IIarper's Weekly
kATE'S SOLDIER.
''If | were only a man =

ii l were only man
Kate Barclays eyes flashed with splen
did resolve, fine blaze Of courage.
''lf you were would you not do lust the
same as now-sit still and wish something
elese?'
"Why Go you judge me so unkindly
Major Ross ~
The lips began to pout now, little ten.
per to blend with the courag &c in the fine
ey>s.
Because you do not do what you can
now. If you were not my cousin, sup.
pose l should not speak to you 50 plainly
Aas it is, 1t vexes me when hear you
wishing, morning, noon and night, to be
and do the impossible; and yet never try.
ing to do what is ready to your hand. Dc
you think there is no better use for the
money you are wasting so carclessly in
silks and aces? How much was Madame
Ferarra's bill last quarter 2"
Money won't, fight, and Government
pays the soldiers s-better,.I heard you saw
50 yesterday, than any army is paid in Eu
rope"
Yet, by giving little more than Gov
ernment s ives, | think you could hire some
cne, who would not go otherwise, to fight
for YOU
"A man whom little more money would
induce! A man who would 60 for money,
and would not 20 without IL? WHY. such
cowardly soul would get drummed out of
the ranks after the first battle!'
Major Ross smiled, calm meaning
smile-such as always provoked his cous.
in, for it seemed to her like an assertion of
superiority.
You just look at one side of your oues.
ton, Kate, and then jump at your conclu.
SION. know 4 man who told me veSter-
day he would 81 to war if he could afford
1t; man who is neither cold nor coward
~. lie has sister, girl of fifteen. 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 education Of lady. She is 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 undis.
ciplined child should be left alone in the
wide world, with no means of support, no
protector, no friend? Could he answer it
to his mother when he had met her in the
country which souls people ~
Kate had listened with breathless atten.
tion
''Whuld he fight we'll ?" she asked, mus
ingly:
"No man better. There is not drop Of
coward blood in his veins. He is the very
one would choose to have stand beside
me in the front of the fray"
"lf he were sure his sister would be
provided for in the event of his death vou
think he would go?'
81 know it. His whole heart is in the
fight now. If he were sure that she could
oe secured from future prvation, or friend
!cssneSs, his name would be enrolled TO.
ka,e's face glowel with eager resolve.
!" lie ShaA be sure. cannot give my
lie for my country. ought not to shrink
from giving everything else. That girl is |
IN orphan like me. She shall be my sis
Ter. will undertake her expense while
ler brother is away, u nd, if he dies, she
shall share dollar for dollar with Inc all |
hat possess.
Major Ross looked at his young cousin
llmost reverently. He was Just beginning
o see below the happy careless surface Of
Ter nature. But he made no comment on
let resolve.
"Wait here he said, simply, 81 will
'ring you your soldier" .t -.'af
In half an hour he returned. He brought
With hnn man, tall, athletic, strong, with
face brave anl mastcrrul rather than
ant.somo. s....
Miss BARCLAY, this is Mr.. Keene-R.ch-
ra kcenc."
So much of introduction performed, F.,
lajor Ross went out and left Kate to make
cr bargain.,,n.- ..
Mr.. keene was thorously wrll-brel In =
'c peculiar circumstances in which he !
as placed--sorely y trying they would have ,
cen to most men--he was able to steer +
ear Of any false pride or embarrassment. /
Miss Barclay" he said, b0wing, II am
I'D tnat by way OF doing your part toward y
he war you wish to hire me as a substi i
tie, to fight your battles for you. Ny i
rms are easily stated. All ask is a Sc 8
rity that my sisters education shall be h
rried on, as | have commenced it, until ~
he is able to support herself by teaching. ;r
Il am ready to provide for all her expcn- n
S, aud to charge myself with the care of
g future, should there be need of my O
J.
so much rs that is not necessary n
lille | live | could not allow you to un- E,
rtake all her expenses. So far as my pay n
soldier can go it must be applied to h
II support. For the rest, &C sept your 9,
fer in the spirit in which it is made. | h
II remember you when fight. and Heav q, a.
helping me, you shall not be ashamed Il
your substitute" u
kate's eyes grew misty. He was so calm a,
his resolve to dare danger and death q
emed to consider himselfe so little. She 81
aged to beg him, as sister might have !,
ne, not to be .toorash-not to court un- o.