The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-05-11
VOL. XXXTV.,

on the rail thought then of the name
/ had signed to the roll. "No, Jacob
Armstrong. you have no right to take
the life which you have given to your
country" 1 turned away toward my
boarding place, full Of bitterness and
despair. A tiny glove was on the stairs.
picked it up and pressed it passionately
to my lips, and cursed myself for the act
as threw it down again. a+5
The days that followed were weary
enough. 1 made arrangements for my
departure with all possible speed. L
avoided Kate and was cold and naughty
in my salutations. 1 am very dignified
naturally. can be an iceberg in human
shape when wish. One evening went
into the parlor before tea, and took up a
newspaper. Kate came in. Iput on my
dignity and tried to be interested in poll
tics, though could think Of nothing but
the dainty figure opposite, and the gleam-
ing needles in her hands. / struggled
rose ut the sight Of her, and was calm
and cold.
II am glad you have enlisted, Mr..
Armstrong" she said.
Thank you,'' replied stiffly.
.
preparations
"Very."
"And are you going soon?''
II hope so"
Kate left the room. / wished she was
back again thousand times. How kind
and shy she looked. If there was a
glcam of hope-that tall fellow in uni
form--no, she might stay away forever.
And yet my heart gave great leap as
she appeared again.
~ want to show you n photograph,
Mr. Armstrong" she said, blushing and
smiling. took it. 1t was the officer in
uniform, with the tremendous mustache
and flashing eyes.
ut is my brother Frank. Does he
look like me ?''
started as if had been shot.
"Miss Kate, i want to take walk now,
and should like some company. Will
you go with me?'
Hadn't we better have tea first?" she
said smiling. 1.-The bell has just rung"
do not know how that tea passed off,
whether we had jumbles or mullins,
whether drank tea or cold water; but
new that opposite me sat Kate, radiant
in pink muslin, and when the intermina-
bic tea was over, We were going to take
a walk together. was thinking whatI
should say. l am generally sociable
and genial man, and it seems to me that
on this particular evening 1 was assault
ed with a storm of questions and re-
marks
Don't you think so, Mr. Armstrong ?"
asked the lady on my right, the lady on
my left, and the gentleman in black at
the end Of the table. aimed monosylla-
bles at them promiscuously, and have at
present no means Of knowing whether
they fitted the questions and remarks or
not
In the midst Of a mental speech, / was
assaulted by Mary, the table
girl, and, looking about me in surprise,
1 caught a glimpse of the boarding house
cat just disappearing through the door:
"And sure, Mr.. Armstrong, yer must
be blind. The blow was intended for the
cat, and she had her paw in yerplate."
Perhaps You do not know how pleas
ant it is to take walk with little gloved
hand resting upon your arm, little feet
keeping step with yours, and soft voice
in with every thing you say.
was happy on that particular night. We
walked on the Common. The stars
shone, and the long branches of the old
elms swaycd to and fro in the moonlight,
as we passed under them. 1t was just
the time and place that liked
'.Miss Kate" began, sin a few days
l shall be far away from home and friends,
amid danger and death, fighting the
battles Of my country. / have known
you but a short time but that time has
been long enough TO show me that love
you with my whole soul. offer my hand
and heart to you. May not hope that
you will sometimes think of the soldier
that may carry your heart with me"
Il think You may hope" she replied,
gently; ''but this is very sudden. Twill
give you final answer tomorrow morn
ing.
When we got home, We went into the
dining room, and helped her to glass
there a moment; but she was shy, and
babe me kind good night. 1 didn't
know till the next morning what she was
about the rest Of the evening; when she
met me on the stairs, placed a small par
eel in my hands, saving:
"My answer Mr.. Armstrong" and was
Off like a fawn. =
/ opened it, and saw the stockings.
blue, and warm and soft. A note was
stitched in the toe of one of them:
My DEAR FRIEND: said was knitting
the stockings for soldier. l began
them with patriotic impulse, for no one
in particular. / finished them last night,
and knit loving thoughts of you in with
every stitch. have always liked You,
but do not think ! should have given
you my hand if you had not enlisted. I
love you, but love my country more. I
give you the stockings. When you wear
them 1 hope you will sometimes think Of
her who fashioned them, and who gives
herself to you with them. Yours,
KATE.
reverently folded the tiny note, after
having committed it to memory, and re-
peated it's contents to myself all the way
to my Office, beginning with Mr. Arm
strong. and ending with Yours. Kate"
was in state Of extreme beatifcation.
Kate -as mine, noble girl! She loved
me, and yet was willing to give me up
Tor her country's cause. And began to
repeat the note TO myself again, when, on
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