The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-08-02
The days that followed were weary

man shape when wish. One evening
/ went into the parlor before tea, and
took up newspaper. Kate came in
/ put on my dignity, and tried to be
Interested in politics, though 1 could
think of nothing but the dainty figure
opposite, and cleaning needles in her
hands. Istruggled with the bitter feel
ing that rose at the sight of her, and
and was calm and cold.
81 am glad you enlisted, Mr.. Arm
strong" she said. Il ~
"Thank you," replied stiffiy. a.
81 suppose you are very busy making
preparations"
"Very." ''.3
"And you are going soone''
81 hope soon." iuf ~
Kate left the room. / wished she
was back thousand times. How kind
and shy she looked. If there was a
CLEAN of hope-that tall fellow in uni
torm-no she might stay away forever.
And yet my heart gavea leap as she
appeared again.
81 want to show you a photograph,
Mr.. Armstrong; She said, blushing
and smiling. / took it. 1t was the
officer in uniform, with the tremendous
moustache and flashing eyes. 5
"It is my brother Frank. Does he
look like me?" s1'fa ~ as,d u
/ startled as if / had been shot. CO.,
"Miss Kate, / want to take walk
now and should like some company
Will Won po with me?" ro G|sl
"Had'nt we better have tea first?"
she said smiling. "The bell has just
rung." l1a
l do not know how that tea passed
off whether we had jumbles or mullins,
whether drank tea or cold water; but
knew that opposite me sat Kate, radi-
ant in pink muslin, and when the inter
mediate tea was over, we were going to
take q walk together. was thinking
what 7 shonld say am generally q
social man, and it seems to me that on
this particular evening l was assaulted
with storm of questions and remarks.
"Don't you think so, Mr.. Armstrong?
questioned the lady on my right, the
lady on my left, and the gentleman at
the end of the table. Iaimed mono
syllables at them promiscuously, and
have no means ofknowing whether they
fitted or not.
In the midst of mental speech, I
was vigorously assaulted by Mary, the
table girl, and,' looking about me in
surprise, caught 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 yer
plate" a9 e'e a
Perhaps you do not know how pleas
ant it is to walk with little gloved
hand resting upon your arm, little feet
keeping step with yours, and soft voice
Ginning in with everything you shy
l was happy that particular night. We
walked on the Common. The stars
shone, and long branches of the old elm
swayed in the moonlight as we
passed under them. 1t was just the
time and place that l loved. 10oG
"Miss Kate" / began, Sin few days
| shall be far away from home, amid
danger and death, fighting the battles
of my country. have known you but
short time, but that time has been
long enough to show me that / Hove you
with my whole soul. l offer my hand
to you. May hope--that may car
ry your heart with me?" ra..l.
81 think you may hope, but this is
very sudden. / will give you a final
answer tomorrow morning"
When we got home, we went into
the dinning room, and helped her to a
glass of ice water, in hopes she would
linger there a moment; but she was shy
and bade me kind good night. / did
not know till the next morning what she
was about the rest of that night; when
she met me on the stairs, and placed
the parcel in my hands, saying: .e
"My answer Mr.. Armstrong;" and
she was off like fawn. N ,.l,
opened it and saw the stockings,
blue, soft, and warm. A note was
stitched in the toe of one of them. sG
Ny DEAR FRIEND: said I was knit.
ting the stockings for soldier. l be-
gan them with patriotic impulse for
no one in particular. / finished them
last night, and knit loving thoughts of
you in every stitch. l have always
loved you, but do not think I should
have given you my hand if you had not
enlisted. Hove you but Hove my coun-
try more. / give you the stockings
When you wear them, hope you
will sometimes think of her who fash
ioned them and who gives herself to
you with them.
~ Yours, h KATE.
l reverently folded the tiny note, aft
er having committed it to memory, and
repeated its contents to myself all the
way to my Office beginning with ''Mr
Armstrong" and ending with "Yours
Kate" / was in state of extreme be-
atifcation, Kate was mine, noble girl!
She loved me, and yet she was wiling
to give me up for her country's cause.
And Ibegan to repeat the note to my
self again, when, on crossing was ac-
costed by a biped, commonly known as
small boy. siit
Mister, yer stockings sticking out
of yer pocket" eaa2o
l turned calmly around and address
sed him. "Boy, glory in those stock
ings. ] am willing that the universe
should behold them. .'i - = = s.H9
My destiny is interwovcn with them.
Every stitch is instinct with life love-"
'Don't see it, mister! Glory, hallelu-
jah!' and he ended his speech by max
ing an exclamation point of himself,
hu afandinor ON Lia-hond a ,ror,r La Ii