The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-06-18
few moments. Tt was too bad to
break up the delicious tete.a tete so

DTeah up Lue ueiiCiouS tete'u Lete 50
soon.
l fingered in the parlor after the
gas was lighted, but she did not
come. put on my hat, and went
out / would enlist l had meant
to do so all along. I had manag
ed my business in reference to it
the only drawback was the thought
of Kate. How pleasant it would
| be to remind her of her promise,
and ask her for the stockings and
herself with them! Visions Of
tender partings and interesting let
ters fioated around me at the
thought.
There was meeting in fremont
Temple in aid Of recruiting. Flags
hung dropping from the ceiling,
bands of music were in attendance
in the galleries, and distinguished
| and eloquent speakers occupied
the platform. do not think their
eloauence had much to do with my
action, for I had resolved before>
hand. went forward al the close
of the meeting, and signed my
name to the roll as Massachusetts
volunteer. A pair of hands in the
gallery began the thunder of ap-
plause that greeted the act. l
| looked up Kate was there, clap
ping enthusiastically. But who
was that tall fellow in uniform by
her side, with a tremendous mus
tache. and eyes which flashed
brighter than her own? He, then,
was the soldier for whom she was
knitting the stockings. The rest
of the meeting was blank to me.
watched, and followed them to
the door of the boarding house. l
hid myself behind lamp post, as
they paused on the steps. She
turned toward him, her face all
aglow with feeling.
Good by, Frank. Take good
care of yourself. I'm glad to have
YOU enlist, but SO sorry to lose
you.' and tears trembled in her
eyes.
Good by, Kate, darling; and
after the war is over, will come
home and take care of my bird,
and he turned away.
Stop Frank =
We'll, birdie ?
Those are not fit words to dis
miss a soldier with. Here, I'll
give you O watchword. Think OF
/ it, Frank:
s'Never give up though the grapeshot may
| Or the thick thunder cloud over you burst,
| Stand like rock ! in the storm of the battle,
! Little shall harm you, though doing their
worst"
Brave words, Kate. You de-
serve kiss for them 1t was
given. I turned away in despera-
ton, and walked onward, not. car
! ing where / went. Policemen
watched me, but the lateness of the
! hour made no difference to me. l
could have walked all night. At
| length l came to bridge. The
moon was shining upon the rip
pling water. 1t looked cold and
dark, except where the ripples
! were. There would be a plunge,
! and then the water would flow on
over my head. Why not ? I did
not know | had loved her with
such devotion. It was all over
now. She belonged to another.
! Ny foot was on the rail. thought
then of the name I had signed to
the roll. NO, Jacob Armstrong,
you have no right to take the life
which you have given to your
country I turned away toward
my boarding place, full Of bitter
ness and despair. A tiny glove
was on the stairs. I picked it up
and pressed it passionately to my
lips, and cursed myself for the act
as / threw it down again.
The days that followed we're
weary enough. / made arrange
ments for my departure with all
possible speed. l avoided Kate,
and was cold and naughty in ny
salutations. l am very dignified
naturally. l can be an iceberg in
human shape when l wish. One
evening 1 went into the parlor be-
fore tea, and took up newspaper.
Kate came in. put on my digni-
/ ty. and tried to be interested in
politics, though l could think of
nothing but the dainty figure OPP
posite, and the cleaning needles
| in her hands. l struggled with
| the passionate, bitter feelings that
rose at the sight of her, and was
calm and cold.
4 am glad you have enlisted
Mr., Armstrong; she said.
! THANK you,' l replied stifIiy.
4 suppose you are very busy
making preparations T
Very
| And you are going soon ?
L hope So
Kate left the room 1 wished
/ she was back again a thousand
times. How kind and shy she look
ed. If there was CLEAN Of hope
that tall fellow in uniform-no,
she might stay away for ever. And
yet my hear: gave great leap as
she appeared again.
Il want to show you photo
graph, Mr. Armstrong; she said,
blushing and smiling. l took it.
1t was the officer in uniform, with
| the tremendous mustache and
flashing eyes.
1T is my brother Frank. Does
he look like me ?
I started as if l had been shot
Miss Kate, want to take a
walk now and I should like some
company. Will you go with me 2