The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-13
cm, but he Strengthened them all out in a

begin to see what is the matter with him you
have put him above himself But tell you
will have no more Of it, aud that fniclly wfo
of his shall march. bag and baggage"
In vain the Surgeon protested he would not
he responsible for the consequences if Serg't
koemer was put on duty for q week-the Colo
mel was firm, and the order was issued. Rather
Inc wept herself we'll nigh sick TO no purpose
but to make it harder for him she loved. lie
would not consent to her going to company
quarters even for an instant. and the only con-
cossion she could obtain was permission TO stay
| at the hotel for few days till he could re-
| ceive leave to come aud bid her farewell.
As sho sat in the room in the evening sho
felt especially sad and lonely, and was surprised
and angry to receive a card, Capt. t. Il. Stan
ton, u. S. Army"
SHE KNEW 1T WAS ADoLPHE's CAPTAIN,
| and foresaw renewal of the scene with Col.
! Carver. She would not see him--he had no right
to come to insult her. butamoment's reflection
! showed her that this time mt least the vantage
! ground was hers. He had sought her, not she
! him; here she was in public house, where
/ she could, if necessary, demand protection. Be-
| sides, she wished to let these naughty officers
| sec that she was not ashamed of her husband
| aud with her little figure drawn to its full
| hight and head thrown back, she marched into
tho parlor quite prepared to fight the entire
| regiment.
But glance showed her there was no chance
! for battle Capt Stanton introduced himself
with easy politeness, aud shc was disarmcd at
once. Poor little woman! she had felt so
trnmpled upon and hurt during the past fort
night. that at the first show of kindness she ok.
panded as the flowers to the morning sun. lie
talked TO her of indifferent matters. of the
weather, her late Journey her little boy at
home, and when she was more at case spoke of
her husbands severe illness Of his return to
duty, and finally said Mrs Eoci,scr, why
I typtx- hue Il
| Surgeon says he will not be ft for duty for
some time, and he has only a few months to
serve"
Katherine looked at him in surprise al
did not know il was possible" she said. "Oh
If it only could be done -
well" rejoined Capt. Stanton, it is not
easy, but think it might be managed If the
Colonel would only sign the recommendation,
1t would be az good done This he will not
do, at least Just now, though he has promised
not to oppose 1t; but will sign it rs his com
mandiug officer. and i think DIR. Hartford will.
with such paper you would have 10 20 to the
President aud tell him your Story He Is a
civilian, and will be moro likely to sympathize
with You than an old Army officer. If you can
get him interested il is all right"
Katherine remained silent for little time;
she was no trayecr-sho knew no one in Wash
ington, but how gladly she would rid Adolphc
OF his present surroundings! The Doctor had
u
her duty 10 help him if she could-ycs, she
must try.
The next day the Captain brought her the
official recommendation, signed by himself and
the Surgeon, and also letter ho had written,
setting forth many OF the circumstances.
Now that Katherine had decided 10 GO she
was all impotence TO be gone. and could scarcely
wait for AdoIphos farewell visit When she
saw him again so pale and weak she was the
more impatient to get away. She told him of
her scheme and hc smiled Mt her enthusiasm,
but had little faith in it, IL touched him most
that his Captain had shown an interest in the
woman who had given up so much for him. IL
was. he confessed one chance in a thousand,
aud he would not prevent her trying it, but in
his experience there was little hope of relief
for enlisted men. And yet-how happy they
would DO If this life could he left behind; aud
kissing her on both cheeks, by way of farewell,
he whispered
TT IS WORTH THE TRIAL"
Katherine went on her way, but the swiftest
train was all too slow. She would not stnp even
one day al home but hascued on 10 Washington.
Here indeed she felt lost and her courage nearly
failed She had no experience with public men,
aud even Col. Carver did not seem so formid.
able as the President. But the Thought of
Adolphc, pale and suffering. gave her strength
her gentle manners and pretty face pleaded for
her; difficulties were yauqushed Que by ono
and at length She found herself before the great
man, ready 10 plead her cause. The President
was sadly wearicd; but he too was susceptible
to the charm OF the little woman who had dared
50 much. and, with patient sigh listened 10 her
story. With beating heart she told how she had
met and loved her husband when far away from
his post; how faithfully he had served till his
term was nearly out aud then had succumbcd
TO a climate that tried the stoutest; how i'll he
had been aud still was, and then she produced
fkp ffsif eli. I.,4
by the Captain. As she pleaded her cause all
thought Of self was forgotten, and no eloquence
could surpass the simple truth In return the
President asked her many questions, seeming
impressed with the fact that it was no common
case, and at last, she never knew how, but her
cause was won. To her 1t meant SO much, TO
the great Executive so iittle--Only sick sol
dier the less aud pretty woman's suit granted
but as sue departed with the pledge that speed
lily brought the coveted discharge no happier
woman dwelt in the length and breadth of the
land.
1t was a long journey. aud Katherine denied
herself the pleasure of placing the papers in
Adolphe's hands; but, thanks to Capt. Stanton,
it all came right at last, and a fcw weeks later
happy family began liio again amid smiles
and tears in the little cottage among the vines.
Rest and happiness soon brought health and
strength 10 the ex-soldieF, aud with them came
such prosperity rs he had never dreamed of See
luS hsdlD WIN Inc iTichuS lhlL Miss Patience
was able 10 bring about him IL was not difficult
10 find position where his education was in
valuable and, as the memory Of the past be-
came less painful, he once more opened com
muuication with his German friends. Earnest
efforts were made 70 induce him to return to the
Fatherland; but he felt that he owed too much
TO his wife 10 take her 10 country whose every
custom would be strange to her, and AS tho
years rolled on, and wealth came TO them in
various ways, he blessed the day that had made
him an American citizen.
Miss Patience was in "a few years gathered TO
her fathers, and the little home she beqneathcd
10 her beloved katherine became too valuable
for residence, aud Mr and Mrs. koemer re-
moved to more fashionable quarter Of the city
Little Guy grew up with no greater ambition
than to be scholar like his step father, and no
testimonials To his scholarship were 50 highly
priced AS the approval of those at home.
katherine grew old gracefully, as "A happy
woman should; and though for years she could
bear no reference TO her Army experience, so
fraught with Sadness in time she was able TO
look at IL spassionately, aud to SEQ that there
are few soldiers Of to-day with the culture and
bearing Of her husband.
Blun Col. Carver is to-day at the head Of his
regiment, as he was then and though he per-
mitted the efforts that eliminated in the dis
charge Of Scrg't ROemcr, he never forgaye his
marriage; but for all that Katherine kept "A
warm place in her heart for him, nor treasured
lfb 10 bar fI,s rd