Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21
CAPTAIN KATE.
WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOB THE EVENING
STAR

Illuminated the features Of . young girl, the
center of Q crowd Of half-curious, wholly in
terested spectators. Her costume, consisting
Of full, short skirt bright red jersey and broad
sun hat tied under her chin, told the observer
that she belonged to the now widely known Sal
walton Army. A few Of her followers, dressed
in loose trousers and red flannel shirts. filled
in the pauses of her address with shouts and
revival songs.
In a voice clear, sweet, yet piercing to the
outer edge of the crowd before her. she was
urging on her hearers the importance of laying
down all sins and burdens and taking up the
cross of Christ. Her great, dark eyes shining
with emotion, her cheeks glowing and her face
rejecting now anguish at the thought OF a lost
soul. now Joy over tho repentance OF a sinner,
she formed picture which first arrested and
finally fascinated the gaze of a young man
drawn thither by idle curiosity.
He stood listening to the sweet voice, which,
though somewhat strained from constant use
in open air. lent interest even to the hack
neyed phrases i'll which she spoke. Mentally
wondering at the delusion which could nerve a
young girl, apparently refined, to face such
crowds night after night and expose herself to
rudeness even insult he heard the young voice
exclaim MY friends, you say it is very hard
to give up all for Christ. but try All hardness
and suffering become sweetest pleasure when
borne for Him.
Il have given up country and kindred, and
have crossed the great ocean to bring to and
share with you the great happiness He has
granted me-"
Commenting mentally that the accent before
noticed by him was an evidence OF birth IN
some north of England village. our friend,
Graham Pierce by name, started to leave, but
was once more detained by the sweetness OF
her voice, which in the damp New England air
rang out in the notes of a familiar Salvation
hymn.
This closed the meeting and as the crowd
pushed impatiently down the street Graham
found himself directly behind the heroine OF
this little adventure, who now leaned rather
heavily on the arm of young Salvatlonlst
whom Graham had before noticed as remark
able for his extraordinary height ana size as
we'll as his beauty of face.
As they passed saloon from out crowd OF
loafers a half-drunken fellow reeled heavily
against the girl Turning to apologize he per
ceived her dress, and instantly shouted her
name, Captain Kate" coupled with a most in
sulting epithet. The young Samson escorting
her instantly dropped her hand from his arm,
and with one blow lifted her assailant from his
feet and hurled him into the gutter. amid the
applause of a crowd too thoroughly American
rude fellows punishment. Drawing his
companions hand once more through his
arm he hurried her away. and Ora
ham heard him answer her circumstances
against this exhibition Of anger with unmistak-
able love and passion iii his tone, and sympa-
thized through all his six feet of manhood with
tho young Savationist's words: They may
touch with their dirty tongues anything but
you, Kathie but I'll wiring their cursed necks
if they ever dare to mention your name with
anything but respect.
As the Young couple passed from view Ora
ham was conscious of keen desire to know
more of the history of this pair, who had SO
thoroughly won his interest. He wondered at
the well-chosen language of the young girl, at
the shapely hands and feet, at the poise of the
dainty brown curled head, until he suddenly
realized whittier all this was tending and
laughed outright, thinking, We'll, Graham. a
little more and you will be in love with q Saliva
ton Army captain. What would your mother
say to that?'
Graham Pierce belonged to one of the old fami-
lies OF Boston. With plenty of moneys thorough
collegiate training and most winsome manners.
he had long been a favOrite in exclusive Boston
circles. The young man was Indeed worthy OF
the liking he inspired, for he was both honor
able and manly. His mother lived for two
things, her son and the various charities which
occupied all her leisure moments. She was
loved and blessed by many a struggling soul,
and was ever ready to give help and sympathy
to the poor and suffering Of the great city in
which she lived.
Three months have passed since Graham's
adventure and the old Windsor Theater in Bos-
ton is packed to its utmost capacity. The Sal
walton Army excitement has reached Boston
with the November winds, which are sweeping
the leaves from the trees Of the old common,
and Boston has gone mad. Conservative pas
tors and rectors from their pulpits have thun-
dered out approval or denunciation, and the
old theater in which the army holds its meet
ings is occupied night after night by all classes
OF people DESTROYS OF seeing Tor themselves
these strange workers.
Mrs Pierce, accompanied by her son, sat in
the front Of the theater, drawn there. like many
others. partly by curiosity, partly by the strong
desire to see if there was anything in the move
ment which promised help to the long-suffer-
ing lower classes of her own city.
As Graham waits half impatient. half fear
full for the opening of the meeting he is telling
his mother OF his little adventure with the Sal
vationists. 81 had nearly forgotten the whole
occurrence" he says, when the words, Cap
tain Kate, in large letters on bill board
brought to my mind the blonde giants
Kathie.' have great desire TO see her in
these strange surroundings"
Poor girl :" his mother answers, land you
say she really seemed to be lady. SO young,
tOo-not over seventeen. l wonder. should she
prove worthy of it, il l could not help her to
some position more suited to her age and
nature!'
In another moment Kath;e stood before
them and III the voice so well remembered by
Graham began her exhortations, by her simple
pathos moving to tears many a hardened man
or woman. 1t was strange evening that fol-
lowed and Graham, for one, never forg 1t the
weird scene enacted in the dingy old theater
The red-shirted men rocking themselves to ana
fro In an ecsiacy of religious excitement, the
sudden beat Of the drums. the noise OF shaking
tambourines. the loud shouts of 'Glory to
Godr' "Amenr' ..Amenr' mingling with
tears ana grOans produced an effect more easily
imagined than described.
As the evening advanced the excitement in
creased: women screened and tainted men
tore off their watches, chains and ever the
coats from their shoulders aid threw them on
the stage, shouting: "A sacrifice for Jesus: the
singing grew wilder and louder; the drum beats
more heavy; and the scene would have been
uncomfortable to Gil aham but for the fascination
of the young woman, who seemed to him more
and more out OF place III the atmosphere of
Degradation and dirt. She, however. was
thoroughly in sympathy with the excitement,
and at the close OF the meeting dropped on her
knees on the front of the stage, and offered a
simple prayer Of thanksgiving that brought
tears to all eyes.
When the meeting was over Mrs. Pierce
climbed the steps leading to the stage accom-
panied by her son and her pastor. and Graham
was once more beside the girl who had so
such her name proved to be, was soon telling
of her life.
Il was left an orphan when only six years
DID," she said. but my good friends, Fred
Edgerton and his mother have cared for me
since. When this movement first started in
the English village which was my homo de-
cided to accompany Fred and his mother in
their iournev tn this conntrv tn form a hra,oh