The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-10-11
for good-by, Miss LOOMS suddenly burst

''Mr. Whitman, aren't you going to
ask us to come and see you off,"
The young man looked at her in sur
prise
"Why-" he stammered, then stopped.
For the first time he appreciated the
light in which he appeared to these
people.
Il should be very glad to see any of
my friends at the station, he said, with
an effort, but their murmured thanks
sounded cold. Then it suddenly dawned
on him and he glanced around the table
with glimmering smile.
would you all really like to 60 along
with me now, just like family party"
would we?' they cried in delighted
chorus; and Miss LOOMS added:
"Oh, Mr.. Whitman, you don't know
how proud I've been all day to think
had soldier of my own
"Why certainly" he cried briskly,
doing the proper thing with an ease
that surprised him. you can come right
along with me to the armory now, and
then 60 up to the station and bid me
goodbye. They'll all have some one to
see them off, and | shan't want to feel
odd"
And with a great furry and Chatter
the two young women hurried away for
their wraps.
Here, Mr. Whitman" cried Miss
LOOMS, as the quartette re-assembled,
you must show your colors," and she
snatched the tiny American flag from
her breast and pinned it to the front of
his blouse, trying to pat graceful fold
into the stiff little bit of cloth. 'Tll
keep the Cuban one, for the single star
will symbolic my lonely condition"
she added. with a touch OF coquetry.
and when l come back they will be
united forever" he answered, with a
flash of martial spirit.
Don't forget to look for me on the
sidewalk" said Mrs. Hartford, as they
started. 81 want to wave you good
bye
Il may miss you. though" said he,
taking both her hands, and when | say
goodbye ! want to thank you for all
you've done for me-
Goodbye, my dear boy, and God
bless you she answered with sob in
her voice, but looking up with shining
eyes And with sudden impulse, he
stopped and kissed the kind motherly
face
The other incidents of that memoir
able night were a blur of tossing BAN
ners. shouting crowds, tear stained
faces. and long lines of blue, shot with
glinting steel.
To the two women it was delightful
experience, despite the vague unpleas-
ant Juggling at the heart. They chung
close to the soldier boy, gloried in the
thought that they knew one OF the
brave young heroes, and shone proudly
in his reflected light. They had eyes
for none but him: and to them the two
modest white stripes on his sleeves were
a prouder badge than the gilded strap
on the shoulder of his colonel. They
handled and snapped his gun, poked
their fingers in the empty loops OF his
cartridge belt. sighed pityingly over his
bulky blanket roll. and wondered at the
bluntness of the bright bayonet: and
all the time they gaZed at him with such
admiring eyes that he must have been
embarrassed. had not lis comrades been
undergoing similar treatment from Wor-
shipping friends
1t was all a dazing realization of the
pomp and glory OF Wharf.-The martial.
echoing tumult in the huge armory, the
short march through the madly cheer
ing crowd. and the terrible crush and
the last wild moments III the sWarmlng
station And through it all the two
|
banded sleeve and crying, There he
isl at one another as if the others in
that sinuous line of blue were but phan-
TOMS Mr. Black was with them all the
while, but they We're conscious OF his
presence only when he was needed to
force them a passageway through the
crowd.
1t was not until they were at the sta
ton in the midst of that bedlam of
sound and motion, battling to hold their
cherished place, that the two women
began to realize what was behind it all.
They had caught from the crowd the
mad. daredevil spirit of patriotism that
wins battles and makes heroes; now as
they stood by the line of young sol
diers, and heard the fearful good-byes,
the thought came to them-that this
was not all of war, that the home com
ing of these men might be different-it,
indeed, they came home at all.
Mr.. Whitman's company was stand
ing at ease, momentarily expecting the
order to enter the cars beside them;
and the quartette had gathered for
what might be the last time.
Miss Loomis laid her hand on the
arm of the young corporal. and looked
up with all the coquetry gone from her
pretty lace.
Now. Mr.. Whitman" she said plead
ingly, Il can't tell you how proud we
are of you; but you mustn't go and do
anything rash. Don't try to fight all
the battle-for you must come back to
US
Her hand had fallen to her side, and
his slipped over it now. No one saw
the action in the pressure of the crowd.
Would it make any difference to you
if l didn't return" he asked, bending
down to read her face in the fantastic
light of the place.
Indeed it would" she answered
quickly; and perhaps something she
saw in his eyes sent that faint flush
into her cheeks.
With sudden movement he swept
the SLOUGH hat from his head and tore
from its front the crossed rifles.
'I'll leave you memento, anyhow"
he said, with laugh that was not
quite natural.
''Oh, Mr. Whitman she cried, fem
mime vanity gaining the ascendency,
chats awfully sweet of you. l just
longed for that, but | didn't dare ask
for it,
Its wonder thought-Tm usually
so stupid" he replied with frankness
that surprised them both. "May IT,