Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-03-26

men enrolled, and a guard placed over
them. And now, mother, we will have
some dinner; the soldier loves his
mess"
But events cannot be driven by
wishes; many things had to be set
tied before movement forward could
be made. Joris had his store to let
and the stock and goodwill to dispose
OF. Hyde's time was spent as a re.
cruitlng officer. In company with
Willet, Sears and McDougall. Hyde
might be seen enlistlng men, or or.
ganizing the Liberty Regiment" then
raising. Every days events famed
the temper of the city, although 1t
was soon evident that the first fight
ing would be done in the vicinity of
Boston.
For, three We s after that memoir
able April Sunday, Congress, in SEES
sion at Philadelphia, had recognized
the men in camp there as Continen-
tai army, the nucleus of the troops
that were to be raised for the defense
OF the country, and had commissioned
Col washington as commander.in-
chief to direct their operations. Then
every heart was in a state of the
greatest expectation and excitement.
In June the Van Heemskirk troops
were ready to leave for Boston-near-
~ six hundred young men, full of
pure purpose and brave thoughts, and
with all their illusions and enthusi.
asms undimmed.
The day before their departure. they
escorted Van Heemsklrk to his house.
1t would have been hard to find a
nobler looking leader than Joris. And
the bright young lads who followed
him looked like his sons, for most of
them strongly resembled him in per.
son; and any one might have been
sure, even II the roll had not shown
1t, that they were Van Brunts and Van
Ripers and Van Rensselaers, Roose-
velts, Westervelts and Terhunes.
Katherine and Lysbet had made the
nag of the new regiment-an orange
nag. with cluster of twelve blue
stars above the word liberty. It was
Lysbet's hands that gave it to them.
But few words were said. Lysbet and
Katherine could but stand and gaze
as heads were barred, and the orange
folds flung to the wind, and the in
spring word liberty saluted with
bright, upturned faces and a ringing
shout of welcome.
IL was to be the last evening at
home for Joris and Bran and HYDE.
and everything was done to make it
happy memory.
There had been some expectation of
Joanna and Batavius, but at the last
moment an excuse was sent. THE
child is sick, writes Batavius; but
think, then, it is Batavius that is
afraid, and not the child who Is sick"
said Joris."
After supper Bran went to bid
friend good-by, and, as Joris and Lys.
bet sat in the quiet parlor, Elder
Semple and his wife walked in. The
elder was sad and still. He took the
hands of Joris in his own and looked
him steadily in the face. Man Joris."
he said, whats sending you on sic a
daft.like errand?'
Joris smiled, and grasped tighter
his friends hand. $50 glad am to
see you at last, elder. AS in you came,
| was thinking about you. Let US
part good friends and brothers. II |
come not back"
tut, tut! You're sure and certain
to come back; and sac I'll save the
quarrel | hae wi you until then. |
came to speak anent things, in case
O. the warst, to tell you that IL any
one wants TO touch your wife or your
BARNS, a brick in your house, or a
flower in your garden plat, I'll stand
by all that's yours, to the last shilling
hae, and name shall harm them"
81 have a friend, then. have you,
Alexander Never this hour shall |
regret"
The old men bent to each other;
there were tears in their eyes. With
out speaking. they were aware of
kindness and faithfulness and graft
tude beyond the power of words.
Hyde and Katherine were walking
in the garden, lingering in the sweet
June twilight by the lilac hedge and
the river bank. An Hyde's business
was arranged; he was going into the
fight without any anxiety beyond such
as was natural to the circumstances.
While he was away his wife and son
were to remain with Lysbet If he
never came back, ample provision had
been made for his wife and sons wei.
fare but-and he suddenly turned to
Katherine, as II she had been con-
scious of his thoughts-"the war will
not last very long, dear heart, and
| when liberty Is won, and the founda,
ton for a great commonwealth laid
why then we will buy a large estate
somewhere upon the banks of this
beautiful river. A hundred years after
this, your descendants shall wander
among the treillages and cut hedges
and boxed walks. and say, What a
sweet taste our dear great. great
grandmother had!"
And Katherine laughed at his merry
talk and touched his sword. and asked
is it the old sword, my Richard?'
The old sword. Kate. my sweet
With it | won my wife. Oh, indeed
vest" He drew II partially from its
sheath, and unused moment. Then
| he slowly UNFINISHED the ribbon and
tassel of bullion at the hilt, and gave
1t into her hand. Il have a better
hilt.ribbon than that" he said, and
when we go into the house. will re-
trim my sword"
She thought little OF the remark at
the time, though she carefully put the
| furnished tassel away among her
dearest treasures; but It acquired a
new meaning in the morning The
troops were to leave very early, and.
soon after dawn. she heard the clatter
of ealloping horses, ana the calls OF
| tha men ne thew refined I'M aL their