CHAPTER II.
DRAFTED.
MISS JESSIE smiled a little at Ada's assumption of womanhood when thetwo girls came over to drink tea.
"Ah," said Grandmother Darrell, wiping her glasses, "she's no such agirl as Kathie! The child's worth half a dozen of her. After all,there's no place like the country to bring up boys and girls."
For Grandmother Darrell, like a good many other people, fanciedeverything that came from the city must be more or less contaminated.
"I think Miss Darrell _would_ make your uncle a very nice wife," Adasaid, graciously. "Do you suppose there is anything in it?"
Kathie flushed scarlet, remembering the pain and trouble of last winter."I don't want to talk about it," she answered, in a low tone.
Ada nodded her head sagaciously. It was quite evident that she had hitupon the truth.
Some of the Brookside girls thought Ada "so splendid," Lottie Thorneamong them, who now treated Kathie in a very amiable manner, and alwaystook pains to speak with her as they came out of church. Of course,Lottie was growing older and a little more sensible, as well as worldlywise.
They took Ada to all the pleasant haunts, rowed over the lake, made twoor three visits, and Mrs. Alston invited some girls, or rather youngladies, to tea; but Ada showed a decided preference for the younggentlemen. Even unsuspicious Kathie remarked how soon her headachesdisappeared, and how ready she was to sing if some of the boys wouldstand at the piano and turn her music.
"A budding coquette," said Aunt Ruth, with a quiet smile.
"What a pity that girls should be reared to such idle, frivolous lives,and have their minds so filled with vanity and selfishness!" Mrs. Alstonreplied. "Can such blossoming bring forth good, wholesome fruit?"
Mr. Meredith felt a little annoyed. The visit was not quite the successhe had hoped, and he saw more clearly than ever the difference betweenthe two girls; but ah, how unlike their mothers were!
Was he growing more serious, clearer-eyed? What was there about thisfamily that charmed so insensibly? The higher motives, the worthierlives, with a more generous outlook for neighbor and friend!
Kathie was ashamed to confess it even to herself, but she said good byat the station with a sense of relief. For days a horrible thought hadbeen haunting her,--suppose Uncle Robert _should_ be drafted! Theabruptly terminated conversation had not been renewed; indeed, there hadbeen so many pleasures at Cedarwood that one hardly wanted to bring insuch a subject. But if it did happen, Kathie felt she should want nostranger eyes to witness her grief.
For when the question came directly home, she felt that she could notgive him up; yet how brave she had been last winter! If GeneralMackenzie could look into her heart, he would find that she hardlydeserved all his praise.
But all Brookside was much excited over the prospect. Business was verydull and bounties tempting; so numbers enlisted.
"Uncle Robert," Kathie said, as they were riding homeward, "could adrafted man offer a substitute just the same?"
"Why, yes, to be sure."
He uttered the words in such a light-hearted manner that she felt quiterelieved, but lacked courage to pursue the subject further. A littlequiver would keep rising from her heart to her throat, interfering withthe steadiness of her voice.
By Monday night seventy men were still needed to complete the quota.That gave Brookside about forty.
Kathie wondered how they could all go on with their usual routine. AuntRuth, even, sat by the window and sang "Bonnie Doon," as she sewed uponRob's outfit. His uncle had decided upon a school about sixty milesdistant, a flourishing collegiate institution, in a healthy locality,--aquaint, quiet, old-fashioned town, with a river where the boys couldhave boating and swimming.
"It is so far!" Mrs. Alston had said at first.
"Not too far, though. Of course we do not expect him to come home everyfew weeks. That always unsettles a boy."
So she made no further demur. The principal, Dr. Goldthwaite, was atruly religious man, and the place was held in high esteem. Perhaps thistook their thoughts a little from the subject that was so absorbing toKathie.
Rob went over to the hall and hung about all the morning. He did find agood deal of amusement in it. The crowd was disposed to be rather jolly,and several of the men took their luck with great good-humor. It was ashis uncle had said. While they would not willingly leave their homes andfamilies, still, if the country had need of them in her imminent peril,they would go. Others, sure of a substitute, took the news withunconcern. Only a few exhibited any anger, or declared loudly what theywould and what they would not do.
At three o'clock the printed list was complete, and the notices werebeing made up.
"So your uncle's in for it, Rob!" exclaimed a voice at his side.
"No, you're mistaken. I listened to every name."
"Here it is,--Robert Conover!"
Rob followed the grimy finger down the list. Sure enough! His heartstood still for a moment.
"He will get a sub, though! He'd be a fool to go when he's rich enoughto stay at home!"
"Yes, that's it!" and a burly fellow turned, facing them with a savagefrown. "It's the poor man this 'ere thing comes hard on! Rich men areall cowards! They kin stay to hum and nuss themselves in thechimbly-corner. I say they're cowards!"
Rob's heart swelled within him for a twofold reason. First, the shock.He had not been able to believe that the draft would touch them, and thesurprise was very great. Then to have his uncle called a coward! All theboy's hot, unreasoning indignation was ablaze.
"He is not!" he answered, fiercely.
"Say that agin and I'll knock you over!"
Rob was not to be dared or to be bullied into silence. He stood hisground manfully.
"I say that my uncle is no coward, whether he gets a substitute or not!"
The fellow squared off. It was Kit Kent, as he was commonly called, ablacksmith of notoriously unsteady habits.
"None of that!" and a form was interposed between Bob and hisassailant. "Hit a fellow of your size, Kent, not a boy like that."
"Let the youngster hold his tongue then! Much he knows!"
Rob did not stir, but his lips turned blue and almost cold with thepressure. If he had been a little larger, it seemed to him that he couldnot have let Kent alone.
"There's a chance for you to make some money," exclaimed a voice in thecrowd. "Six or seven hundred dollars, and you're grumbling about beingout of work! It's a golden opportunity, and you'll never find anotherlike it."
That turned the laugh upon Kent. Rob walked off presently. Turning intoa quiet street, he nearly ran over two men who stood talking.
"The trouble is that you can hardly find a substitute. Most of theable-bodied men who will go have enlisted or been drafted. The look ismighty poor!"
That startled Rob again. He began to feel pretty sober now. What if--
Kathie and Aunt Ruth had gone out into the garden, and were taking upsome flowers for winter.
"O Rob!" exclaimed Kathie, with a cry, "is there any news? It's theworst, I know," answering her own question, her breath almost stranglingher.
"Yes, it is the worst!"
"Uncle Robert has been drafted!" Kathie dropped her trowel and flew toher mother. "But he won't go," she sobbed; "do you think he will? Howcan we spare him?"
"It would be no worse for us than for hundreds of others," replied hermother. "Kathie, my darling, be brave until we know, at least."
"Where is he?"
"He went to Connor's Point with Mr. Langdon. Hush, dear, don't cry."
Kathie wiped away her tears. "It is very hard," she said. "I neverrealized before how hard it was."
But the flowers lost their charm. Kathie put away her implements, laidoff her garden-dress, as she called it,--a warm woollen sack andskirt,--and sat down, disconsolately enough, to practise her music. Nextweek she was going to school.
She heard Uncle Robert's voice on the porch at the side entrance. Robwas talking in great earnest; but somehow she
couldn't have gone out, ortrusted the voice still so full of tears.
He came in at length. "You have heard the news, Kitty?"
She rose and went to his arms, hid her face upon his shoulder. "O UncleRobert!"
"What ought I to do, little one?"
It was such a solemn question that she could not answer it readily,selfishly.
"Rob came very near getting into a row on my behalf. It was ratherfunny. Poor boy! I believe he would go willingly in my stead."
The story interested Kathie a good deal, and turned the current of herfeelings somewhat. Then one or two of the neighbors came in, and theyhad no more quiet until they gathered round the supper-table. Freddythought it a great honor to be drafted.
"Is it true that there is a scarcity of substitutes?" asked Rob of hisuncle.
"I believe it is. Mr. Langdon put in one about a month ago, and paid athousand dollars."
"But you could afford that," said Rob, decisively.
"What about the cowardice of the proceeding?"
Rob colored. The matter appeared so different to him now.
"O Uncle Robert!"--in a most deprecating tone.
"I will not perplex you, nor keep you in suspense," he said, gravely."If your father was alive I think I should not hesitate a moment. Thecountry is at her sorest need, and calls upon her loyal children forassistance. It is the duty of every man who can be spared to answer thecall, to swell the list so that the struggle may be brief. It seems tome that another year will certainly see our war ended, now that we havesuch brave and able generals in the field, but if the stress should beany greater, I _must_ respond. Now, however, I shall do my best toprocure a substitute."
They all drew a relieved breath. Kathie looked up with a tender light inher eyes.
"I am so glad!" she said afterward, nestling beside him upon the sofa."Did it surprise you when you heard that you were drafted?"
"I must confess that it did. I had a presentiment that I should escape,so it seems such things are not always to be depended upon."
Kathie was silent for some time, her eyes engrossed with a figure in thecarpet.
"Well, Miss Thoughtful, what is it now? Are you not satisfied to have mestay, or am I less of a hero in your eyes?"
"No, Uncle Robert. I was only thinking of the men who were compelled togo and did not want to, who had families to leave--"
"My darling, it is not necessary to lay the cares of others so deeply toheart. Instead, we must do all we can for those who are left behind."
"I don't think a draft quite a fair thing, after all," declared Rob,coming out of a brown study.
Mrs. Alston entered the room. "Mr. Morrison is over here and wishes tosee you,--Ethel's father."
Uncle Robert rose and went out.
In the mean while Aunt Ruth and Rob had quite a warm discussionconcerning the draft. Kathie somehow felt very tender-hearted, and wassilent.
Presently they heard steps in the hall and the door opened.
"I have brought Mr. Morrison in to see you all," Mr. Conover said, "andto explain to you that he desires to go in my stead, a willingsubstitute."
There was something very solemn and withal sweet in Uncle Robert'svoice. Rob winked away a tear, Kathie walked over to Mr. Morrison andlaid her hand in his,--a pretty white hand if she did dust the rooms anddo gardening with it.
"It is so very kind and generous in you," she began, falteringly,thinking of another love and another substitute.
"No, Miss Kathie, it isn't all pure generosity, so don't praise me toosoon. If I'd been real lucky about getting work, maybe I shouldn't havetaken the idea so strongly into my mind, or if poor Ethel's mother hadlived. But times are unsettled, and business of all kinds is so verydull that I'd half made up my mind to 'list and get the bounty. Thatwould be something for my little girl in case she didn't have me. Thenwhen I heard talk of the draft I thought to myself, 'If Mr. Conover getstaken I'll offer to go in his place'; and so I waited. Being anEnglishman, I am not liable, you know."
"And that makes it the more noble," returned Kathie, softly. "It was sogood to--to think of him"; and her voice sank to a whisper.
"You have all been so kind to my poor old mother, and to me, for thatmatter, as well. I seem to owe some sort of duty to you first."
"Did you mean to enlist any way?" asked Kathie.
"Yes, miss, it would have come to that; for, said I, 'Here is a countryand a government battling in a good cause, begging for men, and willingto provide for the little ones they may leave behind.' Though I shouldbe no skulk, nor eye-server, Miss Kathie, if I did go for the money."
"We should never think that of you," returned Uncle Robert, warmly.
"So I'll be glad to go in your place, sir, if it's any favor; and ifyou'll look after Ethel a little, if anything should happen to me. IfI'm too bold in asking--"
"No," said Aunt Ruth; "it will be a sacred duty, and a pleasure as well;but we shall count upon your return."
"Life is uncertain with us all," was the grave reply. With that he roseand bowed. Uncle Robert left the room with him, for he had much more tosay.
"I couldn't have uttered a word," exclaimed Rob, his voice still alittle tremulous. "Why, it's just like a dream! There are noble andheroic men who may go to war even for the money, though I think they area good deal sneered at,--subs, as the boys call them; but I shall neverridicule them again,--never, although bad men may do the same thing."
"It is not quite the same," subjoined Kathie.
"No, the motive makes a great difference."
Uncle Robert returned and took his seat between the children. Heappeared to be invested with a new virtue in their eyes, as if he hadjust escaped an imminent and deadly peril. And there is something in thesimplest act of chivalry that touches one's soul.
"It was so good in Mr. Morrison to think of you," Rob said, after awhile.
"Yes; going farther back, I don't know but we owe it all to Kathie. Ifshe had not thought of our trusty and efficient gardener, we shouldnever have known his brother. The lodge has made a charming home forthem, and they feel deeply grateful."
"It is worse to go away to war than I imagined," Rob continued, gravelyfollowing out his own musings.
"You have been looking at the glory and listening to the music, my boy;but there is quite another side to it. It is one thing to go out as amounted officer, in glittering uniform, with a servant to wait upon you,and if you fall in battle to have whole cities weep your loss, and quiteanother to tramp as a common soldier, often weary and footsore, to besubject to the caprice of those in authority, to work night and daysometimes, to stand in the front rank and be swept down by a terrificcharge, be trampled under foot and thrown into a nameless grave, perhapsforever lost to your kindred. It is no light matter, Rob, and requires agood deal of courage when a man does it intelligently."
"You wouldn't have gone out as a private, though!"
A grave smile crossed Uncle Robert's face "I should not have gone forthe glory, but the duty. Yes, Rob, I should have taken my place in theranks, and if the great Captain of all had said, 'Friend, come uphigher,' I should have trusted through his grace to be ready for thepromotion. But one goes in my stead."
Kathie thought of the One who had gone in the place of us all, beenmocked, derided, spit upon, and put to a cruel death. Maybe the restremembered it too, for there was no more talking. Their hearts were toofull.