At the station Dog Monday
nearly went out of his head. He tore about and sent messages to Jem by
them all. Mr. Meredith read an address and Reta Crawford recited 'The
Piper.' The soldiers cheered her like mad and cried 'We'll follow--
we'll follow--we won't break faith,' and I felt so proud to think that
it was my dear brother who had written such a wonderful, heart-stirring
thing. And then I looked at the khaki ranks and wondered if those tall
fellows in uniform could be the boys I've laughed with and played with
and danced with and teased all my life. Something seems to have touched
them and set them apart. They have heard the Piper's call.
"Fred Arnold was in the battalion and I felt dreadfully about him, for I
realized that it was because of me that he was going away with such a
sorrowful expression. I couldn't help it but I felt as badly as if I
could.
"The last evening of his leave Fred came up to Ingleside and told me he
loved me and asked me if I would promise to marry him some day, if he
ever came back. He was desperately in earnest and I felt more wretched
than I ever did in my life. I couldn't promise him that--why, even if
there was no question of Ken, I don't care for Fred that way and never
could--but it seemed so cruel and heartless to send him away to the
front without any hope of comfort. I cried like a baby; and yet--oh, I
am afraid that there must be something incurably frivolous about me,
because, right in the middle of it all, with me crying and Fred looking
so wild and tragic, the thought popped into my head that it would be an
unendurable thing to see that nose across from me at the breakfast table
every morning of my life.
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