For Love of Country | Page 6

here and now. Unless our people are willing to sacrifice
everything, we cannot maintain that glorious independence which has
been so brilliantly declared." He said this with all the boldness of the
Declaration itself; but she, being yet a woman, asked him wistfully,--
"Would you give me up, sacrifice me for country, then?"
"Not for the whole wide--" She laid a finger upon his lips.
"Hush, hush! Do not even speak treason to the creed. I am a daughter of
Virginia. My father, my brother, my friends, my people, and, yes, I will
say it, my lover are perilling their lives and have engaged their honor in
this contest for the independence of these colonies, for the cause of this
people, and the safeguarding of their liberties; and if I stood in the
pathway of liberty for a single instant, I should despise the man who
would not sweep me aside without a moment's hesitation." She spoke
with a pride and spirit which equalled his own, her head high in the air,
and her eyes flashing.
She had released her hands and had suited the gesture to the word,
throwing out her hand and arm with a movement of splendid freedom
and defiance. She was a woman of many moods and "infinite variety."
Each moment showed him something new to love. He caught the
outstretched hand,--the loose sleeve had fallen back from the wrist,--he
pressed his lips to the white arm, and said with all his soul in his
voice,--
"May God prevent me from ever facing the necessity of a choice like
that, Katharine! But indeed it is spirit like yours which makes men

believe the cause is not wholly desperate. When our women can so
speak and feel, we may confidently expect the blessing of God upon
our efforts."
"Father says that it is because General Washington knows the spirit of
the people, because he feels that even the youths and maidens, the little
children, cherish this feeling, he takes heart, and is confident of
ultimate success. I heard him say that no king could stand against a
united people."
"Would that you could have been in Paris with your father when he
pleaded with King Louis and his ministers for aid and recognition! We
might have returned with a better answer than paltry money and a few
thousand stand of arms, which are only promised, after all."
"Would that I were a man instead of being a weak, feeble woman!" she
exclaimed vehemently.
"Ah, but I very much prefer you as you are, Katharine, and 't is not
little that you can do. You can inspire men with your own patriotism, if
you will. There, for instance, is your friend Talbot. If you could
persuade him, with his wealth and position and influence in this
country, to join the army in New Jersey--" As she shook her head, he
continued:
"I am sure if he thought as I do of you, you could persuade him to
anything but treachery or dishonor." His calm smile of superiority
vanished in an expression of dismay at her reply,--
"Talbot! Hilary Talbot! Why, John, do you know that he is--well, they
say that he is in love with me. Everybody expects that we shall marry
some day. Do you see? These old estates join, and--"
"Kate, it is n't true, is it? You don't care for him, do you?" he
interrupted in sudden alarm.
"Care for him? Why, of course I care for him. I have known him ever
since I was a child; but I don't love him. Besides, he stays at home

while others are in the field. Silly boy, would I have let you kiss me in
the summer-house if it were so? No, sir! We are not such fine ladies as
your friends in the city of Philadelphia, perhaps, we Virginia country
girls upon whom your misses look with scorn, but no man kisses us,
and no man kisses me, upon the lips except the one I--that I must--let
me see--is the word 'obey'? Shall you make me obey you all the time,
John?"
"Pshaw, Katharine, you never obey anybody,--so your father says, at
least,--and if you will only love me, that will be sufficient."
"Love you!"--the night had fallen and no one was near--"love you,
John!" She kissed him bravely upon the lips. "Once, that's for me, my
own; twice, that's for my country; there is all my heart. Come, sir, we
must go in. There are lights in the house."
"Ah, Katharine, and there is light in my heart too."
As they came up the steps of the high pillared porch which completely
covered the face of the building, they were met, at the great door which
gave entrance to the spacious hallway extending through the house,