the portygee-第52节

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in　a　different　way　。　。　。　some　different。　。　。　。　　Um…hm。　。　。　。　　Yes；
indeed。〃

Two　letters　came　to　Albert　before　that　week　ended。　　The　first　was
from　Madeline。　　He　had　written　her　of　his　intention　to　enlist　and
this　was　her　reply。　　The　letter　had　evidently　been　smuggled　past
the　censor；　for　it　contained　much　which　Mrs。　Fosdick　would　have
blue…penciled。　　Its　contents　were　a　blend　of　praise　and　blame；　of
exaltation　and　depression。　　He　was　a　hero；　and　so　brave；　and　she
was　so　proud　of　him。　　It　was　wonderful　his　daring　to　go；　and　just
what　she　would　have　expected　of　her　hero。　　If　only　she　might　see
him　in　his　uniform。　　So　many　of　the　fellows　she　knew　had　enlisted。
They　were　wonderfully　brave；　too；　although　of　course　nothing　like
as　wonderful　as　her　own　etcetera；　etcetera。　　She　had　seen　some　of
THEM　in　their　uniforms　and　they　were　PERFECTLY　SPLENDID。　　But　they
were　officers；　or　they　were　going　to　be。　　Why　wasn't　he　going　to　be
an　officer？　　It　was　so　much　nicer　to　be　an　officer。　　And　if　he　were
one　he　might　not　have　to　go　away　to　fight　nearly　so　soon。　　Officers
stayed　here　longer　and　studied；　you　know。　　Mother　had　said
something　about　〃a　common　private；〃　and　she　did　not　like　it。　　But
never　mind；　she　would　be　just　as　proud　no　matter　what　he　was。　　And
she　should　dream　of　him　and　think　of　him　always　and　always。　　And
perhaps　he　might　be　so　brave　and　wonderful　that　he　would　be　given
one　of　those　war　crosses；　the　Croix　de　Guerre　or　something。　　She
was　sure　he　would。　　But　oh；　no　matter　what　happened；　he　must　not　go
where　it　was　TOO　dangerous。　　Suppose　he　should　be　wounded。　　Oh；
suppose；　SUPPOSE　he　should　be　killed。　　What　would　she　do　then？
What　would　become　of　her？　　MUST　he　go；　after　all？　　Couldn't　he　stay
at　home　and　study　or　something；　for　a　while；　you　know？　　She　should
be　so　lonely　after　he　was　gone。　　And　so　frightened　and　so　anxious。
And　he　wouldn't　forget　her；　would　he；　no　matter　where　he　went？
Because　she　never；　never；　never　would　forget　him　for　a　moment。　　And
he　must　write　every　day。　　And

The　letter　was　fourteen　pages　long。

The　other　letter　was　a　surprise。　　It　was　from　Helen。　　The　Reverend
Mr。　Kendall　had　been　told　of　Albert's　intended　enlistment　and　had
written　his　daughter。


So　you　are　going　into　the　war；　Albert　（she　wrote）。　　I　am　not
surprised　because　I　expected　you　would　do　just　that。　　It　is　what
all　of　us　would　like　to　do；　I'm　sure；　and　you　were　always　anxious
to　go；　even　before　the　United　States　came　in。　　So　I　am　writing　this
merely　to　congratulate　you　and　to　wish　you　the　very　best　of　good
luck。　　Father　says　you　are　not　going　to　try　for　a　commission　but
intend　enlisting　as　a　private。　　I　suppose　that　is　because　you　think
you　may　get　to　the　actual　fighting　sooner。　　I　think　I　understand
and　appreciate　that　feeling　too；　but　are　you　sure　it　is　the　best
plan？　　You　want　to　be　of　the　greatest　service　to　the　country　and
with　your　education　and　brains　　This　ISN'T　flattery；　because　it
is　truedon't　you　think　you　might　help　more　if　you　were　in　command
of　men？　　Of　course　I　don't　know；　being　only　a　girl；　but　I　have　been
wondering。　　No　doubt　you　know　best　and　probably　it　is　settled
before　this；　at　any　rate；　please　don't　think　that　I　intend　butting
in。　　〃Butting　in〃　is　not　at　all　a　proper　expression　for　a
schoolmarm　to　use　but　it　is　a　relief　to　be　human　occasionally。
Whatever　you　do　I　am　sure　will　be　the　right　thing　and　I　know　all
your　friends　are　going　to　be　very；　very　proud　of　you。　　I　shall　hear
of　you　through　the　people　at　home；　I　know；　and　I　shall　be　anxious
to　hear。　　I　don't　know　what　I　shall　do　to　help　the　cause；　but　I
hope　to　do　something。　　A　musket　is　prohibitive　to　females　but　the
knitting　needle　is　ours　and　I　CAN　handle　that；　if　I　do　say　it。　　And
I　MAY　go　in　for　Red　Cross　work　altogether。　　But　I　don't　count　much；
and　you　men　do；　and　this　is　your　day。　　Please；　for　the　sake　of　your
grandparents　and　all　your　friends；　don't　take　unnecessary　chances。
I　can　see　your　face　as　you　read　that　and　think　that　I　am　a　silly
idiot。　　I'm　not　and　I　mean　what　I　say。　　You　see　I　know　YOU　and　I
know　you　will　not　be　content　to　do　the　ordinary　thing。　　We　want　you
to　distinguish　yourself；　but　also　we　want　you　to　come　back　whole
and　sound；　if　it　is　possible。　　We　shall　think　of　you　a　great　deal。
And　please；　in　the　midst　of　the　excitement　of　the　BIG　work　you　are
doing；　don't　forget　us　home　folk；　including　your　friend；

HELEN　KENDALL。


Albert's　feelings　when　he　read　this　letter　were　divided。　　He
enjoyed　hearing　from　Helen。　　The　letter　was　just　like　herself；
sensible　and　good…humored　and　friendly。　　There　were　no　hysterics　in
it　and　no　heroics　but　he　knew　that　no　one　except　his　grandparents
and　Rachel　and　Labanand；　of　course；　his　own　Madelinewould　think
of　him　oftener　or　be　more　anxious　for　his　safety　and　welfare　than
Helen。　　He　was　glad　she　was　his　friend；　very　glad。　　But　he　almost
wished　she　had　not　written。　　He　felt　a　bit　guilty　at　having
received　the　letter。　　He　was　pretty　sure　that　Madeline　would　not
like　the　idea。　　He　was　tempted　to　say　nothing　concerning　it　in　his
next　letter　to　his　affianced；　but　that　seemed　underhanded　and
cowardly；　so　he　told　her。　　And　in　her　next　letter　to　him　Madeline
made　no　reference　at　all　to　Helen　or　her　epistle；　so　he　knew　she
was　displeased。　　And　he　was　miserable　in　consequence。

But　his　misery　did　not　last　long。　　The　happenings　which　followed
crowded　it　from　his　mind；　and　from　Madeline's　also；　for　that
matter。　　One　morning；　having　told　no　one　except　his　grandfather
of　his　intention；　he　took　the　morning　train　to　Boston。　　When　he
returned　the　next　day　he　was　Uncle　Sam's　man；　sworn　in　and
accepted。　　He　had　passed　the　physical　examination　with　flying
colors　and　the　recruiting　officers　expressed　themselves　as　being
glad　to　get　him。　　He　was　home　for　but　one　day　leave；　then　he　must
go　to　stay。　　He　had　debated　the　question　of　going　in　for　a
commission；　but　those　were　the　early　days　of　our　participation　in
the　war　and　a　Plattsburg　training　or　at　least　some　sort　of　military
education　was　almost　an　essential。　　He　did　not　want　to　wait；　as　he
had　told　his　grandfather；　he　wanted　to　fight。　　So　he　enlisted　as　a
private。

And　when　the　brief　leave　was　over　he　took　the　train　for　Boston；
no　longer　Alberto　Miguel　Carlos　Speranza；　South　Harniss's　Beau
Brummel；　poet　and　Portygee；　but　Private　Speranza；　U。S。A。　　The
farewells　were　brief　and　no　one　criedmuch。　　His　grandmother
hugged　and　kissed　him；　Rachel　looked　very　much　as　if　she　wanted　to。
Laban　and　Issachar　shook　hands　with　him。

〃Good　luck　to　you；　boy；〃　said　Mr。　Keeler。　　〃All　the　luck　there　is。〃

〃Same　to　you；　old　man；〃　replied　Albert。　　Then；　in　a　lower　tone；　he
added；　〃We'll　fight　it　out　together；　eh？〃

〃We'll　try。　　Yes；　yes。　　We'll　try。　　So　long；　Al。〃

Issachar　struck　the　reassuring　note。　　〃Don't　fret　about　things　in
the　office；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　look　out　for　'em　long's　I　keep　my
health。〃

〃Be　sure　and　keep　that；　Issy。〃

〃You　bet　you！　　Only　thing　that's　liable　to　break　it　down　is　over…
work。〃

Captain　Zelotes　said　very　little。　　〃Write　us　when　you　can；　Al；〃　he
said。　　〃And　come　home　whenever　you　get　leave。〃

〃You　may　be　sure　of　that；　Grandfather。　　And　after　I　get　to　camp
perhaps　you　can　come　and　see　me。〃

〃Maybe　so。　　Will　if　I　can。　。　。　。　　Well；　Al；　I　。　。　。　I。　。　。　。　　Good
luck　to　you；　son。〃

〃Thank　you；　Grandfather。〃

They　shook　hands。　　Each　looked　as　if　there　was　more　he　would　have
liked　to　say　but　found　the　saying　hard。　　Then　the　engine　bell　rang
and　the　hands　fell　apart。　　The　little　group　on　the　station　platform
watched　the　train　disappear。　　Mrs。　Snow　and　Rachel　wiped　their　eyes
with　their　handkerchiefs。　　Captain　Zelotes　gently　patted　his　wife's
shoulder。

〃The　team's　waitin'；　Mother；〃　he　said。　　〃Labe'll　drive　you　and
Rachel　home。〃

〃Butbut　ain't　you　comin'；　too；　Zelotes？〃　faltered　Olive。　　Her
husband　shook　his　head。

〃Not　now；　Mother；〃　he　answered。　　〃Got　to　go　back　to　the　office。〃

He　stood　for　an　instant　looking　at　the　faint　smear　of　smoke　above
the　curve　in　the　track。　　Then；　without　another　word；　he　strode　off
in　the　direction　of　Z。　Snow　and　Co。's　buildings。　　Issachar　Price
sniffed。

〃Crimus；〃　he　whispered　to　Laban；　as　the　latter　passed　him　on　the
way　to　where　Jessamine；　the　Snow　horse；　was　tied；　〃the　old　man
takes　it　cool；　don't　he！　　I　kind　of　imagined　he'd　be　sort　of　shook
up　by　Al's　goin'　off　to　war；　but　he　don't　seem　to　feel　it　a　mite。〃

Keeler　looked　at　him　in　wonder。　　Then　he　drew　a　long　breath。

〃Is；〃　he　said；　slowly；　〃it　is　a　mighty　good　thing　for　the　Seven
Wise　Men　of　Greece　that　they　ain't　alive　now。〃

It　was　Issachar's　turn　to　stare。　　〃Eh？〃　he　queried。　　〃The　Seven
Wise　Men　of　Which？　　Good　thing　for　'em　they　ain't　alive？　　What　kind
of　talk's　that？　　Why　is　it　a　good　thing？〃

Laban　spoke　over　his　shoulder。　　〃Because；〃　he　drawled；　〃if　they　was
alive　now　they'd　be　so　jealous　of　you　they'd　commit　suicide。　　Yes；
they　would。　。　。　。　　Yes；　yes。〃

With　which　enigmatical　remark　he　left　Mr。　Price　and　turned　his
attention　to　the　tethered　Jessamine。

And　then　began　a　new　period；　a　new　life　at　the　Snow　place　and　in
the　office　of　Z。　Snow　and　Co。　　Or；　rather；　life　in　the　old　house
and　at　the　lumber　and　hardware　office　slumped　back　i