Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/309

Rh they called me an old woman or a hero. I had no longing for the latter distinction. The whole of those fourteen days that I was a soldier I spent in sighs and tears; I scarcely ate or slept, so that when I was discharged, I was but a shadow."

"So you were a soldier only fourteen days! Hm! that would suit Milo, if they would count his days as years," observed the miller.

"But I should not have suffered so much, had I known that a good friend was trying to pay me out, and, that my brother was offering to act as substitute. It came to me wholly as a surprise. My brother liked a soldier's life, and was in every way better adapted to it than I; still, I do not think that I am a coward! If it were necessary to guard family and home, I should be the first in the ranks. We are not all alike; one is adapted to this, another to that. Is it not so Theresa?"

Thus speaking, he placed his hand upon Theresa's shoulder and looked lovingly into her eyes.

"Yes, yes, John, you belong with us," replied Grandmother for her daughter, and all agreed with her, knowing Mr. Proshek's gentle disposition.

When the company was about to leave, Christina slipped into Grandmother's room, and drawing a letter from her bosom, upon whose seal was the impression of a soldier's button, said almost in a whisper: "From Jacob!"

"Indeed! And what does he write?" asked Grandmother.

Christina unfolded the letter and began to read slowly:

"My dearest Christina, I greet and kiss you a