Much searching communion passed between the sister-comrades, and at last in answer to the question, ’Can you not just now take life from God, just as you have done for thirty years?’ Kate replied with decision, ’Why, of course I can, and I will.’ Then the comrades rejoiced together, knelt in prayer, and when they rose, peace had returned to Kate’s heart and shone out of her eyes. ‘She looked ten years younger,’ says her comrade. ’I had an appointment to keep and she some shopping to do. She took a basket on her arm and tripped down the street with me as gaily as the girl she was when I first knew her.’
Shortly orders came to proceed to Headquarters. She was needed for training work in another part of the world.
Then, sudden, unexpected illness brought her face to face with eternity. After the doctor who gave the verdict had departed, the little maid went to Kate Lee’s room to see if she needed anything and found her in tears. ‘Leave me a little while,’ she said.
Alone with her Lord, Kate Lee realized many things. There was no mistake. Gently her Heavenly Father had been loosening her hold on the sword here, in preparation for higher service. This last trial of faith had been allowed that she might know at the end of her career, as at the beginnings of her service, that she chose the will of God before her own way. By-and-by the little maid, with leaden sorrow dragging at her heart, crept back to the Staff-Captain’s door. She started as she met Kate’s gaze. It was full of unutterable peace and joy. She smiled and stretched out her hands. ‘It is all well. God’s will is peace,’ she said. From that time until the end, only a few days later, except for the heat of the furnace of suffering, Satan’s fiery darts missed the mark. Kate had faced and overcome the last attack of the enemy. She won through to the end.
XIV
Off Duty
The Regulations of The Salvation Army provide for its officers to have, under ordinary circumstances, from two to three weeks’ furlough yearly. This respite from strain upon body and soul which the work involves is brief enough; it is due to their work, and it is expected that officers should make the most of it. To assist them, the authorities have instituted Homes of Rest at pleasant seaside resorts; at these institutions, for a very moderate charge, under good conditions and healthful surroundings, a thorough rest may be enjoyed. But officers are perfectly free to make their own arrangements if they so desire.
How did Kate Lee take her holidays? What spirit moved her when the pressure of responsibility for her particular charge was removed; when professionalism was, for the moment, dropped? ’Tell me about her holidays?’ I asked of an old lieutenant.
She replied: ’I never knew Adjutant Lee take a holiday in the usual sense of the word. If she furloughed in London, much of her time was spent in visiting her converts; if at the seaside, her Bible notes accompanied her thither, to be revised. A few years ago she and I spent a few days together in the country. For months the Adjutant had been working at very high pressure; she was too tired to read or write, but not too tired to meditate upon God and His goodness. Those five days are a precious memory to me because of the interchange of thought we enjoyed.’
So that officers may take their brief furlough without attracting attention to themselves, or receiving unlimited calls for service, they lay aside their uniform. The only ‘private’ clothing that Kate allowed herself were two or three white blouses, a panama hat for summer, and a blue felt for winter. These she wore, with her uniform blue serge skirt and ‘three-quarter’ jacket. When on holiday, she often travelled in her uniform so as to have more opportunities for blessing the people.