St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1862-01-02

M doubt Of it. sir. no doubt: was the
hasty reply If The surgeon, As he PASSED
on i ..
The hour of midnight had struck from
the great clock in the hall. Slowly and
solsannly il knclled the departing mo-
mc,,t., and its echo rolled through the
halls. vibrating en many an ear th"t
would never hear che sound of the ssrik.
ing heus. again. The chaplain still sat
ur In hiS own room. writing letters k'r
three or four of the wounded %.ldirrs. aud
= strange stiffness cell around him ~ hs
cl..se,l the last sheet and sat back with
folded hands. to think. lie could not
tell Why. but 10 what aud 60 shere he
w"xlL. the face At the young VOLUNTEERS
with whom he bad spoken last. haunted
him. lie arose to move to tho window
whcie the breeze was cooler. when .
knock Mas heard at the door ard =
rapid voice calling. Chaplain IL. hur-
riej 10 lift the latch. The surgeon
stood there. looking like shadow in the
dim moonlight that crept into the passage.
Chaplain. sorry 70 disturb you. aud
more sorry still to give you an unpleasant
duty to perform"
why, what is it, was the quick re-
j"indcr.
That 6ns young fellow whom you
talked with i. going.
What. you DO not mean'--
Won't live an hour. or two =, the mast.
I tried to tell him. but I couldn't; and
finally thought VI you. you can case
it. you know
4 great shadow fell On tho ch.plain:
for uomcnt he wss stunned aud checked.
aud his voice grew husky a. he made
reply.
IL 10 sad erranl. but none the less
my duty. Poor fellow! can't realize it.
indeed CANNOT. His voice wac 50
strong; his nanner 90 natural: Ill be
there presently Aud left alone. he
threw himself upon his knee. to wrrs,lc
for streag,I. i" prayer.
The at,u".phcre was filled with low
signs from the strugglcrs with pain aud
discase. Going softly up to the couch At
which he had stood bcf"rc. the chaplain
gained upon the face before him. II
looked n. calm as that of sleeping infant.
but he did not sleep. IIcsrin: slight
Noise. his eyes Jew open aud rested in
so,ae surprise upon that chaplain.
i felt ~ ii must see you again before
I RETIRED said the latter, striving to stea-
Jy his voice. How DO you feel now ?
%: better. I thank you; in fact slm"-t
we'll. The pal" is gone. and ! feel quite
/ rather think the surgeon
does. though he said n",hing.'
Again that fearful swelling in the chap
lain. throat. How should he tell him
Of ha> d.nscr-how prepare the minl >"
cslnsly resting on almost = certainty =
the poor. hopeful soul. that would nevrr
hook with earthly eyes on the m"ther lac
20 lang.d for. Another moment. and the
youn. man appeared I" be str':ck with
some peculiarly in the face or movements
"f the chaplain. The large eyes sough,
his with infensencss that Was painful. and
he .tr"vc to interpret that which male
the difference between this aud has former
Your cares weary you. chspl~in.' lac
sail quietly: 'y"n "n.s be very faithful.
for it !. past midnight
i was on the point If going h he'd
when was called to prepare dy ing man
for his last hour Was the fearful response.
'lnie~3: what poor fellow s'rs n~At:'
r.join.l the y"uns man. with Look Of
,nenr"ful inquiry.
There was no answer: f"r the wealth Of
world. the chsplain could n". have spoken
now. That tone 50 unconscious "f danger;
that eye - full If sympathy: Still
strange silence: Wha, did it moan: Tn.
sick mans inquiring glance changed fer
a moment ~ Que Of intense terror. H.
RAISED b.th arms-lst them fall heavily
upon the coverlct at his side. AMI in
voice totally altered by emotion, he
gasTc;:
Great Heaven. you mean me-
NY dear friend said thu chaplain, un-
manned.
u am "a die shen-anl-- -lomgF'
his eye once more sought that Of the
chaplain.
You have made your peace with God.
let death come ~ soon IN twill. He will
carry you over the river
Yes: but this is awfully suA,len: aw-
fully sudden: hi. lips qnivered; he locked
mp grievingly-'snd shall not see my
mother
Christ is better than mother" paur.
INJURED the chaplain.
Yes The word came in . whisper.
His eyes were closed: the lips that wore
hat trembling grief, A. it the ehastise-
meat we're too sore. too hard 10 be borne.
but as the n,iSutes passed. and the soul
lifted itself stronger and more steadily
upon the wings Of prayer. the co"stenance
grew calncr. the lip sscadicr. and when
the eye. were opened again. there was
light in their depths that could have come
only from heaven.
i thank you far your courage be said.
mere fecbly. taking the hand Of the
chaplain. The bitterness il over now.
and ! feel willing to die. Tell my moth
cr'--he paused. gave one sob. dry aud fall
Of the last anguish of carth-.tell her how
I lonscd 10 see her. but If God viii ner-