Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-11-07

was conscious that he Dau zone DIS uu-
ty. How that letter was received, how
il was answered, we have seen.
One day there was sharp, fierce bat
| tie. The - Massachusetts regiment
was in it, and came out decimated; Co.
A was mere fragment, and its captain,
it was feared, had received a mortal
wound. He had fought with splendid
reckless bravery, were the fray was thick
est and hottest; there he was always in
the van; at last, with his clenched hand
pressed eonvulsively to his heart, he fell,
and was borne away senseess, tenderly
and reverently. as men bear heroes
When he awoke from what seemed
lone. troubled dream, he found himself
in rude hospital, with surgeon by his
side, holding in one hand bullet, and
in the other little morocco letter case,
gazing at them alternately, with quiz
zical smile. Captain Rick Randall look
ed at him with questioning eyes, and
feebly reached out his hand. :" A pref
ty narrow escape for you, my dear fell
low" said the surgeon; "here is but
let which WAS evidently intent on explor-
ing your heart-foTtunatoly on its way
it met an obstacle in the shape Of this
pocket book, and lost SO much Of its en-
ergy in penetrating it, that it was turned
aside little, and stopped short of its
destinations; the result is, that your peck
ct book has cIean-cut hole through it,
and that you have continuation of said
aperture uncomfortably near your heart.
However my dear fellow, jcsting aside,
although you are badly wounded, there
is no danger, if you are properly attend
cd. must try and find good nurse for
you." Poor Captain Rick and he had
really hoped to die he opened the let
ter case rs the kind surgeon hurried
away, and there, within it, was tiny
perfumed note, pierced through its cen
tire; he held it up before his eyes with
melancholy smle--the seal was cut COM
pletely out ! He wondered if that tails
manic initial was not craven forever
where the ball had lodged close by his
heart (; then he sighed and closed his
eyes. 1t was strange I! That morocco
letter case would never have been in that
left pocket but for the letter, which
was all it contained. = Maud
Hilton dreamed one night of battle
and strangely enough, she dreamed of
Rick Randall; she saw him at the head
of his men, with his sword aloh, and his
barred head proudly erect; she heard the
familiar voice ringing above the roar and
din There was a quick, sharp pang
through her heart, and she awoke, from
bling and weeping.
Next morning the newsboys cried I'm
der her window, "Another great battle !!
splendid victory Of the Union army |!
the enemy routed and flying list of the
killed and wounded % and somehow
their shrill, cherry voices seemed full of
foreboding, knell like.
When she leaned over her fathers
shoulder, rs he sat at the breakfast table,
one hour later, it was not without an in
ward shuddcr that her eyes searched the
columns for tho fatal list, with sort of
sceptical curiosity. She found it readily
enough, and followed it down carefully
with her finger; then, suddenly, she
caught her fathers arm with sharp
grasp, and over her face stole tho ashy
pallor we have seen once before; then
she bent down until her cheek brushed
his, and, hiding her face. wept silently,
softly. He did not ask why, for his eye
had followed her finger till it stopped at
this "Company a, wounded, Cap.
tain Richard Randall, MORALLY y That
was al All ! Maud Hilton, did you
think God had helped you crush your
love for him Afterwards, with lumi-
nous eyes, Maud sat, pale but calm, idly
balancing her spoon on the rim of her
coffee cup-suddehly she looked up to
her father, and said, quietly, 81 must
go y He did not ask where, for no
knew, and the remonstrance that rose to
his lips he did not utter, when he saw the
light of holy determination in her eyes.
Poor Captain Rick he had suffered
terribly with bis wound, and, at last, y
fever sat in upon him, that wasted him
20 mere ske1ton in one week; but the
crisis was over, and he was safe, though
if you had seen him lying there on his
rude bed, with sunken cheeks, closed
eyes, aud folded hands, you would have
thought him dead--he was so white and
motonless.
Maud Hilton thought so, rs she bent
gently over him, in the gathering twi-
| light Of an autumn afternoon, and Just
touched his forehead with cool, caressing
fingers; and her heart beat warningy.
Captain Rick know that touch in an in
stant; he opened his eyes and met her
fearful gaze; and then he drew from his
bosom morocco letter case, opened it
norvously, while she looked at him wan
derlngly, took out little note, and held
it up before her, have loved YOU al
ways, Maud" he said. "And | love
you, lick" she murmured, sinking on
her knees by tie humble bedside of the
wounded hero, and throwing her arms
around him.
THE SMALLEST NATION ON EARTH
Tho Montauk nation of Indians, once
one of the most powerful in America,
hos ,l,uindlad loxx,, m f,va ,1oronnc Tha:r