Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-07-29

The servant brought in his card.
Don't you want to see Mr. Fleming,
Lula ?"
"No, no" she sobbed.
am going down, and will send Marga.
ret up for you. You may be disappointed
in him, Lula ; but remember he is fighting
our battles for us; he is soldier, and as
such deserves comfort and kindness. Expect
nothing, but come down quietly when send
for you .....
owned to little trepidation myself; a
glance dispellcd it. He was u tall, robust
young man--almost handsome. His voice
tremblcd little as he responded to my well
come, and told me he could never tell all our
goodness had done for him. Lula's letter
came when he felt en-desperate-and
saved him. His regard for her seemed kind
OF reverence. While he was talking saw
Lula pceping in at the other end Of the draw.
ing room, and called her. At that name
he rose, dropped the cap he held, and went
peony--an old fashioned red one-but
smiling, and looking up at him from under
her long lashcs. lie offered her his hand
without word. Lula gave him hers, when
he kissed it As il she had been a princess
and he of the blood royal. She was a little
afraid Of him at first; but all shyness wore
off when Johnnie came home, and went into
complete state Of admiration. Mr. Nelson
asked him to stay with US during his leave,
and was afterwards very glad he did so,
for that week gave me thorough knowledge
of him, and when he left us loved him as
il he had been one Of mine.
For long time after Mr.. Flcmings de-
parturc Johnnie and Lula played,army plays
exclusively. They drilled with canes, got
up camp suppers, fought battles, were taken
by guerrillas s-embodments of the stories OF
their friend. A few letters passed between
us, for now took the bulk of the corrcspon.
dence then the campaign began, and we
heard nothing was sure, from the silence
that followed Gettysburg, in which his rcgi
ment took part, that something had happened
to him. Mr.. Nelson vainly inquired. lie was
thought to be a prisoner, but it was not pos
itively known. Lula and Johnnie could not
realize our fears. To be prisoner was q
fine thing in their eyes What a story Mr.
Fleming would have to tell them
That fall we went to Baltimore to visit an
old aunt, and in the course of our stay We
went to see the hospitals. AS never los,
any chance Of hearing Of the lost Fleming
| told his story to the pleasant yong nurse
who walked about with us. She had been
to the front, in the very first rank of those
who went 10 care for the wounded.
There was Captain Fleming i'll in one o
the wards, dying of the wounds received a,
Gettysburg. She did not know his frs,
name or anything about him, except that he
had no friends to whom news of his condi
ton could be sent. asked her to point him
| out, for misgivng seized me. Surely il
was he, white and changed. drew back
fearing he would see me too suddenly. The
nurse spoke, and told him some one had
come to see him A little color flashed into
| low turned his face into the pillow and sobb
ed cried too. why didn't you let us
! know where you were ? asked at last.
Il did said he but my letters had beer
unanswered fer so long that | thought per
haps you had done enough for me, so wrot,
no more. Isn't Lula here?'
You shall see her to morrow. When yor
are Il little stronger, and can be moved, yol
must come to US. We Will nurse you wei
again
/ shall soon be well enough to be moved,
said he, with a melancholy significance, blu
not to your house, dear lady. Do you thinl
Lula will know me | hope she will not b,
afraid again. You will bring her to.mor
row.
promised-and the next day VIC came
Lula knew he was very i'll, but she was no
quite prepared for the white face, the grea
black eyes, with their eager, intense glance
lie smiled, and motioneh her to come nea
him.
Then you didn't forget your soldier, afte
an?'
oh. didn't didn't.r And both tn,
soft arms went round his neck Cant yol
get up, poor Mr.. FlcmingT
DO you know said he, holding her L
him with bis little strength, they have
made me captain, and given me a sword
Lula, | must give il to you with my owl
hands. know you will keep it FOR my sake
| If never disgraced my office never hesitat
ed in nv duty, never doubted in tho cause
at last, it was because knew Lula loved mi
and believed in mo. There it is. VIII yol
bring it to me p
Lula was greatly afraid Of any weapon,
knew. saw her pause and turn from hin
to the sword. ...
1T will not hurt you, my child said l.
1t is in it's sheath
SO the dimpled, inexpert hands brought il
to the bedside. He graspcd it by the hilt
and held her hand with his there. A moment
passed in silence / thought ho prayed.
| Now good-by, dear little one When
get well will come for the sword. Keep i
for me- Will you kiss me, Lula?'
| She stopped her pouting mouth to his, and
| then looking up to me, one arm hugging the
fearful sword held out the other hand to b'
led away. The soft eyes were full Of awe
She did not cry, but sat very still In tho car
riage. When her father came in Mt night
and Lula tried to tell him verything, she
could not for her sobs.
The next day Mr. Nelson went with me tt
the hospital but all was over. We told Lula
that Mr.. Fleming was WELL God had taker
him home to his mother and father.
A few days after my husband went tt
Washington and succeeded in seeing Elem
ing's colonel, who spoke Of our soldier in
unqualified praise.
| Il gave him a sword said he, for h,
saved my life oIce that day. His bravery
won him his shoulder straps and-a grave
Proud fellow he lay suffering in Baltimore
and would not let me know. | would have
given all own to have found him.
w nen we were once more at nome ner Ia
ther hung the sword on the wall Of Lula's
| room.
MY little girl must remember said he
turning and seeing the tears r,inning dowr
her cheeks, that Captain Fleming never fail
ed in bis duty, died ia doing it. See must
guard purely what he won bravely. A child
may live the life OF soldier in its highest
sense. Lula, may yours never dishonor the
sword =
WoULDN'T DO Ir.-Thc Marengo Reuie,i
threatens TO publish the names Of all its de
iinquent subscribers. We would not do it
but would learn to have ~ such subscribers
IF newspaper publishers don't know any
better than to trust their papers to everybody
| they ought to stand the inevitable logs with
out grumblng. We have cut off quite ,
number in arrears. who show no disposition
to pay up. But we shall let them slide W.
can stand the loss better than they can carry
the burden Of the sin Of cheating an editor.
They should remember, however, that st
Peter admits no one to his quarters in deb
to the printer.
l,.J k.tto. ,ottIo xho.~ I;styo LII. =,