The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-11-17

sbone by the goodness, as moonlight i.
merged in sunlight, and no longer perceived
t though still there. So, Jessie Freeman,
though very pretty, and, as 'aftervard.
i found, cleyer, was emphatically ana above
all thatrare and lovely thing good woman
: Truth in the clear, soft, brown eyes mod
esty in the quiet. graceful bearing of tn,
: Egiriish figure and small head 'firmhess and
fortitude in the curved and dlmpled ehin
: sweet temper and sense in the broad. low
forehead and sensitive mouth. That the rici
! masses of smoothly braided hair we're Q
Y glossy texture and sunny brown hue tina,
the slightly ernbrowned skin glowed witt
the soft flush and cfearness Of youth and
health that the light foot and ankle were
small and neatly turned, were items of very
minor Importance after those first eafdiaal
points had been made out.
] was glad that, under the preteft o
shielding Dilworth from an imaginary
draught, had caused . light screen to be
placed on the off.side Of his bed, so as to give
him the option, by drawing his curtain up to
the said screen, of making for himself and
his visitor quite private little nook, unscan.
ned by any curious eyes from other beds |;
for | could see that Jessie was trembling
with excitement, flushed with joy, alnost
fearful with sadness, and ready, on the
slightest extra provocstion, to lose the self
control which was already trembling in the
balance under the pressure of highly wrought
and conflicting emotions From this face of
hers it was pain that the interview would
end all rightly for Dilworth; so, with few
quiet words Of welcome, led her at once be-
hind the screen and there left her.
It was about two hours before, Iinterrupt.
ed them. Then found her sitting close to
Georges bedside, her hand firmly clasped
ip his, and both of them loeking radientlv
happy, though could see that poor little
Jessie had been crying abundantly, as we
foolish women do. alike when we are ex-
tren,ely happy or extremely sad. Sand so
you see, ma'am," said Dilworth. with hap.
py flush on his face, that was no longer sui
len, but frank and open,- "sns.s taken me
again, and it's all right"
"Indeed, ma am" said Jessie, with pret-
ty little air, between frapkness and hrcRness;
"and don't know as CO uld have brought
my pride to it if it bad not been for his leg.
One couldn't say mo to poor sick, maim-
ed lad, as he is now"
$50, jessie" observed L, ,itke lost leg
brought him back to you, and the lost leg
brought you back to him. Why, Dilworth,
you'll hardly think it calamity after this"
81 was just thinking of that, MN, before
you spoke" replied he gravely sand as
lay here with my dear lass hand in mine
once more, forgiven by her, and-as one may
say-in my right mind again, was trying
in way to thank God for that very thing.
Though lost leg does seem strange mer-
cy to be giving thanks for. But shouldn't
have had my lass here back again-no, may.
hap never-nor been fit to come nigh her,
if I'd ha' gone on as was agoing without
anything to pull me up. And my Jessie,
MN, she's worth a leg any day. And" he
added, flushing up slightly from that reserve
which most men feel in saying anything
about their personal feelings. especially their
religious feelings, "if you'd please, ma am,
to put the extra bit in the thanksgiving for
me this evening when you read prayers. I'll
be glad. You can say my name out full, if
you please, ma'an, for didn't ought to be
be ashamed to own it, when the Almighty's
been SO good to me.p
~ will take care and remember, Dill
worth," promised 1.
sand oh ma'am," began Jessie, show
ever can thank you-can we thank you
enough for nursing of him as you have done,
sittin' up Of nights, and how many more
Of my shining virtues were going to be reci
ted do not know. I believe the grateful
girl in her great gladness clothed all of US
hospital workers with attributes little short
of angelic. But interrupted her, for was
anxious to close the interview, which was
getting too much for the invalid, and
though: they had both Had quite enough Of
excited, emotional feeling. Nonsense"
was my unfeeling reply ~ have only done
my duty by him-and he was good case.
And now, Miss Jessie, you'll be good enough
to pack up your traps and take yourself off
without any more last words My patient
is getting as feyerish and excited as can be
and shall have him awake all night, toss.
ing about till he makes his leg bad. You
may come in tomorrow mornirg. and bring
clean apron and knife and fork with you,
and TN show you how to do some little
nursing jobs which you may f,d useful
when you're married. shall have George
moved into the little innor ward. and you
may stop and have biz of dinner with him
if you like. But be off now. I'm the most
savage and ilLteinpered Of head.nurses il
if anybody dares to disobey me-"
Jessie and Dilworth both laughed, but she
made haste nevertheless to put on her
shawl and BONNET. and bade him brief
good bye.
The next morning saw Jessie early at tie
hospital, and with her Georges mother A
kind OF awed grief and stern joy stru sgled
for the mastery on the old woman's face-a
face so like Dilworth's that should have
known her anywhere for his mother, and