The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-13

down upon those who heard the sad
news, two or three going TO the door
OF his quarters with the Doctor, and
| waiting there for another report.
THIS, urrhappjly, was worse. Deli
rum had come ON; tire poor fellow
was ravipg. and death was fighting
| for hisprey
Run over and ask the Colonel to
come and take charge of his papers" T"
! whispered tho Doctor to one of the
! men; she won't last six hours"
The Colonel came and sealed up
some letters lying about, placed them
In desk, the key of which he put in
bis pocket.
is there no hope, Doctor3" he
| asked, looking at Carter, who was
lying, muttering necessarily, shad-
dering, and clntching with his hands.
II never say that, SIR" said DIR.
Lewis; but I am afraid to hope
here
Poor young fellow." und the Co.
lionel laid his hand on the sick man s
burning forehead. ga fine, young,
soldier-like man, too; only one who
knew his work. A more Internal set
B
Poor lad, poor lad!'
The Colonel took his departure; but
III crossing the compound bethouglt
him that these same bunglers might
| not know the funeral service; so,
stopping soldier, he sent him for
the sergeant on duty, and ordered
the men to be told off for funeral
parade.
The man hesitated.
"Well, what is it?" asked the Colo
mel, impatiently. Don't they know
their work?"
"Well, sir, I am afraid p
damn your afraid" growled his
commanding officer. ssCan them out
now and parade them, drums and
flies. too, By Jove! I'll teach them
to know their duty before I've done
with them" and the Colonel walked
home and turned in, pretty consider
ably "riled,' as our Yankee friends
would say
Meantime, the fever had worn it.
self ont; and the sick man was lying
PROSTATE, exhausted. and with u
weak, hattering pulse, just tottering
upon the brink of that bourne from
which no traveller returns. The
night was like most nights in the hot
season, intensely still, the sulky
growl of a Pariah dog now and then
only breaking the silence. The Doc
tor had taken off his coat, and opened
every available aperture to let i'll ar;
the punkas were moving steadily, but
noiselessly, and Carter lay stretched
on his back, his face pallid and drawn.
his eyes closed, and no sound of life
issuing from his plrched lips. Sad
denly, shrilI and inexpressiblv sad.
the notes Of ihe funeral march rang
out on the still air, rising, falling,
note by note, in solemn measure.
For while. no change came over
Carriers face, no symptom that the
sound reached his ears; and, after
watching for u few seconds, the Doc
tor drew back, fully impressed with
the conviction that death was there at
last, and he was turning away, when
bright idea struck him. fhe could
only excltethe sinking pulse, and in
drce nature TO exert herself, she
might Yet have a tussle with death,
so, going lp 10 the bed. he said,
ci.eerily:
"D've hear thr music Carter, old
boy:
Carriers eyes opened. but with such
q weak, perpleNed look in them that
the Doctor. thinking delirium was
retnrn;ne, half regretted his expert
aeut; still, he WIS in for it, and went
boldly on:
Its yonr innecal they re parading
To-, Dick; sure, If you don't make m
effort, they'll bury you in spite OF
me. The Colonel was here Just now
and took leave ot yoU. Indeed, now,
vou must ronsn up and turn the tables
on The Oh TOOL; he's given us cheek
enou%h since he joined"
The expression on the sick nlan's
face changed, a faiat smile quivered
arro.a his lips. followed hy IT look of
incXp?es5ib!c relief
Il thought ii was all over, he
whispered, almost inandihlv, ''hnt
We'll cheat Them yet
And snrc enough he did
What hour did the Adjutant 20
OFT: ;: asked the Colonel, in q subdued
voice. IS Ni!ian saunteredin to early
tea
He began to mend at midnight
air, and was sitting up, walking into
cold chicken and sherry, when 1 left
HIM, ten minutes since. Its not often
q man can say he's listened to his own
funeral l..1.crl,. -