The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-03-30
A MYSTERY.

We were used to scenes Of pain aud
suffering at the G. hospital, and could
look on ghastly wounds, and faces on
which the mortal agony inflicted by
the surgeons probe and knife was
painted without blencl,iug or apparent
emotion. But when gallant Harry
belmont was brought in from "thc
'front.'" with hideous hole 10 his manly
breast, such as only Minnie ball could
make, great hush Of sorrow aud dis.
may fell upon us all. And when the
surgeons solemn words, 81 lie cannot
live three days. fell upon our ears,
the hush was broken by tho sobs of
strong men, as we'll as by the more
quiet weeping Of the female nurses, for
all of u, loved the brave young captain
as brother.
We lowered over his cot throughout
the day, and when night came, it was
agreed that one Of US should haSb the
special duty Of watching beside it
through the night, for fear that he
should waken from the lethsrgy which
seemed the prelude Of approaching
death, to ask for something that the
steward could no: obtain. And then l
pleaded for the privilege, and alter
some demur it was accorded me.
"Watch him very Closely said the
surgeon as | took my seat for the vigil
beside the cot of our favoritc, "ior at
any moment he is liably to come out of
the coma, and he may be wandering"
But | was very tired, aud about
midnight, do what | could, could not
keep my eyes from closing in half
unconscious reverie, which, after a
timo, merged into a ftful suubcr.
And very soon occurred the mystery
Of which it is my present task to tell
A bright dream Of the northern home
so far away, was fitting through my
brain, when suddenly seemed to be
impressed with some presence, that
held my body in thrall, while my
senses became almost preternaturally
acute. Opening my eyes at last, |
gazed towards tho couch Of tho wounded
captain, and by his side, with one
hand clasped in hers saw the figure of
ofa young aLd beautiful lady,whose eyes
were glaring down to his with such u
look Of plying tenderness, that / felt
sure at once she was his sweetheart.
] wondered much, however, how she
came there in the hospital at that hour
Of the night, when visitors had never
been admitted after sundown. And |
knew DR.. Vance, the surgeor-iS-c charge,
had his own brother been dying in
that place, and his father and mother
come to see him, would nevor have
admitted even them, only at. regular
hours. -,
/ was so exercised 10 mind, that II
was just opening my lips to question The
strange visitor, when l saw the stew
ard with . light, moving along the
lower end Of tie ward in such . way
as to bring our visitor between the
light and me, and then my heart stood
still The lamp the steward carried l
could still SEQ shining, aud l was look.
Ds through the form of the lady who |
'tood BY my patients bedside. |
i gsssd in ave upon the apparitiop |
Ior & few brief seconds. and then .
.orpor overca.ps me. sud l knew no |
more until the steward roughly shook
ny arm and bsde me to awake for
Captain belmont was no longer leth-
'rgic. but dslirious. But when
looked upon bis clear calm eye, told
he steward be was not dslirious. TsT
IL Nettis here I" be family asked
v ] bent over hin. /, ~
II did not qssstioo who "Nsttis"'
wAs, for l wss esrtais ! had sesn her |
Isnblancs, and l answered. calmly
"Nstsie has ben here, Captain Dali
seas. =. ~ 4 y. ssss nsv.:r wa