Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-17

low, poor fellow; We'll go and see if we
can find him out, said Herr Nevenstein.
"lll wager he'll not die; and my dear,
the sight of your pretty face will be worth
any quantity of doctors stuff to him, which
don't believe in," and he began to stamp
about the room, and puff and blow tre-
mendouslv. 6aa @aa
''He is in the room" said the English
doctor; ''but don't think it win be any
good your seeing him he is nearly gone.
His left arm has had to be amputated, and
he has received shot through the lungs.
On hearing this, the young lady the doc
tor addressed turned paler, and her lip
quivered.
There, there, my dear,n said the physi-
clan, perhaps was a little too rough;
he may get better. I'm sorry spoke so;
but you've no idea how hard we've worked
here-one man has to do the work of four.
ou must excuse me. Come along, and
above all, don't tell him he's looking i'll;
we don't tell any of them that asT
Through the long, low room they went,
along narrow gangway, between two
rows of beds. which filled the apartment.
Here, in every conceivable state of suffer-
ering, were the wounded, from the young
man of twenty to the bearded veteran OF
fifty. At last, pausing before bed, her
conductor raised his finger.
'IIush" ~ he said, che is asleep; you
had better not wake him." - -
He then turned to Sister Marcia, kind
| faced Sister of Charity, who was lowering
| about the beds, saying cheering work
to one. and arranging the pillows for
another s.ssse Asrs
'How long has our friend Fritz been
asleep?n he asked. ~ R
NEARLY two hours, ,tisirn was the reply
"Ah, them" said he. ''my medicine is
beginning to do him good. You had bet
ter sit in this chair by his bedside till he
awakes."
Gretchen (for it was she) bowed her as
sent; her heart was too full to speak. The
good doctor, saying he had to attend an
amputation, then left her.
She sat down and looked earnestly at
the sleeper. Could that wasted, shattered
form be the once strong and handsome
Fritz? She shed tears silently, and wept
in an agony of grief He began to muir
mur in his sleep, and she leant over him
to hear what he said. s.e
Come on! Advance, comrades What,
krantz, art hurt, man? Here let me carry
the standard. See, we plant it on the
embrasure-the enemy fall back; they
| rally, but fall back again, and retreat in
wild disorder" Then, after pause, he
spoke again: 20 Gretchen, thou art my
own love; but alas, thou art distant and
cold!' He kept repeating these words till
his voice died away in whisper At
length, after long watch for Gretchen,
he woke up. Oh, what Joy lighted up his
eyes! which were but now so lustreless,
and looked SO heavy
''Ah, Gretchen, is it you?" he said,
gazing into her eyes to assure himself Of
her identity. Il thought it was dream
at first"
"No, Fritz" she said, sit is no dream.
l am come to tell you how foolish and
stupid was. love you; and if you will
accept the hand which once spurned you,
| shall be very happy"
''But, Gretchen, dear, do you not see l
am poor shattered wreck, with only one
arm ?" said Fritz.
Yes, darling she replied; ''but mine
will suffice for our uses in passing through
| lfe's pilgrimage"
Fritz, of course, got well under the un-
ceasinX attention of his ''dear little Gree"
as he calls her. He was taken to his home;
| and if report speaks true, there is going
to be so joyous wedding in Kleburgh
that the little village does not know itself;
and Papas Nievenstein and Wrotislaw
walk about and shake hands, and offer
snuff to everybody in the exuberance of
their joy. So Fritz and Gretchen were
Happy at Last"