The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-05-18
knowing that the first tex irish romance
is over, It is yours. I will be YOU. true,
faithful wife. Mark" g..

but she had known all my plans, and
would allow no change In Them. So,
after two months ct ulo,l precious love
and fruit, months to me OF per:ec. hep
piness, I left her, appointed regimental
surgeon Of the l04th Vols,
an .n1ot writing history oftho war, so
I spare my readers the details Of my
liS u army surgeon. Adler pens than
mine bring such scenes home to US. My
letters from Lisa were frequent, long
and affectionate, and I wrote whenever
an'opportunity could DO seized. -
Winter came upon US, and last day Of
tho year found me covered with blood,
weary and busy working for the weand.
ed as they poured into our tents after
the battle Of Murfreesboro.\ / ~.
The New Years sun was raising,
when after short rest aud sleep, l
started out for the days duty among
the wounded. Soue two miles from
tho battlefield vas large barn, into
which many Of the most desperate ca.
SEES had been carried it was here that
had been ordered to assist my over
worked brethren in their task of al
leviating the sufferings of our poor boys,
groauiDg out their lives under every
torture, sword, shell and bullet could
infict.
I had been some hours busy, when
turning to new patient, familiar
face lay before me, With the hue OF
death already creeping over it. In an-
other moment was kneeling beside
Leon Curtis.
His lips wreathcd in faint smile as
he saw me.
"Almost over" he gasped.
"Can 1 do nothing for you 2" I ask.
ed. "Havs you no message, no token
b send to any one!''
Tell mother I fell fgbtins," he
said land, Marx, ask Lisa to forgive
me-
~.'For:whats?"
III destroyed her letters and Hu-
bert's I stole her engagement ring,
found it in her glove, and showed it to
him as her gift to me-"
civilian p. I cried.
'"Yes, and it was Of no use after all,
iosSns refused me. Set it all stfaight,
will you, Mark"
I motioned some one else to my place
and left him. For my life I could not
have answered him then.
My days trial were only beginning,
however. As I passed down the barn,
picking my way that no rude touch
should cause a groan as it fell upon
some shattered limb, I met Dr. Lewis,
an Old; friend, and one who had been
with me in many scenes like tho one
before US.
SHARK" he said, taking my hand,
II Was looking for you to aid me in an
operation. An officer is lying ia farm
house just beyond here, on this same
must 60 at once. Everybody is busy
here, and, At any rate, 1t is you want. !"
It was long, dangerous, and tedious
operation, and as I held the numbing
sponge ove1 the patients face I felt that
any respiration might be his last. Yet
-yet-his life was Lisa's one of hope
Of perfect happiness, for it was Hubert's
pallid face lay under my touch-Hu-
bert torn chest that DR.. Lewis handled
60 carefully and skilllulIy.
Every day saw him, and for two
long weeks not one ray of reason flashed
into his dulled eyes. He lay in state
Of stony apathy, suffering little, but dy-
ing from exhaustion.
Elf We could only rouse him." said
Dr.. Lewis ono morning, "only make
HIM care himself to live, l should
have hope"
The same conviction had come to my
mind, and l stood alone by his bedside
lighting the 6ercest battle of my life.
She was mine now, happily in my
love, making the browning hope Of my
life its return. Ihad loved her 50 long
90 psssionately, so hopelessly, and now
there Was bstwoen me and happiness
only this ono life. I had given faith.
fully my full surgeons skill, my time
and watohfulness to save it. No re-
roaeh could ever visit my heart if
these failed ; they had been offered full,
aud oonscientious)y. Az I stood Look
iog'dovn on the pallid face men,
ory rang out its voice in my heart, and
Toms words fell there slowly and sol.
euuly: T".
"will you accept for life the trust 1
give you-watching her happiness and
peace even above your own"
And ag,in my heart answered him.
"Heaven deal With me as am true
q NJ trust r {
Ny struggle was over. I bent over
Captain Wainwright and called his
sams.T ~ -
"Hubsrt." 4 *: .-~ =, ;.
The. dulled eyes turned to mo
"Do yoInot know me ? l am Mark
Temple, Lisa's guardian p "=
At the name of bis old love his eyes
flashed for moment, then the dull,
stolid look overshadowed them again.
"Hubertw urged again, Elisa was