Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-31
written for the Delaware State Journal
STRANGE STORY!
By Gussie Deb.

By Gussie Deb.
p Twas Htrange--'twns passing strange
Twas pltiful-'twas wondcrouH pitilul
The land stood upright like some royal
qneen holding out her two arms, saying
"Come," and, the sea, at this bidding
rushed TO the embrace like courticr
Kissing the hem of her garment. The
curve thus formed by sea and land gave
Wild, picturesque drive along the strand.
On one side, straight, high wall of
blnhs rose abruptly, screening the town
which lay behind; on the other, the
ever [surging waves Of the restless sea,
murmuring monotonously. At either end
OF this curve bold, sharp promontory
jutted out and overlooked the sweep Of
waters. Upon the eastern point stood the
lighthouse, like a sentry at his post; and
here the ships came in, and the busy town
most did congregate. Upon the opposite
headand, and, some little distance from
the village, there stood large, strongly
bult house, massive, with its huge stone
upon stone-and grand in its solitary glO-
ry. Tradition said ii bad been built many
years ago by an eccentric old maiden
lady, who, dying before it was quite com
Fleted, bequeathed it to the State, to be
used as hospital and so, when the late
war alleu all our cities and towns with Its
Victims, tho old house did duty at "a militia
ri hospital. Away from the tumult of the
busy village life, and where nosound could
mach sensitive ears, II was capital situa-
tion for the sick and, altho', the legend
ran, that "the ghost Of the ancient maid
o. haunted the halls" the soldiers were
never disturbed by its visitation, but soon
grew to owe their cool quiet through the
heat of fever, and the weary waiting for
wounds to heal, and not few were lolhe
81 leave when their summons to battle
aud their ''discharge" came Simultaneous
".
Among the candidates for surgeon, at
the opening of the hospital for military
purposes, in the spring Of 1869, there was
one applicant-Dr. Henri Neinours-a
stranger in the place, but a man, who,
npon acquaintance, grow 70 rapidly into
che confidence and esteem Of his fellow
iaborers, that ere loug he he'd first rank
among them; and it was his judgement
that came, at last, to be appealed to upon
greatest occasions. He was especially
spcceIsful in stubborn cases, which re-
qhred careful nursing-and the men used
d, cay he "handled wounded limb as
thorgh il was "a baby" lie was a peculiar
MAJ. To patients under his charge, par
ficularly those seriously III, and confined
% their reds, he was tender, kind and de-
voted, but to the convalescenls, who hob
bled about the great halls, he was either
reserved, OF else naughty and oveIbearing.
The men never looked TO him for a social
chat, on the contrary, his irrasciable TEN
per made his cOmpanionship unpleasant,
and they rather avoided the warm argue
lnents that were sure to ensue as the result
OF his taking part in the conversation
Notwithstanding, however, his unsocal,
repelant manner, he was a man respected
and liked, by both officers and men. His
appearance was not prepOssessing, and
the young girls from the village, who
brought jellies and flowers to the "sicl
boys" never ilirted with him-as they lik
ed TO do with the other young doctors
but called him in their girl pSraseolOgy
s'The Hediosity." lie was not handsome
D slender, deicately made man, with al
habitual stoop in the shoulders. thin
SHARP featured. sallow face strong, firm
large hands, but with an uncertain, ner
yous strength that failed him occasionly
His voice was low aud husky, save il
some impatient outburst when il rang ou
high and sharp.toned. Altogether he wa
not a man for a woman TO fall in love wit
at irst sight lie was a hard studen
still, and "a students study" he said
should bekacred to privacy )" sohe issue
his regular hours of admission thereto
and no one dared crave admittance at an
other time. He contributed largely to tn
scientific journals of the day, and his Al
tlClch MeIt hb uuNtu Aol NhNA hANNN tAN
purity as for their depth and teaching.
Among the many wounded brought
from the battle field, carly in the SUNNI
Of 1868, there was youthful lieuteuan
whose fair face and fresh-shouldcr stral
showed il had been his first engagement
He was Immediately carried 10 Ncmour
ward, where he lay incohcrently ravil
in alternate French and English
"Madane ma Mere" and "Nrginie
Nemours' who was conversant with SC
eral languages, answered and soolhed hi
in his mother tongue, during the paint
dressing of the dangerous wound, and,
starting with this little link Of forei
language, which seemed 10 bind these II
together Ms II were, there soon grew to
q strong chain Of friendship bttween
men. To Nemours there appeared to b.
very fascination in the handsome, ,pale-fa,
boy, and he spent all his spare hours, q
and night, by the bedside of the you
lieutenant, waiting spon him like \
man, while the wounded man, in tn
glad to find some one who could talk
hlm In bis native tongue, grew, rapidly
louk forward to the coming of his ten
nurse, and devoted friend.
The whole ward waxei as gossipy o
the strange friendship, as though the b
held Women instead of soldiers, and
mons tongues weIe as sharp in their p,