Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-22

III will be al right; his mind will be
easy, and he will get well fast IS
On the afternoon Of the third day was
| called out Somebody wanted me- ]
laid down my fan and went into the hall.
A brown, why little person in a duster''
stood waiting on the doorstep.
g Is it here that Sergeant Martin, Of the
Third New Hampshire, iss They told me
Ward G., over Notwithstanding with a
gesture the main building.
Yes replied, "he is here, but am
not sure that you can see him. His arm
was amputated on Tuesday, and we are
keeping him very quiet. Are YOU rela-
tive of his.'
9 I'm his sister That is, his father mar
ried my mother. It's the same thing
the brown eyes filing with tears as she
spoke. When the telegraph came say
ing he'd lost his arm / felt to come, and
there was nothing to keep me, SO set off
at once. can see him, can't " don't
think it'll do any hurt. We've always been
friends, Martin and me-"
She looked so good and steady that 1
did not think it could be harmful, SO
permitted her to come in. The meeting
was undemonstratiye well Martin ~
How are you, Jessie, and all the folks ?"
Ia clasp of the remaining hand-that was
all. She took her seat by his bedside as
by right And her presence was so evil
IDENTIFY a satisfaction to him that we made
arrangements for sleeping quarters and
notified Jessie that she could stay so long
as she wished, or as Martin wished for
her.
THANK you kindly" was all her
answer; but the pretty, brown eyes con-
tinued the speech with eloquence. She
had "never been much with sick folks, =
she told US, but was evidently true nurse
patient, def, noiseless, observant, pos
SCISSOR of that native faculty" which re-
places experience. All day long she sat
by Martin, feeding him, tanning, applying
ice, changing the wet bandages on his
arm, talking a little now and then, or
reading aloud, but never long enough to
weary or excite. When Martin slept she
little services for the other men, all with
the same quiet helpfulness. Her presence
was comfort to more than Martin. And
we were constantly signing for more
nurses like her.
1--WE shall never be able to get along
without you, JESSIE said b., one day.
You'll have to take the oath Of allegiance
and stay on at the Jaggers till the end of
the war"
Martin will want me for good bit
yet" was the reply.
Martin was evidently her one thought.
I wondered at times If the relationship,
which after all was none, had availed to
| guard his adopted sister from the dangers
| of so close an intimacy where was no tie
| of blood The brown, sensible face told
no tales, nor did Jessie seem of the stuff
out of which love-lorn maidens are con.
structed, still!
| DAYS passed The time was come and
gone when answer to Martins letter might
| be looked for, but no answer appeared
| Martin continued very weak: his strength
was at a stand-still he did not fall back,
but neither did he gain Every afternoon
| little access of suspense, came on when
the mail appeared and the other men were
reading their letters. | saw the restless
| look in his eyes, then the depressed pall0r
which succeeded, and if ever prayed in
| my life, it was that the suspense might
| end, the answer come, and Luly' do
her duty! That she would do il | never
| doubted
There was bad case, Just then, in
| Ward F, and was rnavoidably absent a
good deal from G, an absence made easier
| by reason Of Jessie's helpful presence
Coming in at early twilight of the seventh
day / was instinctively aware of some
| thing amiss. Martin spoke, smiled, when
/ I addressed him, but there was an indie
scribable change in his face. Ii had
| sunken. Dark shadows lay about thu
mouth. the paleness had deepened into
CHASTITY pallor; out of the eyes, spite of the
brave smile, looked forlornness beyond
relief II was the aspect Of a man smitten
by some sudden and terrible blow.
drew Jessie aside.
Whats the matter? Is Martin worse
Has anything gone wrong!"
Il don't know" she said, hesitating
over the words and looking very unhappy
Nothing has happened that know Of
but-he won't say what ii is!''
| What ohat is?'
| 81 went over to the linen-room TO fetch
some Sheets she went on, trying to speak
collectedly "When came back Martin
was lying with his face hidden. He made
believe to be asleep, but he wasn't asleep
When he moved at last and spoke he
looked different; / can't say how, but
knew it. You know il, too. You asked
right away what was the matter"
"Did the mail come in while you wer.
out - / asked with sudden fear
II don't know. Yes, do; O'Rourkt
had letter from his wife. 1t must have
come, but Martin said nothing about hav.
ing anything. Why: What makes you
| ask :"
! would not violate Martins confidence,
so avoided answer, but every glance al
him increased my anxiety, Always the
same smile, the same patience, but always
| the inexplicable look, set there by agencies
of pain whose source | dared not guess.
| trembled as the hour Of the doctors visit
| drew near. One glance at his face as he
| turned from the bedside gave my fears con.
| tirmation.
when did this change begin ~ he
| asked in low voice.
Il can't say exactly. was with Keller
till six: when came back 10 Martin / saw
at once that he was not so well What il
it,"
II hope nothing which may not pass
but there are some symptoms of pyema."
The hospital scourgel !" She has killed
him ,, r proaned to myself but / sale