Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-08-07
CHAPTER VI.

"Claude-Capt. Raymond, speak.
Oh. he can't he dead A" and taking
the campbor which Mrs. Buck held,
she bathed his face, but there was no
assuring sign Of life in the death-like
countenance.
Give me some brandy-qaick ;"
Rightly devining that he had tainted
from loss of blood, she forced soue
brandy between his lips and saw with
satisfaction that be swallowed it.
After the first outburst Leila was
perfectly caln, giving In clear voice
directions to Mrs. Buck, who obeyed,
III astonishment, her slightest signal.
Dr. Buck arrived in about an hour
and their united efforts aroused him
to life, but not To consciousness.
Fever was burning in his veins aud
delerium wildly flashed from his eyes.
lie would call on his men TO rally
aud charge the enemy, and then his
voice would sink inlo whisper aud
murmur, "Cecile," aud cal, on Leila"
in such tender, loving accents that 1t
almost drove her wild.
Day after day passed, but Leila
seldom left the bedside of her friend (;
she could thus show the love which
for months had slumbered in her heart.
She had exlorted a promise from her
friends not to reveal her name, and,
with her curls falling around her
silken mass, concealng her hce, re-
vealing only the dark blue eyes, she
nursed Claude after his return to con-
sciousness as Cecile. In vail did he
implore her to lift the mask which had
80 long shrouded her, but she would
shake her lead.
81 am only Cecile," she would
write, for she never spoke, aud Claude
concluded she was mute.
Johnson had taken command OF the
army, which was slowly retreating,
and Leila felt that she must no longer
delay her return home. Claude bad
recovered sufficiently TO walk about
The room with little assistance.
IL have come to bid you good bye"
"Must you go to-day! Am so
soon to lose my gentle nurse? Will
you not before you 60 let me see you
once, that l may Impress upon my
heart the face OF one whose memory
will ever remain as sweet and pure
as my thoughts of Heaven 7" He
caught the little hand and reverently
pressed it to his lips, while be said
leave me then some menento Oi
presence to cheer the long, weary
hours after you have gone-give ue
this" aud be lifted lress of her hair
IL will exchange" she wrote. anc
after severing a lock from his head
she cut q curl from her own aud laiG
it in his hand.
"ls tl,is all? Do you leave IN
without expressing hope that in th'
future We may meet again
Her answer was note, which sh
laid on his knee, and she slowly lei
the room. lie opened aud read:
"You are nearly well and need n,
no longer. ! now must return wher
duty calls NE. You will, l hope, fo
give ny oft repeated refusais to you
request; yield to NY wish to renal
unknown. Should you he successfl
With your suit, will it he asking tc
much that you sometimes think of
CECILEy"
Was this the end of the bapp
dreams which for the past weeks ha
been warming his hear he boz
that be would win his little nurse al
have her for all time! What matte
cd her misfortuney He would cheri:
her SO tenderly that she would forg
it. Though he had never seen b
face, be felt the true nobility Of so
teaming from those tender eye
whose soft beauty could not fail
grace the plsinest features. In va
did he strive to recall the face of {
girl he saw in Marietta he cou
only remember the shining cur.s al
the outlines Of the fairy-like form.
lie read the note again. What d
she mean by "his suit?" Had
during his delerium been talking abe
Leila? and was il jealousy that b
sealed her lips? He closed his ey
and thoughts of Lelis's beautiful fa
rendered bright memory's chamber.
Il hardly know my own heart
feel bound to Cecile by every tie
gratitude. will love her alone, a
see Leila no more if | cannot bani
the sweet recollestions from I
mtmory."
Claude was slowly regaining
wouted strength, aud finding DALI
kksome after Cecile left him, be
ported to the hospital st Angus
After being there sbou: two we,
the steward informed him that "a
Lorimer would be pleased to see b
at his Office" Here was dilemm'
how to evade was the questiea
did not wish to renew his intercou
with the Lorimers; be could not tr
himself again in the presence Of LIE
for K she did not care for him,
realized his own danger. He did
feel free; and, indeed, was not will
TO resign all hopes of Cecile.
accordingly. without seeing Dr.. L
Dsr. removed TO Atlanta, aud, be
still unit for active service. be
tanned a farlough, aud visited 5.
friends in the country.