The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1876-01-19
FACIAL EXPRESSION.
Tho Power of the Eye and Face In Con-
veyins Intelligenoe--A Pathetic Inci-
dent Of the Franco-Prussian War.

dent Of the Franco-Prussian War.
Among the numerous Incidents
recorded of the startling phen omena
presented by the facial expression Of
the dead is found in tho following,
as occurring during tho lato Franco
Prussiall war 1t soems that ono Of
the red cross nurses, one Of those
Mercy Morricks, perhaps, with whom
Wilkie Collins has made lis familiar,
had among her patients q young
man, all exceedingly handsome fel.
low, whose nationality she could not
find out. He WAS in the Prussian
uniform, yot not. she thought, n
Prussian. Ho had becn struck by q
spent ball, they supposed, and was
Inralyzed and spoechless. Occa.
sionally he would open his eyes and
gaze ut her with u troubled expres-
sion, and she noticed that the eyes
wore very beautiful, black, and soft
us velvet. Ia her mi,listrations she
got to understand the language Of
these poor eyes, and found out when
he was pleased or disappointed at
what she was doing. One day sho
took up his coat, ana fooling in his
pocket, she found letter she
looked ut him, and the eyes said
"Read it. It gave her tho key to
the situation, and she derived the
idea that he could hear and under
stand her if she talked to him, so
she would sit and talk and ask ques
tions, and he would answer with his
eyes. She got vt the the idea that
he was a young English diplomat,
who had been sent down to the
scene Of war to protect some one
that he had been put into the Prussian
army us q favor, to facilitate his
work; that ho WAS cnya5cl i'll this
work when he WAS struck down.
Sno had much to do, this Mercy
Morlick with her cross, but she
found time every few hours to come
back to her patient and to tell him
the story of Sanlbuck, OF Strasburg,
Of Sedan, and to find from the shift
ing lustre in his eyes if he were
pleased or saddcncd. One day she
took up his watch and chain and
examined his seal. The eyes grew
painfully bright and anxious. The
idea struck her that she would take
yhe impression in wly. She did SO
and found the motto and crest of Il
we'll known 'Enylish family. Then
she sat down and wrote lottcr
home, for she, too, was English.
The patient fingered and listened,
but never spoke. Ho grew better.
however, and could smile, brilliant,
eloquent and fascinating. 1t went
to tho heart Of tho rol-rross nurse.
Perhaps she had suffered, and loved,
and waited, and hoped, and had
known the anguish of hope deferred.
The poor paral yzcd hand game |
finally Il little power, and one evening
ns she took it i'll her warm, cnerget
ic, generous palm, it gave II feeble
pressure. Sympathy is a famous
physician. He has cured many
otherwise mortally wounded. But
alas no was not to "urc the young
English diplomat. Ono night, as
the red cross nurse lay down to her
we'll earned sleep, the male attend
ant who had charge Of the paralyzed
Englishman came and knocked ut the
! door.
! "Hc is dying" said lie, "and his
eyes arc very wild"
, She dressed herself and went to
him. The unspokon language be
| tween these two had become Il
spiritual communication. She re.ll
hi, thoughts. Did he wish to have
a loci, OF his hair cut Yes, for her
his watch and chain, and II certain
ring on it, were to be returned, when
she could find the owner and charge
tho wo,k which he had to do when
he was stricken down-shc must find
out if it we're done, and if he was
known to have been faithful to the
end yes, she would do it. And he
gave her one wonderful look, n look
which was q carcss ; one smile like
sunlight his bright eyes said more
gratitude in one glance than lips
could say in month; then came Il
film over them and they went out
! forever. The next dny rs the red
cross nurse stood looking Mt his
dead face, MI English physician az
rived.
Il am looking for young Escourt,
said he, ''the man Of whom you have
written to England, who owned this
mnito md Soul
"Tharc he is," said she quietly.
poor fellow, poor fellow; n hare
case" sail the physician. do yo'
know his story7 Sent over to pro
tcct two eminent lndies, one prin
, cess who got caught in county
house here between the two armies
---Russian complications and all th4!
sort of thing. He behaved singularl.
well, showed enormous tact
courage, and chiv,,lry too, for one o
them fell desperately in love witt
him. He was taking them towar'
Berlin, where they wished t.
go, when he was struck down b,
a French ball F; party Of struggles"
surroupded them, set on probabl
:. by Il cousin Of his, who has alway
bcan bic foo