The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-03-30
A Surgeons Story.

where near fifty, and had come to New
1or k from Italy, where he had been in
service with Garibaldi lie was an Amer.
lean by birth, but he had been awav from
his native home SO long that he had be-
come almost deratonalized
In the same regiment was private, a
young man Of twenty-five He WAS
handsome, energetic young fellow, and one
OF the best soldicrs in the regiment. He
was of English birth, he said. and seemed
to have no friends, no relations in this
country, for he never received any letters
or pr sents as did the other men. He had
frequently attracted the attention of his
company, and Of some of the reuiment;l
| "thcers; but to the astonishment of all
the colonel steadily exerted himself to pre-
vent ny,reward being given to the young
man. Hill, for that was the name he went
by, never complained, however. though he
knew very we'll what was going on. He
was strict in the discharge of his duty, aud
gave no cause for complaint.
/ Durin" the winter of lS6l-62 the army
kay before Ccntrevilc, doing very little but
scouting, picketing and preparing for the
/ spring campaign. Though there was moth
Ing exciting in all this, it was very wing
to the men, for the season was unusually
! severe, and the huspitas re we'll filled.
One morning Hi came to my quarters.
"Wcll, Hill said |, us lie entered.
"what can l DO fIr you this morIilg?"
! Il wish to 90 on the sick list, if YOU
please, sir, he replied. in quiet tone.
| started, and looked ut him searchin.lv.
! Though | had seen the young solder often,
had never been in his presence before
! He Was Il sight, finely formed fellow, with
/ the must etleminate face | ever saw. Had
/ he been woman, | should have called
! him beauty and as it WAS. | could not
! deny him the distinction Of being pretty.
His voice was soft and clear, and, thou.h
| It did not seem to be that of man, was
/ hardly that of woman | gazed at him
searcninSly, but he bore my scrutiny well
You are not sick, | hope? 2" replied,
1T length
Il am broken down, doctor" he an
swercd. Il have been on guard for five
successive nights"
The deuce you have = l exclaimed, in
astouishment. The regiment isn't so
short of men as that, is it p
No, sir. l Was kelt on by the colo
nels orders. lie says the guard duty is
very important just HOW, AID he wants the
best men in the regiment to be put on it. -
Has lie kept any one else On SO long ?'
questioned.
No, sir, l would not have come
20 You to-day, but that know am
incapable Of standing another night. l
should ta.l asleep on lost from sheer ex-
haustion. Then suppose would be shot
for sleeping in the presence of the enemy"
by Juvc!' | muttered, that's what
Colonel Ansou is up to-"
l spoke louder than | intended. He
heard me, and replied in tone in which
there Was some bitterness, i'll spite Of his
efforts TO repress il.
Il am afraid 50. sir. | do not see why
Col. Amson should dislike me so much
have never mcrited his displeasure. Hea-
ven knows" he added and l SAW lis fea-
lures trcmble, as with L sharp pain, Il
would die to serve him"
Very good,' said. "You can remain
at your quarters for two days, and consider
! yourself nm the sick list for that time.
Thanking me, he went away.
The fellow perplcxed me. | was conf
dent that there was some mystery existing
between him and the colunel, aud known
only to these two. While | was musiug
upon this, the colonel sent for me. He
received ne with cold politeness.
What is the matter with ilill?' he
asked
"He is broken down by the unusual IA
tigue to which he has been subjected. Five
successive turns Of guard duty would Kill
Il much stronger man than he.
.'Who has kept lin on 50 long ?" asked
the colonel, biting his lip.
'lle was kept on by your orders, be
lieve, sir" | replied, looking him full in
the face "aud | must say, colonel, that
am surprised at your putting him to such u
test, unless you wish to kill him"
Colonel Anson started, and looked at me
very searchingly.
Has Hill dared to reflect uron the
conduct Of his commanding officer !! he
lsked, colIly, but without meeting my
eye.
He said no more than every one III
the regiment has, | replied ''tliat he re-
gr.ttcd having gained your dislike, as he
was sure he had done nothing to merit it.
WAS that all he said doctor 2
"He added" [ replied, after hesitatine
\ moment, that he would gladly die to
serve you
An expression of intense pain swept over
Colonel Anson's face but he was silent
After brief pause, he said, qui, tly, Il
viii not detain you longer, doctor. L am
sorry TO hear of Hills sickness.
| was more perplexed when | left the
room than | was when | entered 1t and
Turing the long winter | had no meaps OF
ratifying my curiosity. Indeed, 1t was
intensified by the fact that, at the express
e fioIopol AuSnn the President