Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-09-15

" WIN h'h HV'' wv" h'eV""'
They stood aside for her to pass
and she went In and bopgbt pepper
The men at the door were watching
her ansiously, bnt she did not know
It.
Last OF Killed. were tho frs
words that met her eyes, She hastily
ran her finger halfway down the col
umn, and there 1t stopped, The colo'
fed from her cheeks, the paper diiteC
from her grasp, and a dozen hands
were outstrctched TO catch her as she
i fell.
Poor girl poor girl + said gray
haired man. 1T will take her lie,
Aud tho old folks, too. Oh, this wal
Is a dreadful, dreadful thing
They laid the rigid form on a
lounge in tho telegraph operators
room. Every means within their
reach had been used to restore con-
seriousness, but in vain, when the click
OF q coming message was heard. The
sound seemed 10 rouse her
Ruth had some knowledge Of tel
cgraphy, gathered in the many after
moons she had passed with tho young
lady operator.
'Colonel-Richard Gray not -
Dead but seriously - wounded. -
Lies s-al-I- hospital, the let.
ters clicked of.
% God, I thank thee, thank thee!'
cried Ruth, falling on her knees, with
claspcd hands. The next moment,
with hasty words of thanks for their
kindness, she had left the aslonished
crowd and was speeding homeward.
She broke the news rs gently as
possible TO her parents.
4 am going to Richie said, she in
conclusion. He needs me now and
perhaps he will come back with me-.
ia there young man named Rich
ard Gray in this hospital?' inquired q
sweet voice.
The head.nurse looked down upon
the little, travel-stained figure stand
ing before her, and answered kindly
'Yes, dear
is he badly woundedF
4 am sorry to say his case is not a
very promising one answered the
matron with reluctance. His arm is
broken, and there are internal ipju-
ries,
IL am his sister, faltered Ruth,
'and have come 10 nurse him.
The woman's face lit up.
Then you must be the Ruth he has
been talking about and calling for
since the fever set in. ! am very glad
you have come. Your presence will
do more good than medicine. Come
to nv room and rest for a while, and
then will take you to him.
'How much you look alike! ex-
claimed the matron, as her guest re-
moved her hat.
Yes returned Ruth, tears starting
to her eyes, Richie and I are twins. ,
Shall we 60 now? was asked,
when Ruth had bathed her heated
face, and brushed the dust from her
dress.
'Yes, please.
1t was strange sight to Ruth
the long rows Of beds, and the silent
nurses bending over their patients.
But she passed them by as in dream.
Following her conductor with eager
footsteps, they at length paused be-
side one of the cots.
Here we are,' said the matron.
Could that be Richie? A band
aged arm lay upon the coverlet. His
cheeks were sunken, and there were
great circles beneath the closed eyes,
He was tossing restlessly aud mutter-
ing to himself incoherently. But
they caught the word 'Ruthie.'
% Richie, Richie, my twin' they
have killed you'll she cried, laying
her face against his hot cheek, and
trying to raise his head in her arms.
He opened his eyes and looked at
her. But their vacant glance gave
no sign of recognition.
My dear, said the nurse, gently
drawing her away, you must nor.
He needs to be kept very quiet, the
doctor says. l am sure you will make
the best of nurses, if you keep that in
mind And after giving a few direc-
tions about the medicines, the kind
woman left her.
Somehow Ruth's presence soothed
her patient, even in bis delirium and
when he called for her, whisper in
his ear, i am hear, Richie always