The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-05-14
A Mystery.


faces on which the mortal agony in
fiicted by the surgeons probe and knife
was painted without blanching or ap-
| parent emotion. But when gallant
Harry Delniont was brought in from
the ''front,' with hideous hole in his
manly breast, such as only mimic ball
could make, great hush of sorrow
and dismay tell upon US all. And when
the snrgeoii's solemn words, s'tte can
not live Lhree days." fell upon our ears,
the hush was broken by the sobs OF
strong men, as we'll as by The more ldiet
weeping OF the female nurses, for all of
us loved the brave young Captain as
brother
We hovercd over his cot throughout
the day, and when night came it was
| agreed that one OF US should have the
special duty OF watchng beside it
through the night, for fear that he
should waken from the letI,argy which
seemed to prelude approaching death,
to ask fof something thai the steward
could not obtain. And then pleaded
for the privilege, and after some demur
ii yes accorded me-
"Watch him very closely," said the
surgeon to me. as took my seat for
the vigil beside the cot of our favorite,
SS4,r M o,S, ,,,,,,,,o,,t Io &c loGIo ., ,c,,oo
ont of the coma, and he may be wander.
ing.'
But I was very tired. and about
midnight, do What could, conld not
keep my eyes from closing in a halt un-
conscious reverie, which, after time,
merged into q 6tfuI slumber And
very souh occurred tile mystery of which
it is my present task TO tell.
4 Lright dream of the 'snortnern
hcme SO far away" was fitting through
be impressed with some presence that
held my body in thrall, while my
/
acute. Opening my eyes at last,
gazed toward the couch of the wounded
captain, and by his side with one hand
ciasped in herr, | saw the figure of a
young ard beautiful lady, whose eyes
were c!ariug down TO his with such a
look of m,ying tenderness that l felt
sure at once she was his sweetheart.
l wondered much, Ioweyer, how she
came to be there 10 the hospital at that
hour OF the night, when visitors had
never hecn admitted after sun,icwu
And | knew that DIR. Vance, the sur-
geon III Charge, had his own brother
been dying in that place. anl his father
and mother come to see him, would
never Lave admitted item only at resn-
lar hours.
| was so exercised in mind that
was just opening my lips to question
/ the strange visitor, when saw the
steward with the light. moving along
the lower end IT the ward in such a
way as to bring our visitor between the
light ard me, and then my heart stood
still. The light the steward carried
could see shining, and | was looking
through the form of the lady who stood
10y my patients side.
gaZed in awe uEdn the apparition
for few brief seconds, and then tor
por overcatne me, and knew no more
until the steward roughly shook my
arm and made me awake. for Captain
belmont was 10 longer letfarg'c, but
delirious. But when / looked upon
his clear, calm eyes, | told the steward
he was not delirious.
as Nettie here ?'' he family asked,
as bent over him.
did not question who "Nettie"
was, for was certain had seen her
sembiance. and / answered calmly:
"Nettie has been here Captain Del
mont, but she is not here now.''
81 wish yon would call her again.
-Irs. Ennis, for wish to speak with
| Eer''
"Did you speak with her when she
was here 2" asked, needing the stew
ards great amazement."
"No" he answered simply. "l tried
to speak, but somehow | could not ut
ter word l suppose | was then too
weak"
"Was she your affianced wife ?''
asked.
Mot when Joined the army. We
had been affianced once, bn; she broke
the engagement becanse"-here his
voice efaltered=sbecause 7 was to poor:
Bui knew she loves me-"
sssbe does,'' said, q could see II in
her eyes"
| teIts sbe - ft, pnrse me y he exclaimed !.