Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-31
a Mystery

We are used to scenes of pains and suffer
/ ing at the g hospital, and could look on
ghastly wounds and faces on which the
mortal agony inflicted by the surgeons
probe and knife was painted, witheut
| finchiag or apparent emotion. But when
/ gallant Harry Dalton was brought in from
I the 'front.' with hideous hole in his
manly breast, such as only Minnie ball
/ could make, a great hush Otsorrow and dis
may fell upon us all. He cannot live
I three days" fell upon Our ears; the hush
was broken by the sObs of strong men, as
/ well as by the more quiet weeping of the
/ female nurses for all of them loved the
brave young captain rs brother.
/ We hovered over his cot throughout the
I day. and when night came, il was agreed
. that one Of us should have the special duty
: of watching beside il through the night for
fear that he should waken from the lethargy
which seemed the prelude Of approaching
! death, 10 ask for something that the
steward could not obtain. And then
| pleaded foF the privilege, and after some
demur it was accorded me.
Watch him very closely, said the sur
geon to ne as took my scat for the vigil
beside the cot Of our favorite, for at any
moment he is liable 10 come out of the
coma, and he may he wandering.
! But | was very tired, and about mid
night. do what could, | could not keep
my eyes from closing in a halfunconsious
reverie, which after a time merged into a
fitful slumber. And very soon occurred
the mystery of which ii is my present task
/ TO tell.
"a bright dream of the northern home
so far away was fitting through my
brain, when suddenly seemed to be i'm
/ pressed with some presence, that held my
/ body in a thrall while my senses became
almost preternaturally acute. Opening my
eyes at last, | gaZed toward the couch OF
the wounded captain, and by his side, with
one hand clasped in hers, | saw the figure
of Il young and beautiful lady, whese eyes
were looking down to his with such look
of plying tenderness, that | felt sure at
once she was his sweetheart.
| wondered much, however, how she
came there in the hospital at that hour of
/ the night when visitors had never been sd-
mitted after sundown. And | knew DIR.
! Vance, the sufgeOn-in charge. had his own
| brother been dying in that place, and his
| father come to see him, would never have
admitted even them, only at regular hours.
I | was so exercised in mind, that | was
opening my lips TO question the strange
visitor. when | saw steward with a light,
moving along at the lower end Of the
ward in such a way as to bring our visitor
I between the light and me, and then my
I heart stood still. The lamp the steward
carried could still see shining, and | WAS
/ looking through the form of the lady who
stood by my patients bedside.
/ | gazed in awe upon the apparition for
few brief seconds, and then a torpor over
came me- and knew no more until the
steward roughly shook my arm and bade
me awake for Captain Harry Delmon, was
no longer lethargic but delirious. But
when | looked upon his lear, calm eyes,
| told the steward he Wa. not delirious.
SIS Nettie here:" he asked family, as
bent over him.
did not question who ''Nettie' was for
| was certain | had seen her semblance,
and answered calmly:
''Nettie has been mere Captain belmont,
but she is not here now.
Il wish you would call her again, Mrs.
Ennis, for wish TO speak with her"
did YOU speak with her when she was
waiting here:" | asked needing not the
stewards great amazement.
..NO, he answered SIMPLY. 81 tried to
speak but somehow | could not utter a
word, | suppose that was then too weak.
WAS she your afiianced wife, / asked.
'.Not when joined the army. We had
been affianced once, but she broke off the
engagement because'-here his voice fal-
tered-''because | was too poor. But
know she loves me.
s'She does" ! said. "a could see it
beaming in her eyes"
''If she is to nurse me, he exclaimed,
81 surely shall recover. o, call her now,
dear Mrs Ennis-I must have the assurance
from her own dear lips
But persuaded him to wait till morn
ing. Morning came, and the surgeon,
after has;y examination, said the captain
was much better, and that chance for life
was won. As soon as he was gone ! turned
again to my PATIENT, who only murmured.
s'Nettie."
Captain Delmont," l said calmly.
':Nettie is not here"
] ''Not here,' he cried, clutching my hand.
| Not here, why, l saw her last night.
She has not gone away again, and left me
here to die alone,"
''No, Harry, but she has not vet beel
herc-uot in the flesh
Mrs Ennis, am ] mad, or are you'
For plainly saw her, and you say she hs:
not been here
'Yes, saw her," replied, and she wa.