The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-29
GERTIE LEE.
( Written for the Lexington Dispatch by Ncttic
Russell.)

NshooVh
A narrow strip Of yellow sand, u clump
Of green trees and a grey rock against
which leaned a slender girl, one hand
resting on it and tho other stretching
out towards the sea where a ship. CLINT
ing white in the sunlight, was sailing
away. 1t was not by any means a re-
markable picture, either in conception or
execution, and. Reginald Denb, could
not tell why it attracted him. He had
looked all through the Art Gallery that
day and many were the beautiful
masterpieces he had seen, but az he
stood by this it seemed like a part Of
some unfinished dream, or a representa-
ton Of q scene that had taken place in
some part of his life. Perhaps it was
the girls face that attracted him-pale
with clear grey eyes, q wide sensitive
mouth, a broad white forehead, hair
almost black with a scarcely %perceptible
wave in it. 1t vas a remarkable face
not, beautiful, but one full of strength
and character. 1t was not a dream, he
had seen that face before, but where :?
He looked below and saw the name
Gertie Lee. He knew now and that
name. the sight. of the picture sent q
tremor to his heart stronger than any
one guessed it could have felt. All,
there is not n heart in all the world 80
wicked that it has not its tender spot.
Gould we only believe this, and believ-
ing try to find and bring it out. The
rock may be hard and black; but we
count not the labor lost in bringing out
the gold vein within.
Hard practical man of the world that
he was, who would believe that there
was a romanc connected with Reginald
Denby's life 4? But there was. Years
ago he had gone South on business;
there he met and loved Gertie Lee. It
was his first and sometimes he thought
his last love. One day there was a mis-
understanding they were both proud
and reserved and the breach was never
healed. He went home and in after
years married. If Reginal DENLY was
not happy the world never knew. 1t
was . gay butterfly life that his wife
led ; home with it's sacred associations
had no special charm for her, but if her
husband ever missed the wifely conf
dence and sympathy that she denied
him he did not reveal it.
Thus the years passed away. And
now she was dead, and his little golden
haired child was all that was left him.
A little frail flower whose life seemed
hung by the slendevest thread.
"You must take him South. He can
not stand u cold, Northern winter.
The child is very frail, his mother you
say. died Of consumption"
YES"
Rrginal DENLY stood over his babies
cradle. Would God take away the
only creature on earth that loved him.
His face grew white, his child should
uot die The world had been hard on
him, but this time he would outwit
fate.
So he went South. He stayed at
New Orleans once, and liking the city,
thithcr he went now. Once moro the
roses came back to to his child's checks
and it's blue eyes grew bright.
At length it was whispered that the
dread yellox fever had made its appear
ance in the city. But it was wholly
false the medical board, after i~nvcs,i-
eating, said, and, it was not until after
the fever had become epidemic that
Reginald DENLY believed the report.
It Was too late then. His child. his
most precious earthly treasure, sickcned
and died. Then the father became ill.
Crushed by his great sorrow he longed
to die, and in the wild delirum he cursed
God and blamed Him for his blasted
life. But sorrow does not kill,and " can.
not die when we wish. The fever raeec
but strength and good nursing triumph
ed and Reginald DENLY awoke to life.
sgain.
History and song have p~erpetuated
the fame Of heroes without number, but
there never were heroes drawer than
those noble men and women who VOL
unteersd their services as nurses when
yellow fever stalked like . grim de-