Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-10-01

DIS that so, " he asked, in a queer tone.
"4es," l replied. Il shall never betray
your secret, Colonel, hut am cvellastingly
curious to know what it all meant"
well, Corporal. so would | be-" he SAID
with short laugh. "You have been very
frank and very discreet and I'll tell you all
about it after the battle"
1t was the 18th of May, and the battle
which cnsued was the battle of Black
River Bridge. The Colonel was wounded
and was sent to the hospital.
in an engagement which occurred three
months later, 1 was wounded, taken
prisoner. and conveyed to Confederate
hospital
There We're several female nurses, one
OF whom was especially kind to me. She
was clad in sombre hues but they did not
detract from her loneliness. Her very
presence did me good.
AS was unable TO speak, my most
Troublesome wound being i'll my checks,
found my qualification in simply watch
ing her, fell desperately in love with
her which was not an ineyplicable occur
renee to me, and possibly not to her, for
| she was conscious of her charms.
| One morning l heard cannonading, and
noticed that it became suggestively distinct.
The tide Of war was surg;ng that way, and
q tangible evidence of it came in the form
| of Il shell which crashed through the roof
Of the hospital
| The fuse was still burning. and 10 my
intense surprise and admiration. my hand
| some nurse picked up the shell and flung
| 1t out Of the window.
| We don't want the nasty thing in here, do
we, boys?" she said
| number of the wounded men clapped
their hands in applause.
"lou are brave woman" l said.
"Why, Corporal" she exclaimed. coming
to me-" those are the first words sou have
spoken since entering the hospital.
| was about to reply, but she cautioned
| me not to.
'Wait a few days" she said with one Of
her bewildering little smiles.
week later said to her:
"You called me Corporal"
"Yes," she replied, your chevron desig-
signates your rank. You forgot that
"No, / didn't. We have met before, and
you know it. For days I have been
trying to conjecture. 1t isn't a fancy, am
sure"
mo, Corporal, it isn't" she said, with
repressed smile, a twinkle of mischief in
her glorious brown eyes. Il am Delos
Damarra. You once arrested me for IA
spy"
1t dawned on NE then. and l have no
doubt my face expressed my surprise. l
censured myself for not having at once re-
called that sweet voice and smile and those
calm, fearless brown eyes.
81 escaped, you remember" she re-
minded, with slight grin.
"Without display either of nerve or
sagacity on your part, replied.
"Why do you say that?" she quickly
| asked, one dainty hand uplifted.
Colonel Cardonne helped you," was my
answer.
"Oh!" she calculated, riffs of red and
white crossing her face. Gle told you
so?"
"He got the keys of the guard house from
me, replied.
did not add that he had obtained them
| by stealth. She looked at me steadfastly,
almost confidingly. 1 thought--with long
ing for me to say more.
"You are on the wong side fthis issue, :"
1 remarked.
81 believe there IS difference of-of-
sentiment" she replied, q little drily.
ut is more than sentiment, II ventured
to say.
well, we will not argue about it., she
replied, with one of her charming ges-
lures.
II entertain opinions, and you'll allow
me to do that, know. I'll nurse you, SO
that you can go home. You'll hold me no
grudge for that, am sure. did the same
for Colonel Cardonne."
In a-a--Union hospital?" I asked.
"Why, to be sure, she replied.
"And he's gone North?"
eyes. He'll be back, though. Now we
have talked enough, don't you Think"
| Our next conversation was still more
personal. l proposed marriage, and told
her my history and prospects, both of
which were good. All was of no avail.
She refused, kindly of course, but with
hopeless positiveness.
"You love some one else, said
| "Ihat wouldn't be very strange, would
it?" she asked, that soft, bewildering smile
once more about her lips.
"Well, no, disconsolately admitted.
The close of the war found me enjoying
the rank of Colonel, while my friend, Col.
Cardonne, had been promoted to Cen
| ernl.
A few years later l spen. week or
two at one Of our popular mountain re-
sorts. While sauntering along wooded
path met sprightly little miss of or 5
summers. She had soft, questioning brown
eyes, was prettily dressed, and did not
seem i'll the least shy. While 1 glanced
around, wondering where her protectors