Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-04
CHAPTER XVIII

CHAPTER XVIII.
Magdalen was awakened by the dull
heavy boom of a cannon the next morn
ing. A STIR and hustle pervsded toe
house, and she soon learned the cause of
the fresh excitement. Two OF the Federal
boats were firing on the town, and good
many of the people were uneasy and
kept close, while the soldiers were nearly
all called on duty.
The JohnsOns went out 20 the hospital
quite early, anxious to see their son aud
Magdaleu went with them. II was her
frst actual sight Of the unpleasant side OF
the war. To pray for the heroes fighting
on the battle fields, defending their cOuu-
try, winning glory and renOWn Is all
/ very well. There is nothing there to
shock sensitive nerves or TO sicken faint
hearts, but enter a crowd q hospital,
ecnOing with the feyered grOans Of poor
wounded soldiers, and il VIII take all the
strength and moral courage Of new
conner TO bearit
/ Magdalen felt stiled. gasped for breath
/ in the close atmosphere, and pity chOked
! hervoice and made her ewes dim. She had
/ never realized the suffering, the priVation
and misery ct It before. Timidiy she spoke
I 10 few OF the men. Some replied with
smiles and Frightened looks, while others
turned away. One pale, thin boy softly
touched her hand, uttering a word of
apology for 1t Wnen she turned toward
him.
She had just got out into the open air
again when she met the tall Texan. She
hesitated, stopped and spoke to him. lie
took of MS cap and bowed respectfully to
her, looking at her as though she embod-
led new revelation Of womanly grace
and beauty.
"Have you heard any thing of my faith
er!' she asked eagerly and anXiously,
n "a m ia Al
dom fret yourself or expect too much"
"Oh, l know not what to eXpectp'
clasping her hands and heaving quick
sigh.
The soldier responded to it with almost
a groan.
aud then, in his haste to get away, almost
stumbled past her.
II can't do it today he said TO him
self, with half gasp. at would be cruel
To burt out the news without first giving
her mint. Pve prepared her now, and to-
morrow Pll tell her"
He did not know that suspense would
try her worse than to have knowledge of
the worst, and went to the periOus post
assigned him with mission Of John
Grants daughter making strange tumult
in his heart. Alas for the soldier! His
dream lived but day.
The next morning a messenger came
/ for Magdalen. A man had been shot and
/ desired to see her before he died.
at is Mr.. Keland," said Sister Angel
/ ique.
That strong manw she cried, recall
4 Ing his noble height, his evident strength.
! "Ihe chances or war are against the
! strong as well as the weak, and bullets
are impartial" SAID the Sister, gravely.
The dying soldier had been carried INTO
| the surgeons room at the hospital and
laid on hard, narrow couch. At his
/ own request they had left his uniform on.
He had worn it bravely and hOnOrably,
and he desired no other shrOud, though
hard usage had worn and soiled it, and
now a dark red stain of blood soaked
through the breast OF the coat and streak
ed one sleeve.
When Magdalen entered he stretched
out his right hand to her, and she, filled
with pity and tender regret. clasped it be-
tween her warm palms and knelt down
by him.
"Can l do anything for you, sir2"
"Only forgive me for not telling you of
your father. promised to write, but |
did not, and yesterday / could not pluck
/ up courage to tell you. oh LOrdl / hate
/ to give you pain! / wish could have died
/ in his placel No one would have been
/ troubled then"
Are you speaking OF my father?' she
/ asked in faint, difficult tones, her face
! cOlorless, her hands sinking weakly down.
"Ies. God comfort youI'
She dropped as though stunned by
/ sudden blow, making no cutlery, but see
4 ing, as in a strange vision, all the hope
and happiness of the past, and the sorrow
and desolation of the future. Light aud
/ color seemed to vanish from the world,
/ ana desire OF lite died within her.
Keland moved his head slowly until his
/ anxious eyes, dim with the shadow Of
/ death, could rest on her bowed face. He
searched in his breast-pOcket and drew
/ out folded leaf torn from the back OF a
book.
Don't grieve hard if you can help it..
He didn't mind going-eXcept leaving
/ you. That bothered him little, but at
! last he even felt satisfied about that. He
/ knew you'd be taken care of. He went so
comfortably and easily II envied him.
! Doctor, give me something to drink
They gave him few spoOnfuls Of bran
/ dy, and then the chaplain told him TO pre-
/ pare for death, before he talked on world
/ ly matters any longer.
A faint, transient smile crossed his pal
! I'D face.
"Slr, you are kind to be so interested in
my future welfare, but / have not waited
/ till this hour to make preparations for
/ death, and Christ will not mark it against
me If l spend my last moments in discharg-
/ ing duty to my dead friend.'
'Niss Grant, here is message he wrote
! to YOU"
/ She took the precious scrap Of paper.
/ her lips dumb, but her eyes asking for all
that he could tell OF her father.
1--WE were comrades, friends, and !
! loved him like brother. He fell at Ce-
/ dar creek last September. l found him
after the battle and he gave me your adj
/ dress, wrote these few lines and begged
me TO send you word. | could not then,
I but might after coming down here only
/ thought il would be best TO wait until /
started on home"
] did YOU leave him" she began.
! "NO; with some the boys we gave him
/ Christian burial" he said, falteringly, a
spasm Of pain crossing his face.
He had said all that he could. 10 was
only half outline, but he had no time
nor strength TO fill 10 in.
81 wish I could tell you how bravelv he
fought, how we all respected and liked
him, but my time is up
She rose and bent over him.
81 am grateful for your kindness to him
and 70 myself. You were his true friend
and shall never forget you. God be with
YOU"
He looked up into her pale, young face,
/ and sorrowful eyes, as though he would
impress them upon his memory for eter-
/ nifty. Then he stretched out his cold
/ hand and touched her dress, and softly,
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