Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-08-02

back to MS through the water. and it
was your milk that kept us alive.
Everything depended then on your
strength. We called our baby after
you, aud when the poor little one died
it cut me cruelty. cruelty. l can never
forgive this days work. Be brave.
Miss Anna, he brave" and putting his
cheek on Miss Annals head the tears
fairly rolled out of his eyes.
He stopped q minute, drawing in his
breath in short, quick little sobs and
threw out both hands with forlorn
gesture of abandonment.
80! great God! was lonely when
wife and babies ali were dead, and !
loved Miss Anna then; love her now
rs tho one relic left me of that beauti-
tful, vanished past. Then the war
came and led to leave you, think
ing it would be best. but you followed
me to be ridicued, despisod aud even
tortured. All the conduct OF the last
week breaks over me and see what II
blind fool have BEEN"
Parsons. you are to 20 on picket
duty tonight. and you had better start
now" called in the voice of our
lieutenant. The men, now thoroughly
ashamed OF themselves. came nearer
and wore about to offer some heartfelt
words OF apology, but Parsons turned
away, and delivering Miss Anua' ov-
er to Orphee, said plcadIngly:
eff anything should happen to me,
you will take care of hcr?"
Orphee's eyes filled with tears rs he
Al a 4
Without another word OF look Par
sons strobe out into the dark.
''We're brutes. cowardly brutcs,'
said our Virginian. disgusledly.
al would rather face million
Yankees than hear that mans story
told in that voice again" said another.
That night was weary one. We
could not forget tho solemn figure, the
dark, patient face, the broken. harsh.
tender voice, and the pines above and
the river far away seemed TO minglo
their grief at our cowardice and brutal
ity. Meanwhile Miss Anna" slept
peacefully on the best blankets of the
mess, while we lay there sleepless.
thoughtful. unhappy. even the greater
issue of the war m0mentar, ly forgotten.
With the dawn came action. The
Yankees were upon us. and we fought
like wildcats. As evening came on.
the fight was suspended, and when
our mess met every body was there.
Miss Anna" included, except Par
sons. We had made up scheme TO
beg his forgiveness and TO swear TO be
gentlemen. ut least. Each Of us had
II separate speech of apology to make.
expressive of shame and contrtiou.
When night settled down. and Par
sons did not appear. we grew anxious
and sat silently around. not daring to
breathe tho great fear uppermost in
our minds. Miss Anna" too. walk
cd up and down uneasily. shifting the
air aud rubbing her nose against any
convenient shoulhet. As we sat thus.
our lieutenant called in 10 me
Harrison. step here IN mute"
l arose and went out Il little I'M
steadily.
Parsons was hurt last night on
guard, aud has asked to see you. Go
now. there isn't much time. I'm
afraid"
He turned to lead the way.
II may tell tnemF L asked.
No use." he answered shortly, as
Orphee's stricken face appeared in
the doorway.
Well. | followed him to the rude
hut selected Tor our hospital. 1t was
lighted by torches, and the surgeons
were busy with the men who had fa.-
lon in that days fight. In the farlhest
corner of the room lay Parsons.
knolt down by HIM and took his hand.
He smiled family. reassur ngly. and
whispered:
Its not so hard it was so quick,
you know--like flash, burn. and
then dull pain. Only lay there so
long. Harrison. that | thought every
thing very clearly out. and I'm sorry.
How could those fellows knowP am
afraid | lost my temper. I'm such q
devil of u fellow when / lose my tenn
per-" patheticallly, "and, Harrison,
beg your pard on. old fellow--but Miss
AnnaP
His eyes apologized amply for this in.
guirv. and 1 went in Sc arch of the men
and their charge.
They followed me cargcrly, and We
unconsciously fell into procession
and moved through the door will
''Miss Anna in our midst 1t must
have been strange sight, Il halfdozen
men and a goat marching solemniy up
the isle of the rude cabin. but to the
credit of human nature be it said, no.
body laughed or seemed to observe the
humorous side of the situation.
m IS Anna!"
The voice broke like a sob across the
stiffness, and the faithful friend pressed
close to her masters side The strong
men who had faced death so unflinch
ingly all day. guivercd and sllrank be.
fore this new phase, Orphee looked
longingly into the Il ing face as the
whde lips murmured of bygone days OF
baby hands and tender. wfey kisses
Miss Anna" the voice be gan again,
woaklr, 1.-THE boys all know and love
her," and then suddenly recolccting,
he turned his eyes on the manly beard.
ed faces around him and neted theil
moist eyes, then with the old frank
smile of appreciation. he muttered
DYING ton ght dying tonight Sing
it, Orphec."
The river rushed and sang. the wine
sighed airily through the sorrowfu
pines, but d stinct and clear rose the
voice of Orphee. that sweet, higl
tenor, thrilling with tears and pathos
1t quivered anI fell us it reached tue
chorus. and the ID, ing tonight" wa:
sobbed out on his knees as he hold tho
poor, cold hands close to his breast
The wounded men turned on the rough
floor, the surgeons DIES stod from the
work, and one little fellow, his breast
shot TO pieces. crossed himself involun
tarily, stirred by the sorrowfu! sweet
ness. ..-... u.s..
Again Parsons spoke: .... ...
''Be good, boys. to Miss Anna Nc
better, truer sweetheart could yoI
find. Say with me now. God bless
Miss Anna"
And VIC said it with him.
"Amen." he answered solemnlv,
and with II spasm OF pain he was |, ing
there quite still. smiling tenderly as Of
old. W tn Miss Anna" close to hi.
breast.
''Aud Miss AnnaP asked the host
Was shot down the next morning
in the first charge"
There was silence for a few minutes.
and then Harrison raised his glass and
looked wistfully around. In an instan,
the glasses were refilled. and will
reverently bowed heads and husheL
tones, the whole room drank to the