St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-26
THE GRAY SISTER;
Or, at the Eleventh Hour.

When Conner Oak and Viola Bray
became engaged there was no end of
commOtion in both families, and the
parents of the young people promptly
banished them to the care of relatives,
where they would have chance to get
over their folly. The Brays were arls-
tocratic and owned considerable prop
erty, while Mr.. Oak was only me-
chanic, though he had done good deal
in educating his son.
The young people had no doubt that
their love would live forever, and
though time passed they were constant
to their childhood's vows. Violet, who
had grown into beautiful woman, re-
ceived many offers, but she refused
them all, much to her parents disgust,
who were bent on seeing her make an
ariStocratic marriage. At thirty she
grew hopeless that Conner would ever
come TO claim her, but she still wore the
little broken SiXpence he had given her
when they parted.
About this time the war broke out,
and she joined readily the band of de-
voted women in her own town who
went out to minister to the wounded.
scarcely dared to do so. All they could
do was to bid her God-speed and weep;
and i'll little while she was gone from
amongst them. They heard of her now
and then. She professed herSelfhappy L.
She never spoke of fatigue or suffering
but, then, it was contrary to the rules Of
the siSterhOod 10 do so.
She t0led patiently at her self-ap-
pointed task for two years. At the end
OF that time she was worn to shadow,
but as brave as ever, and she was the
first To o'feSpOnd TO a call for help Ill a
crowded temporary hospital where SOL
diers lay dying of diseases as well as of
wounds, where typhoid fever and small
pox were rife, where provisions were
Scant and life harder than elsewhere.
Five Gray sisters went to this place.
AT the end of the week two were dead.
1t was as she left the grave that had
been hastily dug for them that Violet
was called to assist in the care of new
patient-one wounded unto death-a
brOnZed man, with long brown beard
and eyes that were bright with fever.
There was no hope for him. ALI that
could be done was to aSSuage his pain
and he knew it. Don't waste time on
me-" he said. Il shall not suffer long :;
there are lives you may save with your
good hands. Only will yOu-you in the
gray robe-write me letter-a few
lines-and see that it is sent. You will?
God bless you. 1J'S only this:
"MY DARLING: loved you to the
last died thinking of you. tried so
hard to make fortune and fame. /
hadn't the chances. l enlisted in the
army, hoping to rise and come back an
officer and marry you. think you care
for me as much as do for you. know
you are not married. This is the end.
am dying. | send you the token you
gave me. Eve always worn it next my
heart. Perhaps we shall meet in
heaven
That's all !" faltered the dying man.
"It'S fancy, know, but you seem to me
to look like her, in this light. Sign it
Conner Oak; address it to-to- Oh!
good GOd-tO''-
''Oh, Conner! Don't you know me?
Don't you know Violet?" sobbed the
Gray Sister.
He did know her. For a moment he
cjasped her in his arms; their lips met;
then all was over. She laid him softly
own neck the broken silver coin with
Conner on it, and added it to that he
wore, on which the name of Violet still
remained.
BURY these with him." she said to
the man who came to her aid. II hey
are old love-tokenS."
One day more and the fever had seized
upon her. She also lay dying, and her
lips were seen to move. One bent low
to catch the words, and heard this:
"We were very young-very young
mother, but l think we knew our own
minds.'
That was all.
In the deatf-list published that week
the name of Conner Oak, private SOL
dier, stood next to that of Violet Bray,
nurse. Those who knew the old story
read them. Had they metz" they asked
themselves; but they never learned the
truth; they never knew that the early
love had never failed in these two faith
full bOSomS.