The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-05-30

talk fast [ have some papers and
trinkefs on my person. | wish you to
take hem and promise ii you escape
mother with the story of my death.
Tell her died fighting for my coun
try. That my last thoughts were Of
her and Nellie Please take the pa
pers from my pocket.
Hoyt pulled himself alongside un
til he could reach the dying man AND
remove the papersi ndicated.
".lhere is chain about my meek,
that too
This Was gently removed. Attached
was medallion portrait OF q beauti
ful girl iii the first blush Of woman
hood. The family resemblance WAS
apparent alta glance.
"You will remember 2"
Il will
"Your hand. Hoyt"
The large. muscular hand closed
over the small. brown one. The dark
eyes closed. Suddenly they opened with
the question: "Hoyt, can you pray 2"
a flush overspraad the strong face.
Captain, [ am ashamed to say /
cannot, except Our Father
"Say that, please"
Amid the rattle of musketry and
the roar of cannon, the peaceful words
of that immortal petition mingled.
"For Thine is the power and the
glory forever, amen"
"Amen," came the signing echo
from the gray figure. There was a
faint pressure from the slender hand
as if in thanks. A few moments later
Hoyt looked over. Capt. Wilder was
dead.
In spite of himself the eyes of the
big New Yorker filled with tears. He
felt as though he had lost comrade.
Then his gaze fell ON the portrait
which he still retained in his hand.
The beautiful face, surrounded by a
mass of brown curls and lighted with
lustrous dark eyes, seemed strangely
familiar Where had he seen them
before? Ha! at the plantation, on
the march. That was the spirited
beauty to whose health he drank when
he filed his canteen. Reverently he
placed the chain about his neck and
thrust the picture IN his bosom.
Hoyt was picked up with the other
wounded by the relief parties. His
wounds were dressed and with others
he was started for the rear.
Hour after hour he jolted along in
the heat and dust. Delirium set in.
When he awoke the wagon had stop
ped. There was mure straw or some
thing in the bottom. The pain had
gone. He extended his hand. It
struck against some soft, light sub
stance and not against the hard boards
of the wagon. His eyes opened with
a flash. He was in bed. The light
substance was soft curtains. Peering
down into his face was pair of dark
eyes full of sympathy. They were the
eyes of the picture As this thought
driited dreamily through his brain p
soft, caressing voice called, "Mamma." !"
Light footsteps moved across the
floor and matronly reproduction of
the younger figure bent over him.
"Where am ~
"In good hands. Let that suffice
now you need rest"
Hoyt felt too weak to argue the
point and dropped off to sleep. When
next he woke the broad sun was beat
ing down on the broad veranda out
side. Through the closed blinds came
a grateful breeze. He attempted to
rise, but the attempt was accompanied
by so much pain that he gave it up
with groan.
At the sound the elder lady appear
ed at the bedside.
"Wiil somebody dispel this mystery?
The last / knew, l was jolting along
in a rough wagon. | woke and found
myself in bed, with womanly hands
soothing my pain"
"There is no mystery" was the soft
reply. "You were, left here to die.
On your person were found papers
that once belonged to my sou. We
felt you could tell us of him. Then we
could not have been so cruel as to sit
idly by and witness such suffering as
yours. even in an enemy, without try
ing tn relieve it,
"ilow long have l been here p
six days"
Was Capt Wilder your son ?''
Yes. How caine you by those pa
pers p
"lle gave them into my hands aud
exacled a promise that | would send
them to you"
"fhe. he is dead"
Irnae invalid bei,t his head
felt it A sob burst from the
grief torn breast. Presently. control.
linA her grief Mrs Wilder said =" Y GU
wert with him at the last r.
was.
He died
fLike brave man aud Christian
| 4dier."
Yhen, with many pauses, for he was
vfy weak, Hoyt related the details Of
Capt Wilder's death. During the
Hcital the young girl crept in and
ank down by the bedside at hel
hother's feet.
There Vas something else he en-.
ltrusted t., my care, ssid Hcyl In cs,n
lciusion, aud trying To reach his neck
Was it this r asked the mother,
holding hp the D,iuiatue
Yes, an,s:ssa ..s;:.asl, swept over ths
rsle hce.