Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-15

But, for some reason, found my nerves
last night, and could not sleep.
The pain in my temples. the parched con.
dition OF my throat, and the incessant
moaning of comrade near me, together
with the memory Of an incident Of the
morning, made me sick with a nervous
dread. For once in my life felt that was
coward.
The moon was just peering through the
trees, and went over to the wounded man
to see what could do for him.
"Wateri water!" he murmured, as bent
down to speak to him.
'sYes,''I said; ST will get you some"
And started for the river, half-mile
back.
had thought it impossible to make the
trip for myself alone; but to know that an
other depended on my efforts lent me
strength of will and limb.
stopped and filed his canteen with the
cool waters of the Chickahominy, took
draught myself and started to return.
twas then the incident Of the morning
flashed before me again with viyidness
that startled me-
Again saw Teddy McKelvie, mere lad.
staggering toward me, his boyish face
white as death. And again I seemed to
say: sWhat is it, Teddy; wounded?'
Then, too, came his answer: s'No; but
Owe presintimint-a warnin' of dyin'. Oh
don't care so much for myself, sor; it's me
pore old mother!'' and he seemed stricken
to the heart at the thought.
Then / had said, soothingly: s'You are
suffering from nervousness, Ted; perhaps
it wasn't a presentiment after all. You
haven't looked well since the peninsular
campaign started"
ssAll that may be, sor,' he had made re-
ply; '.but Dime to be kilt to-day. Oi'll niver
see the blissid mother-face agin"
And then I remembered that Captain
Acton had "pooh-poohed" and called him
t'chicken-hearted fellow"
McKelvie's lip quivered into silence, and
he turned away, tears dimming his pleasant,
Irish eyes.
Then rebuled Acton by saying: Soap
tain, you should not have spoken to mere
boy like that, especially on the day OF
battle''
And the Captain, instead of becoming
angry, as half expected him to, looked
hard at Teddy's retreating figure, and
called out after him: ''Here, McKelvie, I
didn't mean to speak harshly or to censure.
Forgive me, Ted; / may die myself to-
day. Who knowsa''
McKelvie came back and wrung the
Captains hand in silence.
you've no idea how bad you're hurt
sometimes, sor, till the healin's applied"
said Ted to me afterwards. Then he handed
me package and added: "Plaze send it to
me pore old mother if don't see you agin.
Oh fixed it up after the presintin,int an its
all ready for the mailin'. The waruin' is
just as sure as if the banshee had walled
over me, an Orme goin' to-dayr'
In few minutes after we fell into line,
and all through the heated day of strife and
death had not seen him again. But in
the midst of battle could see his white,
panied face, and fancy I heard the cry OF
the dreaded banshee.
No wonder, then, that the mornings Incl
dent still came back with force.
All what was thata Could it be possible
that that was a moan from some suffering
soldier2 No, my inner consciousness told
me it was not; and the wild half moan,
half shrek, chilled my fevered pulses un
til began to feel cowardly, soldier though
Twas.
Stumbling along, however, over logs and
dead bodies alike, reached the wounded
man who was waiting for me- and calling
still for water.
Lifting his head I gave him a cooling
drink, and was rewarded by a fervent
"God bless you'' as laid him down again
and placed the canteen where he could easily
getit.
Again that strange sound came to my ears.
'sSome ones been calling like that for
quite awhile over there" said the comrade
at my side, as he raised himself up partially