The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-20

she stole out of the room, and, finding the
surgeon, asked if he would take her up to
the ward where Sergt Blunt was lying.
Yes, l shall bs happy 20 taks you up at
once, Miss Armstrong. Everything /, tidy
Just at present, for / have mad message
from Col. Somerset that he and the general
are coming round the wards. l don't sup
pose they will be here for half an hour. 50
you can come up at once"
The SICK men in the wards were surprised
When the surgeon entered, accompanied by
young lady. She passed shyIy along be-
tween the rows OF beds until she reached
that OF Ronald. She put her hand in his,
but for moment was unable to speak.
Il maid saw her agitation, and said cheer
fully, 81 am heartily glad, Miss Armstrong,
to hear from the doctor such good account
OF your father, AS for me, shall not be
In his hands many days. l told you
1t was a mere scratch, aud | be-
heve that good sized piece of sticking
plaster was all that was wantsd."
You haven't thought me unkind for not
coming to see you Def IRE, hope" the girl
said; but have not Teen able till now to
leave my fathers room for a moment"
"lquits understand that. Mss Armstrong
ana Indeed there was no occasion for you
To come to me at all. 1t would have been
quite time enough when was up and about
again. | only wish that it was likely that
Mr. Armstrong would be on his feet as soon
as | shall"
~, he is going on very we'll" Mary said
Il consider that you have saved his life as
well as mine. l feel sure that it is only
having me with him again that h as made
such change IN him as has taken place
since yesterday. The doctor says SO, too
have not told him yet how it has all come
about, but hope ere very long he may be
able to thank you for both of us"
You thanked me more than enough yes
terday, Miss Armstrong, and am not
going to listen to any more of 1t. As far as
can see, you could not have done me any
greater service than BY giving me the oppor-
unity you have. Every one seems disposed
to take quite ridiculous view of the mat
ter. and | may look forward to getting a
roop-sergeantship when there is va
| cancy."
The girl shook her head. She was too
| much in earnest even to pretend to take a
| light view of the matter. Just at that
| moment there was tramping of horses
| outside, and the sharp sound of the sentries
| presenting arms.
"Here is the general" Ronald said, with
| smile, land although 1 don't wish to
| hurry you away, Miss Armstrong, think
that you had better go back to your father.
don't know whether he would approve Of
lady visitors in the hospital"
| Good by" the girl said, giving him her
hand You won't let me thank you, but
you know"
81 know" Ronald replied. "Good-by.n
| Shs looked round for the surgeon, who
had, after taking her up to Ronald, moved
| away for short distance, but he was gone,
| having hurried Off to meet the general be-
| low, and with a last nod to Ronald, she left
the ward. She passed out through the door
into the court yard just as the group of
officers were enteri e.
| THAT is Miss Armstrong" the surgeon
said, as she passed out
"Wnat, the girl who was rescuedg" Col
Somerset said; "a very pretty, ladylike-
| looking young woman. 1 am not surprised
now that Sc, her at this desperate exploit
| of my sergeant"
''No, indeed" the general said, smiling.
Its curious, colonel, what men will do
| for a pretty face. Those other two poor
creatures who were carried off were both
murdered, and | pon't suppose that their
deaths have greatly distressed this young
fellow one way or the other. No doubt he
would have been glad to rescue them, but
l imagine that their deaths have not in
| any way caused him to regard his mis-
sion as failure. l suppose that It's hui
man nature, general"
| Colonel Somerset laughed.
| You and l would have seen the matter
in the same light when we were youngsters,
| general"
The officers went through the wards,
| stopping several times to speak few words
| to the patients.
80 this is the deserter," Col. Somerset
said, with some assumed sternness, as thew
! stopped by Ronald's bedside. "WeIl. sir.
we have had a good many of those black
| rascals desert from our ranks, but YOU are
the first white soldier who has deserted
since the war began. or course, you ex-
| pect drumhead court-martial and shoot
| ing as soon as the doctor lets you out of his
| hands.
Ronald saw that the old colonel was not
| in earnest.
sit was very bad, colonel, he said, land |
can only throw myself on your mercy"
You have done well, my lad-verv
well, b" the colonel said, laying his hand on
his shoulder "There are some occasions
when even military laws give place to
| questions of humanity, and this was essen
| italy one of them. You are fine fellow.
SIT; aud am proud that you belong to my
corps"
The general, who had stopped behind
speaking 10 another patient, now came up.
You have done very gallant action,
Sergt. Blunt he said Capt Twenty.
man has reported the circumstances to me:
but when you are out of hospital YOU
must come to headquarters and tell me your
own story. viii you see to this, Col. Somer-
set?"
Certainly, sir. will send him over. or
rather bring him over to you, as soon as
he's about, for I should like to hear the
whole story Also"
In ten days Ronald Mervyn was about
again, although not yet fit for duty; the
wound had healed rapidly, but the
surgeon said it would be at
least another fortnight before
he would be fit for active service. AS soon
as he was able to go out and sit on the
benches in the hospital yard, many of his
comrades came to see him, and there was a
warmth and earnestness in their congratu-
lations which showed that, short as his
time had been in the corps, he was thor
oughly popular with them. Sergt. Menzies
was particularly hearty in his greeting.
81 knew you were the right sort, Harry
Blunt, as soon as / set eyes upon you,n he
said; "but did not expect that you were
going to cut US all out so soon.n
'How is my horse, sergeantp'
20. he's none the worse for it, l think
He has been taking walking exercise, aud
his stiffness is wearing off fast l think he
misses you very much, and he wouldn't
take his food the first day or two. lie has
got over it now, but know he longs to
hear your voice again"
Sometimes too, Mary Armstrong would
come out and sit for a time with Ronald.
Her father was progressing favorably, and,
though still extremely weak WAS in n fair