The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-11-14


fears that made her life q feTesish
dream; for Silvan Milbourn did NOT
come back. and II he sent her letter
Ii never reached her. Il was as II ne
had slipped quietly out of her life.
leaving her to bear all the pain and
longing alone.
III her father noticed that she was
growing more quiet and wcrnanlg hs
attributed it to the secluded life she
led. and to nothing eise-certainIY 70
no secret sorrow that was preFinz up=
on her heart. And Daphne was care-
ful that no shadow of her sorrow should
fall upon him. She hum0red his every
whim. feigned an interest In his mnstF
old books. and looked after his CON-
fort In q tender, old-fashioued way
that amused. yet touched him.
Thus the months and years passed
away. And then came the terrible
war that sent so many brave men 70
many happy homes
Daphness father was among the first
TO enlist when the call came for vol
unteers.
I am not too old TO figIst, aud nv
country needs me. . he saia when Daph-
ne would have urged him TO star.
@AaA H4@As8@ ava AtA1 l4&&Ift~A0HN
books among which he had lived for
SO many years. he kissed her and went
away.
Aud when one dav news came tc
her that he had fallen In battle she
sorrowed no more than she had done
when she kissed him goodbye few
weeks before She only kissed his
pictured face. wept a few tears over
his books. and. with other brave w0fl-
en- of the village. left her home t0 Of
fer her services. ii need be her life
as hospital nurse
In the trying days that followed she
somestimes thought OF her old love,
aud wondered If il were possible that
Silvan had sent a letter 70 her The
terrible silence that had laid between
them for eight long years Was worse
than DEATH To have known that he
was alive and happy would have been
far less bitter than TO feel that he had
been coward to leave her In doubt as
to his fate. DaF after daF. week after
week. she searched eagerly among the
sick and wounded soldiers. haIf-hopine.
half-dreading. to find Silran Mfibcurn
among Them If over his dead face
she could have wept away the bitter
ness of her pain life would not have
been half 80 desolate
Yet It was the thought that others
had given up tBeir dear ones, others
had sacrificed as much As she that
made her so patient and gentle that
the poor maitned soldiers among 50
many brave, good women turned in
stiHctiEeIr to her for comfort and mid.
They iutrusted their letters to hsr
care told her their plans In the event
of their recovery. and listened to her
low, sweet voice in praser when the
chaplain failed to impress them with
the solemnity OF death Sister Daph-
nen they called her. aud more than
one soldier died with her name upon
his lips
Your influence i stronger than
mine. the chaplain often told her
And it was no selfish joy that thrilled
her heart at his words Of praise. but
glad consciousness that out Of her
wretched life was springing patient
trust, that would bring its own reward
in the years to come
One night. while going her usual
rounds. she stopped 1T the cot OF
young soldier who had been brought
in few hours before.
shot through the lungs-WiIl not
last much longer whispered the sur
geou, who was fastening by
The soldier smiled family wheD
Daphne laid her cool hand on his
burning head. and whispered a few
words OF encouragement.
ITS no use.n he said. with great
difficulty. ..the surgeon has told me
that [ viii die-I am not afraid-8
brave soldier never fears death-there
is no one to miss me. no one to griere
when go.n
But i there nothing / can do for
you?n asked Daphne. gently Have
you no friend to whom you wish "a
send message. Or
There is something would be glad
If you would do interrupted the
youth. eagerly. Il had q comrade
who fell just before / was shot; he
gave me letter before the battle
which he begged me to send to the per
son to whom it is addressed He was
q brave man. and i loved him. VIII
you take it and send it for mess
He made feeble motion toward his
breast for Daphne to look
She found the letter at last, crun-
pied and stained with blood
You will take care Of il he asked.
III possible, it shall reach the right
person. answered Daphne. placing il
in her pocket. lis there anything else
you wish me to do?"
.sNothing.n he answered. wearifv.
There is no one he added bitterly
81 thank You for what you have done.
but / cannot talk more-I think
should like TO 60 to sleep.r and be
turned his face to the wall.
1t was past midnight when Daphne.
tired and worn with watching. went to
aer room to snatch a few moments Of
| rest It was always her habit before
| going to bed TO look over the letters
that had been intrusted 70 her care.
and. If possible. see that they were
mailed. Tonight ste suddenly re-
membered that she had nothing but
the letter the dying soldier had seemed
| so anxious she should take charge of.
She examined it closely BY the lamp
light. Although the envelope was.
dirty and blood-stained the address.
which was written in a bold. charac-
teristic hand. could be plainly read.
Miss Daphne Sommers. Eilsville.
Kentucky
| For a moment there was mist be-
fore her eyes. aud her heart beat with
a strange thrill of pain. She broke the
| seal and read the letter slowly -
carefully from beginning to end. If
contained only a few lines What that
message was only he who penned it,
the brave soldier. sleeping where hs