The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-11

soul as again ! seemed to hear, as had ac-
tually done during the progress Of the bat
tie, the sullen and continuous roar of the
artillery Now, how suggestive the quiet!
Pausing before the recently erected Cali
fornla monument, l recalled bit of TO-
mance-the tender devotion and loyalty of
w0man-the manifestation of which had
hallowed that spot to me, as none other,
because so few save myself has a knowl-
edge OF the inner life of the heroine known.
Her name was Isabel and she was fac
tory-girl in neighboriDg city Of Pennsyl-
Vanla during the war.
Tall, dark, slender, graceful, with great,
hungry, earnest gray eyes, that seemed
searching, greedily, every face that she met
for a friendly recognition, she was one to
awaken curiosity, arrest attention and in
spire interest even in a careless observer
i knew nothing of her antecedents, save
that by the labor of her hands she had sup
ported herself and her old grandmother,
she was proud and poor. One morning.
early in May, | think, our city was startled
by the news of an awful railroad collision
on the opposite side of the Susquehanna
River. Two trains had telescoped, during
dense fog, the one arriving containing
some wounded soldiers of the Army of the
Potomac, as well as some gallant reinforce
meDts from New York City. The result Of
the accident WAS beyond descriptiUn-hor-
rible.
As soon as orders could come from the
physicians, who, with hundreds of our
citizens, had fastened across the mle-long
bridge TO the scene Of the disaster, the great
halls of the cotton factory were imprOvised
into hospital wards and bands of noble
women, with willing hands and aching
hearts, were In waiting to receive the
wounded as soon as they arrived.
Among the first to offer service was
Isabel, and the man given into her care was
Lieutenant of Massachusetts cavalry,
yIp in ODD inn. 70 lad fas,
in recent heavy battle in Virginia. had
been severely cut, during the late accident,
about the head and chest He was insensi-
Bile when the blood was washed from his
wounds, and his head was bandaged. and,
as the surgeon left his cot, saying to Isa-
bel: Do not leave him for moment;
his life depends mainly upon your watch
fitness" she replied: IF that is so,
will save him."
The vow to do so was sacred.
1t was two days before the handsome
manly fellow came to himself " and three
weeks before he could sit up in his bed,
bolstered against the shoulder of his faith
ful nurse.
Her first letter, written as his amanuen-
sis, was to the mother, widow of elegant
culture, residing in Quincy Mass, OF whom
the Lieutenant was the only son.
Say that, next to hers, yours are the
tenderest hands that have ever ministersd
to Inc, and that | never never can repay
your disinterested kindness, Miss Isabel.
Say, too, that you seem to belong to her,
for You are of her rare kind"
Pshawl Phi write no such nonsense:
your mother is an aristocratic lady and |
am but lowly factory-girl," said the
blushing woman, ''but Pll tell her that
you're getting well fast and that some day
your nurse will return you to her."
- But please Goa, not alone, eh, Isabel?'
1hey were married as soon as the Lieu
tenant was able to walk, and if ever the
Kingdom OF heaven is within men-and |
believe it is-they two were in one of its
many mansions"
Isabel was transformed Her Joy illu-
mined her. No Cleopatra more alluTing; no
Diana more chaste; no sweetheart more
loving than she.
tremble at my great happiness" she
said to me ON the occasion of my call upon
her at the hotel, whittier they had taken
temporary quarters.
esterday a poor, lonely nobody, to-day
queenl did not think that love could be
SO beautiful. Truly, love is God"
For eight weeks their Eden was perfect.
then came the order for all troops in Meade's
division to be in readiness for marching
orders, as General Lee was invading the
States Of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The
Lieutenant had fully recovered and further
1nrlough was impossible. Each faced the
inevitable Make me these with your own
dear fingers. Belle" said the young hus-
band, bringing to her two shirts of blue and
white checked flannel, ''and sew this on one
OF them. 1t saved my live once and NAV do
so again. See?"
1t was small U. S. A. brass button. but
the deep lndentation made by the huIlet
mat struck 1t had hattened the eagle out of
all semblance to that proud bird.
Belle completed her task, sewing signs