The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-06-07
CHAPTER v.
DEATHS BRIDAL.

send FOR A CLERGYMAN AND LET Us BE
MARRIED BEFORE DE-"
CAL up v1d he, Missy said the brave
negro, looking sadly down on the pros
trate form OF his old comrade. 'sNebber-
die Joe done gone dead at lastl''
.sde's not dead, and he shall not der
cried Constance impetnously, as she
threw herself on her knees beside the
fallen man. Eyes, lean feel his heart
beating. Help me to carry him to the
town: we viii save him yetl'
While she was speaking she had torn
off her scarf and used it to check the
bleeding as well as she could In doing
so several pieces of broken glass and
metal fell into her hands, and she recog-
nized. with a smile of triumph even in
that moment Of agony, the fragments of
her own miniature.
But in proposing to carry her lover as
far as the town with Zeke's help the
heroic girl had overrated her own
strength, which the superhuman exer-
tions Of the past day and night had al
ready strained beyond endurance. For
time she bore up nobly, spurred on by
the thought that her lovers life depend
ed on his being brought within the reach
Of surgical aid as soon as possible; but
with every moment the onward strug-
gle grew harder, and the weight of the
helpless man more intolerable, till at
last her overtasked strength fairly gave
way, and she sank utterly exhausted
beside her unconscious lover, while zeke,
at his wits end what to do, stood star
ing blankly at them both
But just then two negroes came jog
ging along byroad in light cart, right
up to the spot, and Zeke. by the offer of
large reward if they brought the
wounded man in alive, easily induced
them to s.tote de Linkun ossifers for
such he represented Arthur to Beg into
the town. Constance seated herself in
the cart. and, taking her lovers power
less head in her lap, did her best to save
him from the shock of the constant jolt
ing, while zeke walked beside them.
All through that weary journey-ev-
cry moment of which seemed to the anx-
ious girl as long as an hour-Arthur
Fortescue lay in a kind of stupor, appar-
emily quite unconscious of the deafening
uproar that was now rending the very
sky. Fighting Joe Hooker was at
lacking the left of the southern position
while Thomas assailed the right, and the
earth shaking thunder of the cannon was
now mingled with the ceaseless craekle
of countless rifles, while the deep chested
shouts of the Federals and the shrill yells
Of the Confe'lerafes, echoed and re-echoed
from every cleft and Granny of the
mountain, swelled the maddening DIM
4 But long as their weary drive had
seemed, when every moment might
make all the difference between life and
death, yet when they finally reached the
hospital the thought that in few min
utes she might hear the surgeons pro-
nounce her lovers death sentence fell 50
crushingly on Constance's heavy heart
that she almost wished the delay even
longer.
The battle having but recently begun,
the doctors were not yet fully occupied,
and one of the Oldest of them came for
ward TO examine the wounded man,
looking very grave as he heard that the
wound had been inflicted by bursting
shell. Dimly, as if in dream, she saw
him approach, watched him cfaw back
the sufferers clothing and glance at the
wound-heard the one word MORTAL
and fell to the ground in merciful I'M
consciousness
When she came to herself again she
saw thss her lover had regained his
senses, and was gazing at her with
deep, tender pity in his sunken eyes.
Am going to die, darlingY he asked
feebly.
Constance tried in vain to speak, but
the dumb despair of her white, rigid face
was answer enough.
Let me call you mine just once, then,
at the lastl" he pleaded, with a moment
airy glow on his haggard face. 'sSend
for clergyman and let us be married
before die
Every detail of the scene that ensued
was stamped forever on the memory of
all who beheld it. The pale. delicate,
handsome features Of the young noble,
who had escaped death SO often when
life was worthless to him, only to fall
just when the happiness of which he had
despaired was fairly within his reach at
last; the sad, sweet face Of his beauti-
full bride, where the bitter grief of low
ing and bereaved woman was chastened
and glorified by the sacred enthusiasm
of martyr; the good old clergyman
with his snow white hair and kind, pity
ing face; the silent ring of spectators;
the wounded men behind, leaning out
of their cots to. watch this bridal of
death, and, high over ALL the surging
pillows of battle smoke rolling like storm
clouds across the slry.
There was lull in the uproar just
then, as if even the din of battle were
hushing itself in the presence of that
supreme tragedy. Thomas first attack
upon Missionary Ridge had been re-
pulsed with heavy loss, and his men
were now forming again for fresh
charge.
As the gloomy ceremony came to an
end a burly form darkened the door
way. 1t was DIR. Scalpell, one of Con-
stances best friends and warmest adj
mirers, who had just learned what was
going on--a bluff, hearty, outspohen
man, caring not straw what he said or
to whom he said it, but rs slillful and
gentle in action ma he was ror,Dh II,