The Somerset reporter., 1891-09-17

She could not tell why this case, for af.
ter all Charlie WAS only ease went so
plercngly to her heart. Still nurses have
hearts to be wrung, much the same as
other people have.
Why" said he, "aiut Nettie in this
very hospittle?"
Yes, she is
Then mebby you'd let me see her to
morrer."
Miss Bond did not often forget, but she
had forgotten the message and Hover
from Nettie. She gave both quickly
The flower she had put hastily in a but.
tonhole. The boys face lighted. He
held the faded thing tenderly,
''l guess III go'n' see her to.morrer,
he said again.
He lay for some time dreamily looking
at the bit Of green in his hand. Appar-
emily he had forgotten that he was going
to tell his companion how he shot him
self. She could see how fast the current
OF his life wa. running from him. There
were times when he seemed to feel ii too.
Tie would hold her hand. the tender. eff.
tective hand which had helped SO many.
He said
81 don't want to die, hope can git
we'll"
en- knows 1t is hard to answer such words.
After longer sleep than usual he woke
and was somewhat refreshed and strength.
ened He took something from glass
that was held to his lips.
81 Amt told ye how | got shot, have
II" he asked earnestly. "You see the ba-
by got the pistol. Somebody must er
left it round. didn't never see it afore.
1t was in her cart. I'd wheeled her up
the wiler lane ysterG'y mornn'. 1t
seems longer ago, don't 1t? There's q
brook n lots er willers 10 the lane. It's
prime place to 20. The baby always
liked 1t tremendously. | was settin' on
a rock tryin' termake er willer whistle
GU en- make um first rate II you git the
hang OF 1t. The cart stood jest bit of
q ways { II. The haby'd ben watchin' men
makn' them cummin' noises, you know,
kinder lsughin' N talkin' in her way
All at once she laughed so hard | locked
at her. She'd got that pistol. Shes real
big n strong N she could lift 1t. She
was lookin down into the barrel of it N
sayin' something. | was awful frighten-
ed thought 'twould 70 off sure. N
| didn't darst move hardly, you know
The boys feverishly bright eyes rested
on the nurses face in the faint light they
looked like points OF fire She thought It
would do more harm to forbid his speak
ing than to let him 90 on.
He suddenly hrsncbed of into an ex
PLANTATION of how the pistol came in the
baby's cart. At first he had said he did
not know. A neghbor hsd brought it to
show Mr.. Rand Mr. Rand had been
called somewhere, and had laid the pistol
in the cart and then forgotten it, But the
man had said the weapon was "harmless
as ysrdstick; it was more than year
since it had been loaded
Having made this explanation, Charlie
was silent for so long that the nurse
thought he had fallen a, leep. In the still
ness the summer insects piped monoto-
nouslY; the sultry blackness without was
now and then pierced by darting FREELY.
All at once he began again; but first he
reached out his hot hand. which Miss
Bond took in firm clasp.
You see, | was mortal 'fraid to move ;
but knew I'd jest got to. I'D got to
resk it, for the baby was jest lookiu'
down that barrel, n laughin n shakin'
She was havin' such a good time, tryin'
to pull that trigger with her fat fingers.
Il jest jumped m grabbed the pistol,
n didn't think nothln' where the barrel
WAS aimed, if it only want aimed at her,
you know. She thought | was playin', N
she held on m struggled with all her
might. 1t did seems if | never should
git it away from her but KEEP ii from
ben aimed at her. All to once II went
of; | felt mighty queer. Something
seemed to smart right through me-
couldn't go up to the house. n couldn't
git the baby up neither. jes' lay on the
fnt . h..l. IL
to sleep. 1t did seem good while fore
Mr.. Rand came along. He cried awful ;
he's ben real good to me. | guess he
thought was hurt n good deal. But |
amt; am l?'
He did not insist upon an answer to his
question. He closed both eyes and was
quiet.
With the first hint of morning in the
east there came up faint breeze which
swept through the wards like blessing
from Heaven.
The head nurse came to relieve Miss
Bond, Charlie walked immed, tely Again
he asked:
"lIave got to die2"
The head nurse put her hand ON his
forehead.
Are you afraid to die, Charlie2"
He seemed to be thinking. After a
moment, he answered;
"Well, d'know, I've always tried to
he good boy but | amt never ben to
Sunday school but twice. You see ain I
never mad much of chance"
Would you like to see minister,
Charlie?'
Yes
The nurse mentioned the names of the
oil oil Of NJ
Harrison, who was one of them.
The hoys face frightened.
II guess I'd like to see Mr.. Harrison,
cause he's the President, you know"
80 Mr.. Harrison, who was not the
President came. But the man hardly
knew what to say, He told Charlie to
"brace up When Miss Bond returned
the boy seemed to want to encourage her,
and be said
Il guess Mr.. Harrison done me little
good"
When the faculty came they said there
was lone lance in Thousand" for Char
lie They would try an operation. Miss
Bond told him. He seemed to have no
fear He only asked that he might go
and see Nettie after 1t was over.
The orderly and Miss Bond took him
to the operating room, He looked about
him as he was put upon the table. He
asked one of the doctors:
"Havc got TO die?' Then he sdded :
give always tried to be good boy. But
amt never ben to Sunday school but
twice. You see | amt had much Of a
chance
The doctor said what he could. How
poor are words But the boy felt the
kind heart behind the words.
Just before he became unconscious he
looked at Miss Bond, who was close be-
side him and was to take care OF him
while the doctors worked.
"a don't s'pos God'll be awful har don a
Teller that amt had much of chance do
you:'
"No-no." was the hurried reply. ale
won't be hard. He is never hard"
The ball had gone into the abdomen.
Poor fellow! As the doctor had said.
there was only one chance In a thousand
He was not to have that chance.
They took him back to bed. He came
to himself. The head nurse came and
| stayed short time with him, until as she
said, "she could lear no more"
He was left alone with Miss Bond. He
talked vaguely about the boys; again
about the peas and heets he had planted
| ua aid h. unuat wAoN tha hasta