Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-05

ooh, what nonsense, Sir Jamesl Hun
dreds of girls-young ladies-go to be nurses
now and do all sorts of things for the poor
sick people. But I am afraid couldn't;
have not the nerve. Even seeing the poor
soldier wounded Yesterday has upset me. I"
'My darling little girlv' said Sir James,
and he kissed her little hand. He was
longing to tell her how he hoped to take
care of her; to watch over her in all their
coming days. and to shield herself and her
nerves from every possible i'll. He was
very fond of her, and his heart was very
warm and true. Her mother was right
| wnen she had told him that Miriam might
| be proud to have won his love, yet alasl
this was not so.
Presently he persuaded her to go out for
q walk as the day was fine, and as they
passed near the hospital he asked her if she
should like him to 60 in and inquire after the
wounded soldier. Miriam hesitated mo-
ment and flush rose to her lace.
"If YOU like" she said.
"It's as you like darling; but thought
you would be interested in the poor fellow
after doing so much for him?"
''Oh, am interested"
''Then I'll go; you stop here my darling,
and I'll be back in minute"
So Miriam stood still and Sir James
walked quickly to the entrance of the hos
pital, and as he was about to enter the gate
way Dr. Reed was coming out of it. Sir
James knew DR.. Reed slightly, having met
him at the Clyde's, and he at once held out
his hand to the doctor.
81 have come to inquire how the poor fell
low is who was shot yesterday" be said
''Miss Clvde is anxious to know"
DR.. Reed smiled.
"He is going on as we'll as we could pos
sibly expect" he answered. He lost bit
of blood, you know, but he is a fine, strong,
young fellow, and I expect he will pull
himself together in day or two
''That's all right; how did it happen?
Through some blunder?"
"Don't know; there's kind of report in
the regiment that the man who did it-one
Smith-had grudge against Dare, but that
will have to be inquired into
"Of course. Well, doctor, Miss Clyde is
waiting for me, so l must say good day"
Again DR.. Reed smiled. Then he took
of his hat to Miriam, who was standing
little way off, and the situation inwardly
amused him. As for Miriam, she felt over
whelmed when she saw DR.. Reed. She
bowed in return to his salutation, but did
not look up, and the doctor was too good
natured to approach her nearer So he went
on his way wondering how it was possible
for any man to trust woman. Here was a
girl sending one lover-her betrothed lover
to inquire after another lover, reflected the
doctor, grimly, for he never doubted that in
some way or other Dare had been the lover
OF Miriam Clyde.
'tWhat would her mother say, he thought.
''if she knew? By jove!'
In the meantime Miriam and Sir James
were going along the banks, and looking
at the long rolling waves of the restless sea.
Ever had the great mass of blue-green
waters great charm for Miriam, for their
mystic murmurs seemed to bring back other
scenes more clearly to her brain. 1t was by
the sea-another sea though-that dark
shadow has fallen on her life. She was
thinking of this now; thinking Of the sud-
den end to a brief, bright love dream; and
over her came q strange yearning toward
the past.
Sir Jane. was chatting on about his
place in Scotland, where he had expensive
estates, and Miriam heard, half vaguely, of
the splendid trout stream, of the deer for
ests, and the blue waters of the loch; but
her heart was not amid the heather and the
hills. Another picture-the moonlight
cleaning on the sand, and young pair
standing hand clasped, keeping their secret
tryst-rose vividly before her even as Sir
James expatiated ON the wild beauties of
his native land.
And your sister ana uer nueDanO,
darling. 1t will BE- awfully jolly for us to
have them at Kintore, won't it?" she heard
him say presently, and his direct question
recalled her from her reverie.
"Yes," she said, still with her eyes fixed
upon the sea-
"What is your sister like, Miriam?" he
asked
"She is very like me, she answered in
low tone
"But she is much older, suppose?"
"No," said Miriam, still in the same low
tone, "Joan is only two years older than
am."
"Yet she is married to q General"
General Conray is quite old; old enough
to be her iather."
"How funny that she should have married
an old fellow like thatr'
Miriam bit her lips. and look of sharp
pain contracted her brow.
1T is very strange, is it notY .hs said.