Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
CHAPTER II.
THE SOLDIERS MESSAGE.

When Miriam, escorted by Captain Es-
court, arrived at the whitewashed house in
the barracks yard, where her father and
mother lived, she parted with Captain
Escourt at the door.
81 should like to know" she said, as she
shook hands with him, show the poor man
goes on"
'I'll call and let you know" answered
Escourt; 81 am going to the hospital now
to look after him. Thank you awfully for
what you did for one of my poor fellows, "
and he touched his cap and turned away.
Then Miriam went slowly into the house,
and walked feebly to her own room upstairs.
All her strength and litheness seemed sud-
denly to have passed away from her, and
when she reached her room she sat down
and covered her face with her hands.
.sOh! this is terrible, terrible" she
moaned. "What shall I do-what if he
were to dier'
She was evidently in the deepest perplex-
ity and distress. Presently she started to
her feet, and began pacing the room with
restless and uneven footsteps, and as she
wandered backward and forward rap came
to her bedroom door.
With an effort she endeavored to compose
herself and said, ''come in" and after
having done so the door of the room opened,
and the face of her mothers maid appeared.
"Oh! Miss Miriam, please" said the
maid; "your mamma sent me to tell you
that teais ready and to ask you to come
down."
every we'll, shall be down in a moment
or two," answered Miriam, tremulously.
"Aud they say, MISS" continued tho
maid, 'that one of the soldiers has been
killed on the sands. Banks saw them carry
ing him up, and they said he was dead, poor
fellow"
seNo, no." said Miriam. in sudden excite
ment and visible distress; t'not dead,
surely, Ford-nor dead!' '''''.7'
"Well, that's what Banks said, miss, but
it mayn't be true for all that, and perhaps
he might run round to the hospital to
ask?'
eyes, send him, and I will wait here
until he comes back. Tell him to go as fast
as he can"
Upon this Ford disappeared, and Miriam
was left TO her own distracting thoughts.
She was in a terrible state of anxiety, and
wrung her hands together in almost uncon-
trollable emotion. And for at least ten
minutes this went on, and then Ford once
more appeared at the room door.
'eNo please, miss, he's not dead, she
said; "Banks saw one of the orderlies, and
he saws the poor fellow is still alive, though
they don't expect him to last, but DR.. Reed
and another doctor are with him, and they
are doing all they can."
And with these dismal words ringing in
her ears, Miriam few minutes later went
down to her mothers drawing room, trying
to assume composure and courage she did
not feel.
Mrs. Clyde was sitting before her tea-table
drinking tea out of valuable china cup. She
was a remarkable looking woman; remark
able for the regularity and beauty of her
features, and for a certain acuteness of e0-
preston, which told to a keen observer
that she was a woman of talent and tact
She looked at her daughter and smiled as
Miriam entered, and in a moment perceived
by the girls face that something unusual
had occurred.
"Have you been in long, my dear?" she
asked, pleasantly.
"Not very long, mother" answered
Miriam.
''And did Sir James persuade you to fix
the happy day?" she continued, still with
her fine dark eyes fixed on her daughters
face. ''He came here shortly after you went
out, and he seems very eager lover, and is
most anxious to have the time of your we'd
ding fixed; SO / sent him down to you on the
sands, and suppose you saw him?"
eyes, 1 saw him." said Miriam with
dowhcast eyes
"And is anything settled?"
"No, mother; he wished to be married in
a month, but L thought that was too soon. :"
my dear, is this wise?"
1--WE have been engaged such short time
oh! it is far too soon, said Miriam, with
o touch of impatience in her tone.
''Your father and 1 do not think 50,
Miriam"
"But mother"