The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-02-06

finch f.sr a man to ask of another.
don't want to die and rot in this cursed
wilderness without saying goodby to
her."
"You must look sharp then," said Ro-
land. kneeling beside him, for shall
be called into camp in a few minutes
He took an old letter from his pocket.
and with numbed fingers began to write,
at the wounded mans dictation. on its
blank side.
envy darling Rose," he began.
Roland started as if stung by snake,
and bent a sudden look of questioning
anger on his companions face The
southerner looked back at him for
moment with look of surprise. Then
his face changed.
"Jim Vickers! said Roland.
Roland Pearse!" cried the other, and
for moment there was silence between
them.
Last time your name passed my
lips, said Roland slowly, Il swore to
put bullet into you on sight.
81 guess you needn't" said Vickers;
eve got two already Not that Pm
particular to bullet or SO. only you
might finish the letter first, anyhow.
For Gods sake, Pearse,' he continued,
sudden emotion conquering his dare
devil cynicism. write the letter. It's
for Rose. She won't have cent in the
world if can't send her the news |
want you to write, and she and the child
will starve. got her by trick, know,
and nasty trick, too; but I'd have done
murder to get her. She was the one
woman ever cared straw for. really.
And she loves me too. Shoot me II you
like, but for Gods sake write the let
ter"
Roland bent his head over the scrap of
paper again.
'sGo on" he said hoarsely, and Wick
ers went on, painting out the words with
an eagerness which proved the sincerity
of his affection. The letter had regard
to the disposition of certain sums of
money for which the voucher had been
destroyed by fire during the siege OF
Philipyille two days previously. 1t
was scarcely ended when a bugle sounded
from the camp.
"That's the sentinel's recall, said Ro-
land. 81 must get in. I'll forward the
letter the first chance get"
He rose. vickers, with dumb agony
of grateful entreaty in his face, feebly
held up his left hand-the right arm was
shattered. After moments hesitation
Roland bent and took it.
Here" he said, ''take this"
He dropped his flask beside him.
keep your heart up; perhaps you amt
as bad as you think. I'll see if can get
help for you.
Tears started to the wounded wretch's
"Rose had better have taken you, l
guess" he said. Roland turned sharply
away.
"Tll be back as quickly as I can" he
said, and plowed his way back into
camp without single backward glance.
Coming to large tent. the only one in
the camp, roughly run up as tempo
rary hospital, he passed between two
rows of PROSTATE figures. sunk in the
sleep of exhaustion OF tossing in agony.
to where man in the uniform of an
army surgeon was bending, pipe in
mouth, over the body of a patient. 81
want to speak to you when you've fin
ished, Ned"
The surgeon nodded without raising
his eyes, completed bis task, ran his
blood stained fingers YEARLY through
his hair and turned to Roland with a
yawn and shiver.
THAT'S the last of 'em," he said; Give
been at it since nightfall, and Pm dead
beat. Cut it short. old man; we start
in an hour, and mean to get wink Of
sleep"
it." said Roland. "Do you remember
Jim Vickers%
"Jim Vickers?" repeated the surgeon.
"Oh, yes! The man who married Rose
Bishop"
Roland WINGED and nodded.
"He's out there, shot in the arm and
leg. Says he's dying. He didn't know
me, and asked me to write word for
him to Rose-to his wife. i want you
to come and have look at him."
The surgeon shrugged, with half
yawn.
Hes a Reb, s'pose? Haven't seen
him in our crowd"
"Yes," said Roland, 'fbut one man is
pretty much the same to you as another,
/ reckon, and-you know Rose. You
might save him."
Ned shrugged again. tossed some lint
and other necessaries into bag on the
table and they set out together. They
found Vickers asleep, with the empty
whisky flask lying on the snow beside
him.
There was ruined shed at a hundred
Yards distance to which they carried the
wounded man, who awoke and groaned
as he was raised. Arrived under shelter,
Ned silently betook himself to examin-
ing Vickers' wounds. Arm and leg were
both shattered, and three of his ribs
were broken by a horses hoof. Roland
watched his friends face, but it wore
the aspect of even gravity common to