Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18
natter than I personally or officially cared TO


At midnight was awakened by the orderly
and summoned TO the tent Of the officer in COM
mard. This youths face was considerably
whittier than his linen. He was consulting with
his second in command, boy of twenty-five or
thereabouts.
A man covered with sand and blood was sit
ting in hammock chair rubbing his eyes and
drinking something out Of tumbler.
News from the 'front.'" 1 inquired without
ceremony, which hindrance we had long aince
dispensed with.
"Yes. and bad news"
1t certainly was not pleasant hearing. Some
one mentioned the word disaster and we looked
at each other with hard, anxious eyes. thought
of the women, and almost decided to send them
back before daylight.
In few moments a fresh man WAS reused out
OF his bed, and sent full gallop through the
moonlight across the desert to headquarters
and the officer in command began to regain
confidence.
1t was necessary to get my men to work at
once, but gave particular orders to leave the
nurses undisturbed. Disaster at the front meant
hard work at the rear. We all knew that, and
endeavored to make ready for a sudden rush Of
wounded.
The rush began before daylight As they
came In we saw to them, dressing their wounds
and packing them closely possible. But
the stream was continuous. They never stopped
coming: they never gave us a moments rest
At 6 o'clock 1 gave orders to awaken the
nurses and order them to prepare their quarters
for the reception of the wounded. At $50 an
army hospital corps man came to me in the
ward.
..shockin' case, sir, Just come in," he said
"Ohcer. Gun busted, sir.
Take him to my quarters" said, wiping
my instruments on my sleeve.
In few minutes followed. and on entering
my little room the first thing saw was pair
of yellow boots.
white duck trousers, and although could not
see the face l knew thst this was Sammy Fitz-
Warrener come back again.
woman--one of the nurses for whom he
had pleaded-was bending over the bed with a
sponge and a basin Of tepid water. As l en-
tered she turned upon me pair Of calmly
horror-stricken eyes.
''Ohr" she whispered, meaningly, stepping
back to let me approach. had no time to no
tice then that she WAS one Of those largely built
women, with perfect skin and fair hair, who
make one think of what England must have
been before Gallo blood got to be 80 widely
disseminated in the race.
please pull down that mat from the win
dow. ! said. indicating a temporary blind
which had put up.
She did so promptly and returned to the
bedside. falling into position as it were, await
ing nv orders.
/ bent over the bed and must confess that
what saw there gave me a thrill of horror,
which will come again at times as long as live.
made sign to Sister to continue her task
of spOnging away the mud, of which one ingre-
dent was sand.
Both eyes" she whispered ''sre destroyed"
''Not the top of the skull, y said; "you must
not touch that.
For we both knew that our task was without
hope.
As have said. 1 knew something of Fitz-
Warrener's people, and could not help linger-
ing there. where could do no good, when 1
knew that was wanted elsewhere.
Suddenly his lips moved, and Sister, kneeling
down on the floor. bent over him.
could not hear what he said, but think she
did. i saw her lips frame the whisper Yes in
reply, and over her face there swept suddenly u
look of great tenderness
After little pause she rose and came to me-
Who is hep" she asked.
''Fitz-Warrener of the naval brigade. Do
you know him?''
NO. never heard of him. OF course .
it is quite hopeiess?'
Quite"
She returned to her poaition BY the bedside,
with one arm laid across his chest
Presently he began whispering again. and at
intervals she answered him. 1t suddenly oc-
CURED to me that, in his Inconsistencies, he
was installing her for some one else and that
she, for some wonaan's reason, was deceiving
him purposely.
In a few moments was sure Of this.
L tried not to look, but 1 saw it all. saw
his poor blind hands wander over her throat
and face up to her hair.
What is this?" he muttered quite distinctly,
with that tone Of self-absorption which char
acterizes the sayings Of an unconscious man,
What is this silly cap?"
His fingers wandered on over the snowy linen
until they came to the strings.
As all aspirant TO the title Of gentleman felt
like running away--many doctors know this
feeling; as a doctor could only STAY
His fingers fumbled with the strings Still
Sister bent over the bed. Perhaps she bent an
inch or two nearer. One hand was beneath his
neck supporting the poor shattered head
He slowly drew of the cap and his fingers
crept lovingly over the soft fair hair
Marry he said quite clearly, you've done
your hair up, and you're nothing but little
girl, you know-nothing but a little girl"
l could not help watching his fingers, and yet
felt like a man committing a sacrilese.
when left you," said the brainiess voice.
''you wore it down your back. You were little
girl-you a little girl now
And he slowly drew a hairpin out. One long
lock fell curling to her shoulder She never
looked up, never noticed me, but kneit there
like a ministering angeEpersonating for q time
a girl whom we had never seen.
My little girl" he added, with low laugh,
and he drew ont another hairpin
In few moments all her hair was about her
shoulders. had never thought that she might
be carrying such glory quietly hidden beneath
the simple nurses cap
That is better" he said. "that Is better"
And he let all the hairpins fall on the
eoverlet.
Now you are my own Marry" he muir
INJURED. Are you not?"
She hesitated one moment.
''Yes, dear, !" abe said softly, II am your own
Marry"
With her disengaged hand she stroked his
blanching cheek. There was a certain science
about her touch. as if she had once known
something of these matters.
Lovingly and slowly the smoke-grimed
fingers passed over the wonderful hair. smooth
ing it.
Then he grew more daring. He touched her
eyes, her gentle cheeks, the quiet strong bps
He slipped to her shoulder and over the soft
folds Of her black dress.
Been gsrdening?" he asked, coming to the
bib of her nursing apron.
1t was marvellous how the brain. which was
laid open to the day, retained the consciousness
Of one subject 80 long.
Yes-dear," she whispered.
Your old apron is all wet!'' he said reproach-
fully, touching her breast where the blood-his
own blood-was slowly driving.
His hand passed on and as it touched her
saw her eyes soften into such wonderful ten
derness that felt as were looking on q part
Of Sisters life which was sacred.
saw little movement Is to draw back