The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-03-18
REVENGED.

It was about half an hour after sunset,
bnt an orange light still burned above
the lonely southern valley. The trem-
bling evening star was hanging over the
green s%ilences of the fragrant Tennessee
woods. Vapor wreathed phantoms from
the river course and from the dense
th1ckets that skirted the camp ground
came ever. and anon the mournful sound
of wiippcorwills. sounding faint and
low. like the remembered echoes of a
dream. Yet Wallace keene would have
given well nigh all he was worth to ex-
change its luxuriant verdure, one mo-
ment only, for the pine clad heights and
salt winds of Maine. win russell winged
robins chirp.ng their familiar madrigals
in the apple orchards below.
Two years ago | left home" muir
INJURED Wallace Keene as he gazed
t%houghtfully Il where the purple sky
seemed to touch the waving woods. Two
years since young Harvey told me he
never would give Marion TO a common
mechanic vet the wound rankles sharply
still"
.'ls that you. Spicer? What now?"
Captain Keene turned his face toward
the opening of the tent. where Private
Spicer's head was just visible.
why, sir. our fellows have just
brought in that lot o men that was hurt
Ia that scrimmage ACROSS the river this
morning. and some on EN- is wounded
bad"
Il will be there directly. Spiccr."
There was a little crowd of men gath
cred on the river shore in the warLl
glow of the spring. but they silently
parted right and left for Captain
Keene's tall figure to pass through their
midst.
Six or seven dusty, bleeding men were
sitting and lying around in various pos
lures. their CHASTITY brows made still
paler by the faint. un' >rtain glim,ncr Of
the young moon. Keene glanced quicE-
ly around. taking in the whole scene in
that one brief survey.
He stopped short as his eye fell nn a
new face. half Swallowed by the green
sweep of dropping alders-a pale. bi"ri
streaked face with a gaping cut Oh the
forehead.
This is not one of our ment- he ex-
claimed sharply. How came he hereT
mo. sir" explained Spicer. stepping
forward. Il think he belonged to the
Eighth. I'm sure | don't know how he
ever got MIXED uo with our fellows. but
there he WAS. and | thought we'd better
not wait for their ambulance. but bring
him straight here"
Right" briefly pronounced Keene.
stool Ing over the insensible figure. Let
them carry him to my tent. Spic1r."
II beg your pardon. captain-to your
TENT
Didn't o hear what | saidT' sharply
Intercepted the superior officer. Bruce.
make the others comfortable in Lieuten-
Int Ordway's quarters. There will he
plenty Of room for them there"
well FL beat!~ calculated Spicer
FIVE or ten minutes afterward as he
came out of the captains tent scratching
his shock of coarse red curls.
Meanwhile the dim light of a lamT
swinging from the center of the little
tent shone full on the singular groul
within lis oircling folds the wounded
private lying like Il corpse. still and pale
on the narrow iron bedstead, the young
officer leaning over him and supportir
his head-and the brisk. gray eyed littl,
surgeon keenly surveying both rs he m
folded his case of phials and powders,
"lte is not dead. DOCTOR"
mo; but he would have been in sn
other half hour. Your prompt rene
dies have saved his life, Captain kee!w
Thank God! oh. thank God!'
The surgeon looked at Keene in amaze
.ment.
He doesn't belong to your regiment
Why are you SO interested in the case"
Because. doctor" said Ke- ne, with
strange, bright smile. when | saw h;n
lying under the alders. dead, as thought
l rejoiced in my secret heart. At first
only at first. The next | re
membered that | was a man and Chris
tan. For years | have carried the spir.
of Cain in my breast toward that man
now it is washed out in his blood"
1t was high noon of the next day befor,
the wounded man started from a fevere,
doze into the faint dawn of consciousness
Ns1x.-~-a~~@ 4siA. !,