People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-05-12

touch Of the woman who had first loved,
had later denounced him-who owed to
him her liberty, if mot her life-wrought
for his. For that hand had once rested
in his own in plight Of troth; yet now
it touched and tended him as tenderly
as though no mark of treason to her
worse, to his country-famed upon his
forehead.
And through dismal morn and dreary
night-watcb Carolyn Clay repeated to
herself that she had done as much for
any human creature so stricken and so
helpless.
Christmas came and went, bringing
with it what of joy and jollity might be
left for some Of the families living in
the leaguered capital. A heavy thaw had
made all the roads well-nigh impassa-
BILE for horse and man, wholly so for
army trains; and Richmond was full of
ardent youths, as eager for froiic as I'M
leashed hounds for the chase. But
Carolyn Clay, resisting all Importantly
of friends, moved only from her boys
bedside to that of him so doubly shat
tered now, in body, as in reputation.
And when the New Year came-wet,
dismal, cold, as though in presage of
the hideous months to follow it-she
heard that her general was summoned
to the capital for a council. And that
morning the surgeons had made closer
examination of her patient, consulting
long and learnedly. And to her eager
query their senior had replied:
"He will live, beyond doubt. The
fever has left him; the wound is healthy
and healing rapidly. Let him sleep,
miss; his eyes will open sane, next time
he wakes"
Then, as the door closed upon them,
Carolyn Clay llnelt by the traitors bed,
bowling her proud head low upon it, as
her heart went forth to the Father of
all, that He might, in His wisdom, spare
this sinner for repentance, might avert
that awful doom which only His grace
could prevent from falling swift upon
his convalescence.
And soon, after, heavy step creaked
on the stairs; the door flung open, and
"the flower of cavaliers"-Jeb Stuart
himself-strode gayly in. A vivid sash
of yellow silk was wound about his
waist, its heavy tassels falling near the
patent-leather knee-boots, stitched in
gold and garnished with shining spurs.
Otherwise, he was the same careless,
dashing soldier lately seen in camp.
Miss Clay bravest little woman!" he
cried, with extended hand; then, noting
her gesture for silence: "0h, he's all
right. l met old DR.. Weythe at the
door. He tells me your good nursing
has saved this-deserter."
He drew nearer the bed as he spoke
the hateful word lightly, but she
WINGED under it.
But Stuart did not note that; for she
saw those bright blue eyes, she knew
so quick to darken with anger or con-
tempt, dancing as with some JOY, or
jest, suppressed.
81 did my best, general" she an
swered, softly, but with downcast eyes
and quivering lips. HE suffered 50 ter
ribly And it was your special command
by Evan"
by the way" the general inter
rupted, softly, that youngster never
told you that this was his work"
Evan? His The ingrate!' Miss
Clay's eyes famed, her small hands
clinched, and she almost Kissed the
words at her chief.
"Oh, not his hurt: l meant his being
saved" Stuart replied, quickly. Your
cousin brought him in, through storm
of bullets"
A great breath, half sigh, half sob
broke from the girls bosom, and some
color came back to her face, as the gen
eral went on:
by the way, you lost an admirer il
that fight. Capt. Charlton was"
"Was he killed." she asked, quickly
"No; captured unhurt; and after ;
great fight, too. The fellow has plenty
of grit; but he is such an awful
romancerm
A movement in the bed. The blacl
eyes opened slowly, languidly, but will
full consciousness in them at last. A
they fall upon the general, the weak
pale lips form one word: "Jeb!"
"Fitz, old man." And that stronl
right hand, so rough in sword play
steals softly as a woman's to the white
wasted one upon the coverlet, and tn
left gently and tenderly rests upon tn
broad brow, shutting from view tn
bright red scar.
Then, as amazement riveted her eye
upon his face, the sad, black ones war
dered to Carolyn Clay's. Great wonde
struggled in the mans white face; tn
lips again moved feebly:
you, tool How good"
Hush, Fitzl Not one world" Stua1
whispered, softly. You're all RICH
but we must obey your nurse, old man.
And, white as her patient, Caroly
, Clay drew nearer, striving to drop som
fluid in a glass But the hand that ha
not trembled in all that weary Wig
now shook as she whispered, with qui'
ering lips and averted face:
, Take this; you must not talk"
With look that carried volumes {
: words, the sick man obeyed, closed h