Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1893-07-20
RBVBNCBD.

1t was about half an hour after sun
set, but an orange light still burned
above the lonely Southern valley. The
trembling evening star was hanging ov.
er the green silence of the fragrant Ten
nesee woods. Vapor wreathed phan-
toms from the river course, and from
the dense thickets that skirted the camp
ground came eyer anon the mournful
sound of whrppoorwills, sounding faint
and low, like the remembered echoes Of
dream. Yet Wallace Keene would
have given we'll nigh all he was worth
to exchange its luxuriant yendure one
moment only for the pine clad heights
and salt winds of Maine, with russet
winged robbins chirping their madrigals
in the apple orchards below.
Two years ago l left home, MUIR
INJURED Wallace Keene as he gazed
thoughtfully out where the purple sky
seemed to touch the waving woods.
Two years since young llarney told me
be never would give Marion to "con-
mon mechanic" yet the wound raukles
sharply STILL
'Captain'-
is that you, Spicer? What now p
Captain Keene turned his face to-
ward the opening Of the tent, where
Private Spicer's head was just visible.
why, sir, our fellows have just
brought in that 10, o men that was hurt
in that scrlmmage across the river this
morning, and some Of them is wounded
bad.
I will lie there directly. Spicer.
There was little crowd of men gath.
cred on the river shore in the warm
glow of the spring. but they silently
parted right and left for Captain
kecne's tall figure to pass through THEN
midst.
SIX or seven dusty, bleeding men
We're sitting and lying around IN var
ious postures, their ghasty brows made
still paler BY the faint uncertain glim'
mer ofthc young moon. Keene glanced
quickly around, taking in the whole
scene in that one brief survey.
lie stopped short as his eye fell on a
new face, half shadowed by Il green
sweep of dropping alders-a pale, blood
streaked face with gaping cut on the
forehead.
This is not one of our men. he ex
claimed sharply. How came he here !:
NO, sir explained Splcer, stepping
forward. 4 think he belonged to the
Eighth. I'm sure l don't know how he
ever got mixed up with our fellows, but
there he was, and l thought we'd better
not wait for their ambulance, but bring
him straight here
Right briefly pronounced Keepe
stopping oyer the insensible figure
Let them carry him to my tent, Spicer.
4 beg your pardon, Cap'aln-to your
tent?
Didn't you hear what I said::' sharp
ly intelrogated the superior officer
Bruce, make the others comfortable ir
Lieutenant Ordways quarters. There
will be plenty of room for them there.
well, I'm beat 7 calculated Splcel
five or ten minutes afterwards as he
came out of the captalns tent stratch-
ing his head of coarse red curls.
Meanwhile the dim light Of lamr
swinging from the center of the little
tent shone full on the singular groul
within its circling folds-the wounded
private lying like a corpse. still and
pale, on the narrow iron bedstead, the
young officer leaning over him and sup
porting his head-and the brisk gray
eyed little surgeon keenly observing
both rs he untolded his case of philas
and powders.
He is not dead, doctor?
No, but he would have been II
another half hour. Your prompt
remedies have sayed his life, Captain
Keene.'
Thank God. oh, thank God"
The surgeon looked at Keene II
amazement.
'IIe doesn't belong to your regiment
Why are you SO interested IN the case
Because, DOCTOR SAID Keene, with ;
strange bright smile, when | saw him
lying under the alders, dead as
thought, l rejoiced in my secret heart
At frst-only at first. The next mo-
ment | remembered that was mar
and Christian. For years haye car
ried the spirit Of Cain in my breast to-
ward that man, now 1t is washed out II
his blood.
1t was high noon of the next da,
before the wounded man started from ;
feyered dose into the faint dawn of con
sciousuess.
Where am I?' he faltered, looking
| u,ldlu q round hin, with an ineffaCtua