Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-05-11


now quivering nostrils And that hand
did not tremble, even when it touched
the fateful scar; though she heard,
through sound in her ears as the
boom Of the sea, her own voice denounc-
ing 'sthat brand of CainI''
For weary days and nights the strong
frame fought the fever that supervened;
and for all of them the gentle, plying
touch Of the woman who had first loved,
had later denounced him-who owed to
him her liberty, if not her ife-wrought
for his. For that hand had once rested
in his own in plight of troth; yet now
1t touched and tended him as tenderly
as though no mark of treason to her
worse, to his country-hamed upon his
forehead.
And through dismal morn and dreary
night-watch 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 1eaguered 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 frolic 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 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 knelt 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, g. 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: ''Oh, he's all
right. I 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 darlzen with anger or con-
tempt, dancing as with some joy, or
jest, suppressed. :.
II did my best, general" she an
swered, softly, but with downcast eyes
and quivering lips. He suffered so 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 ingrateI' Miss
Clay's eyes famed, her small hands
cHnched, and she almost Kissed the
words at her chief.
"Oh, not his hurt: I meant his being
saved" Stuart replied, quickly. "Your
cousin brought him in, through a 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 in
that fight. Capt. Charlton was"
"Was he killed?' she asked quickly.
mo; captured unhurt; and after
great fight, too. The fellow has plenty
Of grit; but he is such an awful
romancer!'
A movement in the bed. The black
eyes opened slowly, languidly, but with
full consciousness in them at last. AS
they fall upon the general, the weak,
pale lips form one word: "Jeb!''
''Fitz, old man. And that strong
right hand, so rough in sword play,
steals softly as woman's to the white,
wasted one upon the coverlet, and the
left gently and tenderly rests upon the
DrOaO prov, SnuCLlng from view the
bright red scar.
Then, as amazenent riveted her eyes
upon his face, the sad, black ones wan
dered to Carolyn Clay's. Great wonder
struggled in the mans white face; the
lips again moved feebly:
"You, tool How good
''Hush, Fitz! Not one word!' Stuart
whispered, softly. You're all right,
but we must obey your nurse, old man. :"
And, white as her patient, Carolyn
Clay drew nearer, striving to drop some
fluid in a glass. But the hand that had
not trembled in all that weary vigil
now shook as she whispered, with quiv-
ering lips and averted face:
Take this; you must not talk
| With look that carried volumes Of
| words, the sick man obeycd. closed his