Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-04-24
A DECEPTION.

The bolnbardment had come to an
end. Every fort along the line had been
silenced, and in common with the other
men-of-war lying in the harbor we were
sending landing parties ashore.
As chief surgeon ON board was busy
below with the poor fellows who lay
suffering unspeakable agonies with COM
pressed lips and white, haggard faces.
Bending down with my assistants
over the PROSTATE body of young mid
dy, did not hear footsteps approaching
and started when some one laid his hand
on my shoulder. 1t was Lieutenant
Harold Patterson.
"Carter, old man, " he said as stood
up and wiped my hands, "this rough
work has niggered me bit. I've got
nasty knock here, see?" He lifted up his
left arm painfully with his right hand,
and then saw that the dark blue cloth
was torn and stained and stiff with con-
gealed blood.
.'Bit of small shell, - he continued,
with easy carelessneSs. ST want you to
doctor it up bit, for I've got to go
ashore with Teaser.
Teaser was his gun. 1t was light
machine gun, n capital weapon for
square or retreat work Patterson was
perfect child with his gun. He treated
it as if it We're one of his greatest friends
on earth.
There's going to bc some sport on
the other side of those batteries, can
assure you, he said, pointing with his
thumb through the portfolio toward the
land.
cold Teaser's going to make things
hum round there q bit, or she's going for
old iron when we get back. Candidly,
Carter, did you ever sec q gun like her?
Did you ever see piece of metal pump
bullets like she does? Lord, I'd stick
against dead wall and buck up 900
bowling niggers with her single hand
ed. +"
When had fixed him up, we went on
deck The hot air between the bulk
heads made me feel sick and dizzy, and
wondered at government like ours
taking it into their heads to send out
women as nurses among the wounded.
Out in the offing could see the trans
port that was bringing the soldiers and
the women.
The advent of the women was a con-
founded nuisance. told Harold so.
''Fie, doctor,' he said. 81 should
never have thought it of you'll Shame on
you for speaking of the ladies in that
disrespectful way. Why, the little
dears, they'll be the means of bringing
round the fellows lot more quickly
than you and your crew could ever hope
to. Three cheers for the ladies, 1 say.
And as he raised his cap and waved it
round his curly head 8 1t that there
was a soft place in his Al,trt for women
in general by reason OF the fact that one
of them far back in England was sigh
ing for her bronzed and handsome lover,
who was just now SO enthusiastically
championing their cause.
But although I had been in his COM
pany for at least three weeks he had
never once mentioned to me the name of
the girl I was now convinced was respon-
sible for this outburst of vehemence.
His wound did not prevent his taking
his place in the pinnace Teaser was
there in the bow, carefully wrapped in
yellow tarpaulin.
watched them take her ashore and
saw through my glasses how carefully
and tenderly he superinteded her ma
nipulation until at length the whole bat
terry disappeared from sight through
breach in the Notifications.
a couple of hours later the big trans
port arrived. She brought out two regi-
ments and half dozen voluntary nurses.
One of them came to our ship. Ifear
the reception gave her wasn't very
cordial one, but didn't want her there
at all and expressed my annoyance in
my actions.
The expression of the face, tanned by
exposure during the voyage, was firm
and intellectual, and there was a look
of businessli1e suavity about her man
ner that we doctors always admire in
any one. But time alone would show
her worth.
In the cool of the evening had the
sick brought up on deck. There were
few serious cases, and for these 1 could
do no more than had already done
Nurse sat reading by one of them. She
had remarkably clear and well bal
anced voice, and could see the poor fel-
lows on either side straining their ears
to catch the sweet sounds that had been
foreign to them for so long.
I leaned over the bulwarks aud
watched landing parties returning to
their respective ships I could see cou-
pie of the men Of our boat impatiently
walking up and down the beach, while
the others stood with boathoolss keeping
the pinnace few yards out and OF the
bottom.
Then through the breach 20 yards
above them came the remainder of our
party. They were walking slowly and
carrying some of their number. 1 could
not see the gun
When they came alongside, the two
wounded were handed up. One was
seaman. Hewas taken below. The other
came up
His face and part of his body was COW
cred with a blood stained cloth, but saw
IL. Lac. and the str,r.la- ..z,ns .,rd a hin