Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-04-20

party. They we're walking slowly and
carrying some Of their number. | could
not SEQ the gun.
When they came alongside, the two
wounded were handed up, One was
seaman. Ho was taken below. The
other came up
His face and part of his body was
covered with blood stained cloth, but
| saw the legs and the sturdy arms AMI
a big lump came up in my throat A.
| turned to follow them down below nnr
of the men said to me in hoarsc wills
per:
"Gun burst, sir. For Cots sake
don't say he's going !"
They loved him, all these men did
He had been like brother to them.
knelt by the side of the boy--hs
was only a boy. He still breathcd,
though slightly, but. cruel sight he was
blind, and his once handsome face was
horribly disfgured
He raised his hand slowly and felt
my arm and carried the fingers up I"
my face | bent down to catch the words
which fell from his moving lips
"Ah, Carter, old fellow, I'm back.
you--you see. Low--trick of-Teaser.
wasn't it? Thought she might have had
"a little-more--r for mo, Ell,
Carter p
His lips moved again, and as | bent
down | heard light footsteep behind
me. 1t was nurse.
She came over and knelt on the oppo-
site side Of the mattress and took his
hand in hers. He gave little start and
then removed the hand which no was
holding on my breast and e. yothed the
one that held his.
"Hullo, Minnie You're--late to-
night---never do to be late. Naughty
little-girl I've been-wauting you u
lot--dear. I've missed you-dreadfully,
Have you-missed me, Minnie y
Out of pure delicacy arose quietly
aud withdrew. When | came back at
the end of quarter of an hour, he was
smoothing her cheeks.
Then tho poor hand passed down over
the collar of her dress, down to the bib
of her apron. This, l saw, was wet with
his life's blood.
Been gardening, Minnie? y he mur
INJURED as his hand came into contact
with the moisture. you've got your
self wet. You'll catch cold, deary. BE
CAREFUL"
Then another short silence, while the
hand travelled up to the bonny head of
hair that crowned her form.
Slowly and painfully he drew out tho
hairpins, one by one, and the tresses
fell down over her shoulders onto the
blood stained coverlet.
"You-haven't had tall cut off
You told me you would. But that-was
long ago. | thought you--didn't mean
IT,"
She was brave w6GGaiSs22;,-tthet nurse =.
Few could have gone through the ordeal
Us she did do not know her now
do not even know her name. and
have never seen her since she left the
ship for the transport few weeks later
at the termination Of the war.
The heat of the cockpit, combined
with the motion of the vessel, made mo
feel bit giddy, and went up for
breath of fresh air. tried TO look
cheerful and to speak word to the
purser as | passed him
But, confound it all, the word wouldn't
come, and the dry, tickling sensation in
my throat made mo cough until my eyes
watered
But never could leave the dying
boy down there without me, no down |
went again.
"Aad--now--you'll kiss me, Min
nie-won't you.
looked at the eyeless and blackenod
countenanco as he turned his poor head
toward her. looked at the pale qniv-
ering lips of the noble girl who had
thus lightened the end of one for whom
she had nothing more than pity He
placed both arms about her neck. and
she kissed him.