The Irish standard., 1895-09-07

The patient had on the previous day
! walked to his troops quarters, where
he was given an ovation by his COM
rades.,
"It is q lovely warm morning,
Brown" the surgeon said, land if you
| will walk slowly and not over-exert
yourself you can go and surprise the
colonel and your little nurse with a
call. am sure they will warmly well
come you"
He needed no second bidding, and
leaning on a cane for support, walked
slowly to the colonel's quarters. On
the way he met several officers, and
warm were the congratulations poured
upon him over his recovery. Again he
crossed the porch as he had done few
| weeks before, but not now with fear
and trembling.
Entering the hall he raped lightly
at the colonels door. The same sharp,
harsh Come in" greeted. his ears, but
it did not now ill him with alarm.
Turning the knob, he entered.
Private Brown, by all the gods of
warl" cried the bluff old soldier, aris-
ing and grasping his hand. ''Out
again, eh? Once more on your pins2
That's right. Take chair. I am
very glad to see you"
For half an hour they conversed re-
garding his wound, his return to duty
and various other topics, but the young
soldiers thoughts were in another
apartment with his loved one, and he
1onged to greet her for the first time in
her own home. Unable to suppress
this burning desire he finally said:
''Col Sanford, before / return to the
hospital will you not permit me to pay
my respects to my faithful nurse, Miss
Sanford?'
The old officers face assumed cold,
stern look and his genial air seemed to
vanish as before an icy wind as he re-
piled:
Private Brown, we may as we'll
come to an understanding right now.
You nobly risked your life to restore
my beloved child to my arms, and
am deeply grateful to you for doing so.
It was but her simple duty to nurse
you through the long days Of suffering
which you were called upon to endure
from severe and dangerous wound re-
ceiyed in her defense. She performed
that duty, and with my full approval
and consent. Her duties as your nurse
are now at an end, and regret that
may give you pain after all you suf-
fered for her if, in doing what / CON
slider to be a fathers duty, use harsh
language toward you. You may think
it cruel and heartless, sir, when tell
you that cannot permit her in her
own home to receive call from pri-
vHte soldier, NO matter how worthy
that soldier may be. s
Browns face paled, as the cruel
words cut into his heart as knife. A
great fear came upon him, and he al
most groaned aloud In his agony Of
spirit. He tried to speak, but with q
gesture the officer stopped him.
Nor, sir, hear my decree, from the
enforcement Of which / will never
swerye q lot. After this visit Private
Richard Brown will never again be per
mitted to enter this house, and ] shall
forbid my daughter to ever again mem
ton his name in my presence. This may
seem. damnably cruel to you, sir, after
what you have done for MS, but there
are rnles 81 propriety IL army life that
cannot be disregarded. MY daughter .
cannot maintain friendly rela lions with
q private ia the rank 2 f5 q
he paused and regarded the young
man closely. Brown sat as dumb as
marble statue and almost as pale, for
his heart was completely crushed st
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