West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-03-31
C1IAprrR xx

She understood him now. end bless
Ing him for his little ruse, went quick
ly To the hospital. The old father was
watching her from a parting ia the win
dow curtain, rs and she tripped toward
the hospital an expression OF satisfac-
tion came over his face. And that Is
how Alice came TO be installed as
browns nurse.
Erown slept for two hours calmly
and peacefully. When he at last slow
ly, half dreamily awolke he felt a soft
hand on his forehead. and opening his
eyes they mot those Of his darling one.
Ned, my darling. do you know mcs
Do you know your Alico?" she whisp-
cred, bending over him.
Know you. my blessed anglo? OF
course ! do" he replisd, making an
effort to throw his nrms about her
neck. She gently stopped him md
with blush upon her happy face said:
mo, Nod, not here. Someone may
see you. The attaches of the hospital
do not think II strange that should
nurse my noble rcscuer back to health
and strength again, but they might
not sec the propriety Of me permitting
lis embraces They are not aware
that your nurses heart Is all yours,
nay darling. every little, tiny bit Of it."
BLESS you for those words. my
love And you have been with me
often the surgeon tolls me-"
"Yes, Ned. very often, but you were
delirious and did not know me. The
surgeon had almost given you up, and
oh! my darling, my poor heart was
breaking. lie has Just told me that
you have passed the crisis and will live.
and have been down on my knees by
your cot thanking the Father for spar
ing you TO me. Now Ned, dear, listen
TO mo. You arc not yet out of danger,
and you are In my care, and the doctor
has given me imperative orders to not
let you talk much. am going 20 obey
orders implicitly, and l am going 70
make you obey me. DO you hear that,
Mr.. Ned? Here, now, 1t is time for you To
take your medicine. There! BE carefull
Don't spill II all over your chin. You
careless fellow! You are the most nwlx-
ward patient evor had"
Thus she won't on In mock reproof.
Tho happy tones of her voice and the
nrch, loving smile which accompanied
her words did him more good than
could any medicine In the post dis
pcnsary.
But, Alice, must talk. cannot lie
here and"
mo, you p,ua not talk. you rebelIious
darling" Then glnncing around 20 see
TINT no one was near she implanted a
kiss on his pale lips and continued:
There now, see II that will seal your
lips. You must just lie there and let
me do oil the talking. Papa says am
little nuisance of chatterbox any
how. 50 guess l can talk enough for
both of US"
Then tell me hll that has happened
since ! lost consciousness behind the
rocks, and ! will lie as quiet as mouse
and listen" he said, taking her hand In
his and pressing IL warmly.
'All right, and don't you forget your
promise or may punish you again by
scaling your lips. You soc, the people
at the fort heard the firing whom the
Indians came upon us, and just after
you tainted away troop OF cavalry
came dashing up with papa at It's head.
He sprnng from his horse with great
big tears In his eyes. the very first
ever saw there In all my life, and
thought he would hug me to death.
He asked me II the Indians had harmed
mo and told him they hal not, but
feared you were killed. He stopped
down over you and looked ct your pale
face and the blood all over your breast,
and then, o, Ned, he raved like mad
man. ] never saw him In such a pas
sion before! lie stamped the ground
and struck the rocks with bis sword
and sworo, oh! just awfullyi lie called
you by name, and (now, you mustn't
mind, Nod. for IL was only papa's
bluster and he didn't mean III he called
you villain and told you get MP and
not lie there making fool OF yourself.
and said II you attempted to die he
would have you drummed out Of the
service. lie called you a brave, noble
rascal, nRd said he'd rather lose every
man in the garrison than you. Then
ne turned ON Capt. Colby and nslsed
/ him what In the--bad man. you know
he was standing there for like q gaping
idiot while the Indians were cscnp-
ing, and ordered him TO follow aud
/ Kill every one OF thcm. The troop
/ dashed ahead and ovcrtools the Indians
| In the sand hills across the river and
had an awful fight with them for
more Indians had come after the ba nd
/ NAtNN IiAnHfh Ahs tlfh ntlih illH OIHcfty
dying back 10 the fort after the sur
I gcOn and an ambulance, and then he
\ fused around nnd huggcd me and
called you good and bad names until
/ tho surgeon came. Then YOU were
/ lifted In thc ambulance, papa scOlding
the soldiers and telling them Inc would
annihilate them II they hurt you. On
I the way In you recovered consciOusness
I but were dclirious. You kept bogging
me TO ny 10 the fort and save myself
and leave you % your fate, nnd papa
asked f you had talked that way when
you was lighting the Indians. aud when
( ! told him those were your very words
his lips trembled and he turned his
back and began 20 abuse the poor
driver for running over stones. And
thats the whole story, dear, from a
TO lizard"
God bloss him, his heart Is IN the
right place. II his tongue does fly tho
q III. a.. d