Evening star., 1898-02-19

To Mrs. KiIpatrick and her daughter
xatching this vast procession from be-
hind the curtains of the windows, the spec
tacle was by no means an enchanting one
Their belief in the righteousness of the
southern cause amounted to a passion; IT
was almost a part of their religion: ana
they prayed for it's success with a fervor
impossible to describe. 1t was n cause 1or
which they were prepared to make any sac
rifice. and it Is no wonder that they watch
ed the army go by with pallid and grief
stricken faces. Their despair would have
been of a bIacker hue if they had not re-
membered that. away off in Virginia. Rob
ert Lee was mastering his army against
the hosts that were opposing him.
The spectacle of this army marching by
was so strange-so impossible. in fact-that
their amazement would not have been ma
terially increased If the whole vast array
had been lifted in air by a gust of wind
to dissolve and disappear in the swaying
and whirlinR mist.
Presently they saw O'Halloran spur his
horse toward the moving files and touch
his cap by way of salute. Then another
horseman. after some delay. detached him
self from the ranks. Joined the big Irish
man, and the two came up the avenue to-
gether. Mrs. Kilpatrick, by all instinct
rather than an impulse of hospitality. pre-
pared 10 go 10 the door TO receive them,
pausing in Jacks room to see that every
thing was ship shape. As the two came up
the broad. high steps, and delayed a mo-
ment on the yeranda to remove their water
proofs. Flora, peeping from behind the red
curtains in the parlor. saw that the sur
geon was both young and stalwart. His
brown hair was cut short, and the fierce
curl of his mustache relieved by a
pair of gold spectacles that gave a benign
and somewhat ministerial air to features
that were otherwise firm and soldierlike.
He was not as tall as the Irishman-few
men In all that army were-but he bore
himself more easily and gracefully.
When OHalloran knocked at the door,
Mrs ktlpatrick opened it without a mo-
ment's delay
TiS the surgeon, mum TO see the can-
tain" zap
Good morning. madam" said DR.. Pruden.
lhe man here tells me that Captain Jar
Wis, OF a New York regiment, is wounded
here He held his cap in his hand. and
his bearing was all that was afable and
polite
Come In. SIR" said the lady, incIining
her head slightly
He stepped into the hallway, O'Halloran
following with bread grin on his face that
disappeared as by magic whenever the sur
geon glanced in his direction. Mrs KiIpa t
rick led the way to Jacks ROOM to which
Flora had fitted when the knock came at
the door DR.. Pruden acknowledged her
presence with a bow and then turned his
attention to his patient
Il m sorry to see you on your back Can't
JARVIS, he said sympathetically. "And vet
with such quarters and such nurses 1 dare
say, you are better off than the rest of us -
'Yes-well off," replied Jack in a weak
voice that was not borrowed for the occa-
SION In fact, the surgeon had not arrived
any too soon The wounded man had grown
feebier and his condition was not helped
by an occasional At of coughing that rack
ed his whole body and threatened to tear
his wounds open afresh.
DR. Pruden wiped his hands on a towel
Ca1 To- ho n erty
by. and then proceeded to examine into the
wounded mans condition.
ou may thank your stars. young man. -
he said after a while that these ladies
were charitable enoUgh to forget the color
or your coat there and give you shelter and
the care and attention that were absolutely
Necessary
The note of unaffected gratitude in the
young surgeons voice was simple and
genuine that Flora felt a momentary pang
of regret that he should have been made
the victim of the Irishman's crafty scheme.
But the pang was only momentary; for
what the Irishman did he had done for
Jacks sake and that was a sufficient ex-
cuse- Ard yet the knowledge that the sur
geon had beer deceived made both mother
ard daughter more considerate in their de-
meanor-mCre genial in their attitude-than
they could otherwise have been.
O'Halloran stood watching the ladies and
the surgeon with a quizzical expression.
keeping his hand in the neighborhood of his
nouth to screen mis- smiles. Finally he
seemed to discover that he could not safe
ly remain ana maintain lis dignity.
'Ofll be goin', captain" he said to Jack.
The ladies II look afther yure belongin's.
TermOrrer whin the rear guard comes by
maybe yen be we'll enough for to be lifted
in the ambulance I brung ye in
What amUses you?" inquired the sur
geoE, seeing the Irishman trying to sup
press a laugh
Upon me word, sir, Oi was thinkin' av
the drinch We give me whin Oh was ailin'
Says OIL Eff tbs as bitter TO the captain
here as twas to me, he'll be up on his feet
in jify.'"
Whereupon OHalloran turned on his heel
and went out, closing the door gently after
him.
DR. Pruden went to work with a will.
He smiled at the big poultice that Aunt
Candace had applied to the wound made
by the bullet in its exit. but found that the
Inflammation had been controlled by it,