The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-01

"'Kittie,' she said, drawing me for
wa d, this is Captain Crawford, General
Averill's aid He has been very kind in
bringing me back to you, and in help.
ing our friends to ave their property
! was profuse in my acknowledge,
ments, but the stranger waived them,
sa.lng as he wiped the moisture from
HIS brow with a marvellous cambria
handkerchief:
If l may be pardoned the liberty, l
would suggest that just now you keep
a closer surveillance over your young
charge. This is scarcely a time when
l tnlnk he would have said '%beatuiful,'
but he checked himself and, after a mo-
ment's hesitation, added: When a
young lady may go abroad in safety
without a protector
There is an expression which l have
more than once observed in a certain
81 a6e of gray eyes-a look of absolute
feallessness and crystalline honesty
that l have seen in no other color. Cap
tain Crawford's eyes had that look, and
as he stood before me on hat spot
just inside the Enclosure 1 thought I
had never beheld a nobler countenance.
w were very fortunate in having
made his acquaintance, for he at once
stationed two guards upon the prem
isss, with a third to occupy a room in
the house at night. 1t was also a relief
to n that our friend himself was
also within hail, for General Averill Sc
lected the lot diagonally opposite our
own as his headquarters. 1t surround
ed the Presbyterian parsonage, the oc-
cupants Of which fed at the approach
of the enemy, and with it's well-kept
lawn and OVerShading trees was a
lovely spot. 1t was gay with the tents
of the officers, n we could near the
sound of their laughter and murmuring
voices as they lounged about, smoking
and playing cards. The band, too,
played there daily, and as we sat on
the verandah in the moonlight the
generals lovely voice singing Then
You'll Remember me- and other famil-
iar airs to the accompaniment of a gui-
tar was waited to us on the breeze.
Captain Crawford was over bright
ard early next morning to ask how we
had Jared during the night. 1 observed
that his right land was bound up, and
that his cheeks and eyes were feverish.
II was so unfortunate as to burn it
at the fire yesterday" he said in reply
to my inquiries in regard to it, land in
consequence of mo- having it dressed I
had rather a bad night of it,"
but why was it not dressed?' I
asked. 'Yo must have surgeons at
hand
''The Captains face flushed holly. He
hesitated for a moment, and then said
with evident effort:
""The truth is, I didn't care to enter
into any explanations as to how the in
jury was received
IAN awkward silence followed this ad-
mission, and then Mildred said, speak
ing very slowly:
Lee me see your hand
He tugged at the bandage for a few
moments S1vinp &C ho SfrotohoI forth
the Wounde dmember:
I'm afraid it's rather an unsightly
object
"Unsightly! The term was a mild one
with which to describe it. The palm
was raw, and the back and fingers ter
ribly blistered. A sight of this sort
always had a particularly unpleasant
effect upon me, and I turned away feel
ing faint and ill.
Mildred, too, grew pale.
"'Wait a moment h said hurrying
away, while I get something to put on
it,
"She soon returned, holding in one
hand a saucer Of flaky lard, and in the
other raw cotton and soft linen for
bandages.
You see, I have only confederate
remedies she said, as they placed
themselves opposite each other in the
hall.
81 kept them in view, sitting here on
the verandah, and I could see how deft-
ly she covered the cotton with the
soothing ointment, and how skillfully
she separated the wounded fingers, and
wrapped them about with it.
This finger Captain Crawford said,
indicating the little finger of his right
hand, is the only one that has escaped,
but the ring'-turning the plain gold
hor1 rhioh oneiro1o1 II ohn1,f &C he
s~poke-'cuts into the one next it, and
must come off,
"He held it between the thumb and
forefinger of his uninjured hand, while
Mildred placed the other in the sling
which she had fastened about his neck
"I believe he said, as, having fin
ished her task, she gathered her simple
appliances together as if for departure
you would feel repaid for all the trou.
BILE you have taken if you knew how
much more comfortable you have made
me. I am all h more grateful he ad
ded, because I know what a stauncl
little confederate you are
Jeff thine enemy thirst quoted
Mildred, half under her breath, as i
giving utterance to thought which hat
all the while been running through he
mind.
For heavens sake, don't heap coal!
of fire on my head laughed Crawford
putting forth a d~eprecating hand. :
have had quite enough of that already
Besides smiling down upon her, I an
not your enemy
"'You are the enemy of my country,
she said vehemently, the blood rushing
to her cheeks. I could more readily for
give you if you were my own
81 don't even admit that he said
speaking very gently. The truth is, w
understand things differently, that's all
According to my way of thinking, tn
North and South are necessary to eacl
other-as necessary as the man is t.
the woman, and the woman to the mar
What would this country be today, d.
you suppose, if it had not been for tn