Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-05-25

There was a slight touch upon my
arm, my wounded arm, as II CHANGED,
that lay beneath the blanket, a touch
that sent a pang like the piercing OF
hot iron through II, and a sweet
voice said
Can I do anything for you, my poor
man2 The surgeon will BIO here I'M
mediately, and thought II best 10
Raken you" II added, as opened my
eyes upon that neat, quiet little figure
which / had long before seen
The recognition was mutual.
Captain Hale"
MRS, Dumarciel"
81 did not expect to see you here"
4 mutual exclamation, and there was
time for no more, for the surgeon, fol-
lowed by his assistant with q hideous
paraphernalia, had come,
Then followed an awful hour, ! think
/ received full Idea Of the mean
Ing of the word torture during Its
passage. At last they left me, the ball
extracted and the arm bandaged, but
utterly exhausted by pain, long fasting
and want OF sleep.
did not wake until the following
morning and then to an intolerable
pain and smarting In my arm The
bandage seemed like llgature, and
there was n burning as OF hot iron,
from finger ends to shoulder, / was
wrlthing with the torture and feeling
strangely weak and powerless when
che came to me- Her voice reused me
from my trance OF agony
Can do anything for you, Captain
HaleY" she said, In those quiet, even
tones that were a sedatiye in them
selves.
Eyes, thank you. Send some one to
loose my bandage-niy arm is intoler-
able"
II will do II myself. l know how
perfectly" and before could utter an
expostulation she had my arm tenderly
In her little hands, and was deftly re-
moving the bandage and loosing the
folds. She hurt me very badly, but
there was something soothing in her
touch that made me bear 1t without
much shrinking.
your arm is badly swollen, but !
think that will be better" she said, at
length, as she gently disposed the
wounded limb above the blanket, II
will go to the office and procure To-
ton for YOU"
And with the word she was gone. /
had been greatly relieved, and could
think Of something besides my suffer-
ings. And my thoughts went back as
I followed the quaint little figure with
my eyes to the time l had seen II last,
and in such different surroundings.
It was Ave years before at a grand
ball, at the house Of one of the diplo-
matte corps, In Washington, that I saw
Helen Dumarcie, q bride. AS q child
/ had known her well, and had met her
once or twice as she grew to woman
hood, when she paid rare but welcome
visits to my sisters, We renewed our
acquaintance then, and she introduced
me to her husband, splendid looking
young ofilcer-a South Carolinlan Of
French Huguenot descent. was
pleased with his grand, courtly man
ner, and Helen seemed equally proud
of him, Her fathers reverses had made
her governess in the South, and there
che met Paul Dumarcie. | heard that
the Dumarcies felt the marriage mis-
alliance, but l think Paul Dumarcle
did not feel that he had condescended
IN marrying the pretty little creature
who hung upon his arm.
She was splendid that night--in
some rich. dress from her trousseau-
2 I am not q man milllner to describe 1t
with the soft CLEAN Of pearls in her
golden hair and necklace, with q
great emerald blazing amid the lucent
pearls that surrounded 1t, upon her
bosom. She was toe little to bear
much bravery of dress, and with all
her splendor | thought had seen her
look better in the pretty musllns that
suited our village gatherings afar in
the old New England home.
had scarcely heard from her since,
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