Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-05-27

Y M EnhNN
There was slight touch upon my
arm, my wounded arm, as it CHANGED,
that lay beneath the blanket, a touch
that sent a pang like the piercing OF
hot iron through it, and a sweet
voice said:
Can do anything for you, my poor
man? The surgeon will be here i'm
mediately, and 1 thought it best to
waken you" it added, as I opened my
eyes upon that neat, quiet little figure
which 1 had long before SEEN
The recognition was mutual.
Captain Halel'
Mrs. DumarcieI"
Il did not expect to see you here!"
a mutual exclamation, and there was
time for no more, for the surgeon, fol-
lowed by his assistant with a hideous
paraphernalia, had come.
Then followed an awful hour. I think
1 received a 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.
1 did not wake until the following
morning and then to an intolerable
pain and smarting in my arm. The
bandage seemed like ligature, and
there was a burning, as of hot iron,
from finger ends to shoulder. I was
writhing with the torture, and feeling
strangely weak and powerless when
ch 10 70 IIn,.
from my trance of agony.
Can 1 do anything for you, Captain
Hale?" she said, in those quiet, even
tones that were a sedative in them
selves.
Yes. thank you. Send some one to
loose my bandage-my arm is intoler-
able"
81 will do it myself 1 know how
perfectly and before could utter an
expostulation she had my arm tenderly
in her little hands, and was deity 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 it without
much shrinking.
Your arm is badly swollen, but I
think that will be better" she said, at
length, as she gently disposed the
wounded limb above the blanket 81
will go to the Office and procure q To-
ton for you
And with the word she was gone. I
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 had seen it last,
and in such different surroundings.
1t was five years before at a grand
ball, at the house of one of the diplo-
matte corps, in Washington, that l saw
Helen Dumarcie, a bride. AS a child
I 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, a splendid-looking
young offcer-a South CaroIinian of
French-Huguenot descent 1 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
she met Paul Dumarcie. 1 heard that
the Dumarcies felt the marriage a mis-
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-
l am not man milliner to describe it
with the soft CLEAN of pearls in her
golden hair and a necklace, with q
great emerald blazing amid the lucent
pearls that surrounded it, upon her
bosom. She was too little to bear
much bravery of dress, and with all
her splendor 1 thought I had seen her
look better in the pretty muslins that
suited our village gatherings afar in
the old New England home.
1 had scarcely heard from her since,
for my life had been one of roaming
and excitement, afar from old associ-
ations. But what change! 1 could
even now scarcely realize it. Where
was Dumarcie? Surely he had gone
with the South in this war! And yet
how came she here, a nurse in this
Union hospital?
Still in the maze of thought. I saw
her coming back with the surgeon by
her side The poor fellows on their
cots raised themselves to look at her
as she passed back, and fell back smil-
ing if she but glanced at them kindly,
or spoke few words in that wonder
| fully calming voice.
The surgeon looked grave as he saw
my arm. He gave his orders rapidly,
and I could see a shade pass over Mrs.
| Dumarcic's face as she listened. She
III