Evening star., 1901-02-09

school OF surgery In force In the earlier
days of the war the patient should already
be upon the table, the knife and saw sever
ing the shattered member from the shoul-
der. but there was no table. and the sur
geon was Of younger, more optimistic
line. But he had not scrupled to admin
lister opiates to duh the senses and to
deaden pain, and under the soothing inffu-
ence of the drug Norman lay. half doing.
when there came the sound Of new arri-
walls in the outer room the clank OF swords
and the harsh screech of chairs showed sud
denly backward over uncarpeted floors.
Every man seemed to have sprung to his
feet in acknowledgment Of the coming OF
general of rank, and there entered man
at sound of whose voice there swept over
the senses of the wounded captive
strange flood Of memories. He was again
at the Point. "plebe," and that voice had
prompted him day after day upon the drill
ground or parade. Then yearlfng cor
poral. and that voice had hailed him IN
glad, cordial congratulation. Those were
days when the chevrons were found most
frequently on the sleeves Of lads who hail
ed from the southern states, and Alabama,
stripping off the gold bars and black OF a
cadet 4Heutenant-just in from last parade,
and just about to don the blue of a gradu-
ate, commissioned off1cer-had handed
them to the tall STRIPPING from Kentucky
and hidden him wear them In the by and
by. Norman would have known the cor
dial tones the world over, yet lay there ST.
lent, as presently there entered slender.
understood, yet soldierly, young man in the
full uniform Of major general OF the con-
federate service, his thin face covered by
dark, pointed beard With him there came
another general, older, sharper and sterner
Of viSage, but soldier all over; tnen Two
staff officers, bearing candles and noldlng
respectfully back. The first to enter had
in his hand one of the captured dispatches
He was too diminutive of stature to bend
over the PROSTATE Kentuckian, but he
spoke in gentle, courteous tone.
"My officers tell me you made most gar
liant attempt to rescue that dispatch bag.
sir, and deeply regret to hear you are so
severely hurt. 1 am compelled to go on
further tonight, but General Morgan makes
his headquarters here, and we wish to
know, sir, If we can do anything to make
you more comfortable?"
Norman, closing his eyes, family shook
his head. 1t was evident the general ola
not know him. 1t was four years since
their last meeting-the night the little south
ron first called him Norman-the night he,
half timidly, had answered, joe.
II beg that you will not hesitate to ask"
persisted the general. "As soldiers we can
not but admire soldier daring and devotion
understand is why courier, with such inn
portant orders, should have ventured so far
out to lose both them and his own life.
He never spoke after our fellows reached
him."
Norman unclosed his eyes, looking up In
pain. rs he killed?'' he family asked.
''Yes, he was evidently shot as he was
trying to gallop away. He died an hour
ago."
There was moments silence, broken by
the signing of the wind about the rafters of
the old farmhouse and in the leaves among
the trees. A crazy, antiquated clock in the
main room struck tangled three on its
spiral wire. and sentry somewhere with
out sharply challenged, "Who comes
there?'
"Staff officer from General Hardee," rang
out the answer, followed by the clatter of
hoofs and jangling of scabbard, and then
the sharp query:
where's General Wheeler? I must see
him at Once! F
Fright in here, SIR" shouted a voice in
answer, and the next instant tall, distin-
guished-ooking soldier strode into the
room, major of staff, his dark eyes snap
ping with excitement. Up went one hand
to his forage cap as with the other he ex-
tended dispatch to the little cavalry COM
mander.
General Wheeler" he exclaimed, Gen
eral Bragg telegraphs to stop the move at
once. The whole things fraud. Van Dorm
reports that the federal army Is in front Of
Columbia"
I'm front of Columbia! These dis
patches false! Then how comes 1t that this
gentleman" And with troubled. wondering
eyes the general turned again to the couch,
away.
The newcomer sprang to the bedside. gave
one look at the waxen face, and a stifed
cry burst from his lips: Norman. Norman!
Oh, my God!'
ITO ha continued