The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-23
The Romance of
Hefen'S Patriotism.
Bv ORVILLE H. STFWART

By ORNILLE II. STEWART.
Tho Mcdonald family of Kentucky
comes from a long line of patriots and
warriors. The head of the family in
America took UP arms for his country
shortly after the Boston tea episode,
his son fought in the war OF ISL, ms
Naslon into Mexico IN A and then
fought under Grant in IS, benz
stricken 10 his grave several years ago
Dy a complication or troubles resulting
from wounds received IN the rebellion. Al
the opening of the Spanish war his only
son tried in vain to he mustered IN Tor
service. Although ne repeatedly applied
at several recruiting stations OF bOtn reg
ulars and volunteers, owing to u~ndoubIed
symptoms OF tuberculosis ne was obliged
TO remain at home. It was the first dig
War IN the history of America in which
the NcDonaid family was not represented
Had Helen Mcdonald been a man this
could not be said. With her inherited
patriotism and spirit for adventure and
excitement it is doubtful if all the med
zeal and recruiting officers in the army
could have held her from the front. AS
It was, she determined to go to Cuba as
a nurse, but her widowed mother, being
then in feeble health, s~trenuOusly on
posed the proposition.
Determined TO take at least some part
IN the coming conflict. she boarded d
train and arrived at Fort Thomas a hun
4red mics away, Just as the Sixth in
Iantry was being rushed from the bar
1aCHs 70 the southern coast As the COM
pahles, one by one, were called out by
The buglers to fall into the marching
column, Helen. from baskets which a
DOy carried, pinned on the lapel OF each
blouse d red ~carnation. Finally, in the
last company, h came to a volunteer, a
recruit in citizens clothes
You are a new soldier" she said. "a
~oIuntee with the regulars. You must
come back the regiments hero. Here are
three carnations for you"
Scarcely had Helen reached the last Of
the thousand and more men when march,
Ihree lusty cheers were given for 'Our
Sister of the Sixth" a parting farewell
10 the barracks rang out, and the regi-
In ordinary fiction, Helen might have
Shipped on to the front as a nurse. this
volunteer with the regulars" might have
been wounded and brought back to life
by her, u marriage following, but it
wasn't that way. Reluctantly she re-
turned TO her mother and carefully
watched events.
Then, in the early fall, when the gallant
SURVIVORS of the famous Sixth, less than
one-Lnlrd their original number. marched
t%hronged with welcoming friends and adj
InirerS' out 10 the fort. Helen was there
With a bouquet for each. There was Low
den, the volunteer. brown and thin in his
ragged fatigue uniform. one of the Sixth's
very few who returned unscratched.
LoWden might have been taken with
fever at the fort in order to have Helen
nurse MN back to life and matrimony.
put it wasn't that way, either. The fort
hospital vas already rowde with the Ill
ana m returned from Cuba. Helen
renamed ana did all she could for them.
As Lowden appreciated Halen's beauty
ana sweet disposition. believing she was
the next best hin TO a real angel and
as Helen realized that Lowden was a
man instead OF only a soldier, the story
leading to their betrothal is brief.
But am oniy a common soldier. an
ordlnary private VINO received no wounds
and returned no hero" said Lowden. as
they sat IN the moonlight on the great
plum overlooking the serpentine Ohio. Il
went out a private, and after a three
months campaign in which privates had
risen 10 captains, and even majors, 1 re-
turned without a single promotion
But / am no hero wOrshiper," she re-
piled. II am a patriot. In the hOsDftaI
l have nursed privates and officers.
wounded in battle. While / admire any
one who has fought nobIy for his coun-
try, l cannot see that wounds or Shout
der straps make men 1t is not always
the bravest or best man that comes back
ounde or with a promotion"
A surprise awaited the happy couple.
shortly Lowden received a commission
as lieutenant, and was ordered to leave
at once for the Philippines Helen was
vexed with the war department for hav-
ing ordered her lover away
I regret the separation fully as much
as you. Lowden said. but 1 am sure it
is best that I .go, as at present 1 am not
financially able to marry"
Tears stood in Miss McDonald,s large
blue eyes as she kissed her soldier fare
well in the smoky station. Il shall be
very, very lonely without you" she said.
piled, 'to make you my wife"
As the train pulled away Lowden gazed
into the dainty little basket of white and
I ttu TOSeS ana lOTSet-0le-noIS, ana a tea
dropped down among them.
They exchanged letters at frequent in
terNalS. and a year. two years passed,
and Lieutenant LOwden had found nc
opportunity to return to the states to
! claim his bride.
Il will wait no longer" said Helen n
her home down in Kentucky. as she
pored over his letters. He cannot come
to- me; I will go to him. L Will not write
that l am ~going-how he will be sur
Drisedi"
Within a month Helen arrived in Ma
Mia, and a few days later she had sue
| ceeded in locating the lieutenant on the
firing line. A charge had just been made,
and now the regiment dropped into the
! intrenchmentS- Bullets Whistled all
about her as she rushed needless of the
warnings of men and officers, into Low
( den's arms.
You could not come to me: 7 came
to YOU she said. showering him with
kisses. as a bullet crashed against his
sword.
The firing ceased. and under a palm
shredded by lead the chaplain pronounced
the brief ceremony. Then arm in arm
they made their way past fallen heroes
| back to camp.
IC0~---s-G4 1orr L. " . IT,