The National tribune., 1901-11-07

uuu EOuO UCl VI HIS llIe rs u puEl VI Ilt
war-left behind as he left his musket
and put off his blue clothes.
But now she came back again, and be-
fore he slept he had poured out upon
page after page 1ali the beautiful story
his great love-. the wOndcrful beauty and
goodness of Hattie Blair, and her gra-
ciOus acceptance of him.
In due time came her reply, every line
breezy with pith and point, and through
the whole there brGathed that same good
cOmradeship, now more acceptable be-
cause of the hearty congratulations and
good wishes it bore. He intended writ
ing again, to tell her of the wedding, but
he did not at the time, and afterWard he
forgot it.
1t was not until the time came around
cne early morning that his mother, with
the glad tears in her eyes, laid IN his
arms his frst-born daughter, that he
thought of writing to her of this new
happiness, but the men were waiting IN
the field and his wife was feebly calling
from the next room. He carried the baby
to her. Il have named her, Hattie,
Georgiana, Georgiana Goodspeed." ,
The name had q musical sound, and
she was very happy now, and kissing the
tiny mouth after he had gone, she whis-
percd, "Georgiana GOodspeed it shall be-
The years went by and other children
came and went, and there was shadow
and sunshine, but more of sunshine than
shadow, and more children stayed and
went; and peace, happiness and prosperity
brOoded over Joseph Linden and all that
were his.
lie was done with war. He had often
said at the close of some war story the
children had coaxed him into telling,
But, my sons, if our country needs you,
see to it you do honor to your training.
Now came the Cuban insurrection. The
Maine is destroyed in Havana Harb0r.
Like an old war-horse that scents the
battle from afar, champs the bit and Is
impatient to rush to the charge, so he,
from the sinking of the Maine to the call
of President Mckinley for troops, could
scarcely curb his impatience to be gone.
In vain his wife and daughters urged
upon him the fact that he was too old;
that he could not, as in younger days, en-
dure the hardships of the field. But he
had his way and was one among the first
of Indiana's sons to offer himself.
As Il man of affairs, he arranged his
business down to the minutest detail His
family were well provided for, if he did
or did not return.
The last hour of his departure came,
and he slipped into his own little private
room. He felt, to face this last moment,
ne must needs brace himself with
strength gathered when alone, or alone
with God.
To make sure of the contents of a GER
tain paper he opened an inside drawer of
his desk and as he put the paper back
again his eye fell upon the little needle
case he had carried through the last war.
As a precious souvenir he had always
kept it, but the occasional sight of 1t had
never affected him rs now.
The contents were. rusted and doubt
less useless; he did not think of that
it only seemed 10 him taiisman of good
luck, q something of old comradeship-
md bp t,nt ii in hJc pOpkef. did no
speak of il when he came out.
All day long fever-stricken men had
been carried by. their comrades into the
long wooden shed, once Spanish hospital,
but now over it'rwayed the beautiful flag
of the Red Gross, and all down its long
row of hastily-improvised beds white
capped women, wearing the brassard of
mercy-women with pale, tired faces, but
beautiful, made beautiful had they been
ever so plain by the subhmity Of their
work.
1t was near nightfall, and Nurse Good
speed paused a moment and put her
hands to her head why did she feel 50
strange? And why could she not walk
without that feeling as though she would
fall headlong? She tried to think wheth-
er or not she had eaten her dinner; she
could not remember. She remembered
commencing her breakfast, but was called
I AWAY anu ldAl lDlSDbltlI W - DdNhs L -
! haps when she had eaten something she
would feel better.
She was near the door when two Or
derlies carrying a man on a stretcher
| came up; with them were two Surgeons
/ and an officer
We want the best place you have,
| Nurse Goodspeed. This is Col Joseph
| Linden, an old Indiana man, and my
| cOmrade in two wars. But we won't
/ have him long--mdnight, perhaps, not
| later. Everything is against him. leave
| him to you, Miss Go0dspeed; make him
as comfortable as you can. / must write
to his wife tonight; that is a hard task"
| Meanwhile, the unconscious man was
| being removed from the stretcher to the
| bed. The doctor gave a few directions.
You Will know what to do, Miss Good
| speed, if there is anything more needed.
| Poor joe old friend, bood-by."
His voice broke, and he hurried away
an Army Surgeon had no time where
| there was no hope.
Ii mattered little to Georgiana Good
| speed that the man over whom she bent
was old and gray; in his face, haggard
| and g4unt another time she might have
seen lhis, but not today. She saw only
! the ideal of her girlhoOd drenmS-the hero
of every castle, and he had come to her
his hair was brown and his cheeks ruddy.
With mechanical professionalism she
unlOOsed the clothing; something fell from
the pocket; she picked it up, soiled and
worn, but she recognized if. 1t was made
| from pieces of her mothers wedding
| dress: but she did not need this to more
fully identify him-she only thought, he
| has carried it all these years.
He came out of the death-like stupor
somewhat, but only at intervals, TO rave
and talk in widest delirium. Now he
was Il boy, throwing pebbles in the brook,
and the water looked so cool; now he was
in battle, at the very front, and he shout
ed his commands in voice loud for his
failing strength; or it was 4 warm day
and the hay must be in before it raincd.
| Hurry up, boys" then i'll Il low, tender
tone, Bring me drink of water, Geor-
giana, little Georgiana Goodspeed, Il drink
Of cool water from the spring"
Every pulse and nerve in her body
thrilled as she pressed the cooling drink
to his lips. He had called her. he had
dreamed and thought of her all these
years, as she had of him. How long
since she had heard any one say "GeOr-
giana." 'itf
Because of the cooling remedies she
had applied he had grown quieter, and
she sat down by the bed. He was all
hers, Until death do us part" she whis-
waiting for 'learh. She was strangely
exultant and happy. Both life and death
seemed alike vague and unreal.
Then as she watched and waited, to
her disordercd fancy death became a per
sonality and gradually took on form and
shape, standing on the opposite side of the
II little nearer, this horrible black shape;
l.la glttt stil