The Red Cloud chief., 1901-07-05

IL was In Chickamauga, during August
OF 'eS. She was o Southern woman, her
home within a few miles Of this camp,
but the sick and suffering soldiers that
she ministered to In the camp hospital
were boys from Northern homes. She
had flowers for all. and various little
delicacies for those that were permitted
them; and now and then she stopped TO
brush back the damp locks from some
aching brow. and to, try to soothe the
pain. OFTEN she would write letters home
for them with wonderful sweetness.
One day she stood by the side Of n boy
that would never send another message
to hts mother. and her tears dropped
fast for the eighteen year-oid hero, now
slipping away into eternal rest. She
could not bear any more that day. and
turned to go; but as she neared the en-
trance her eyes fell on a face she had not
seen before; she smiled back at the pair
of Jolly dark eyes that met her own. The
owner lay PROSTATE with lines OF pain In
his fars. but a laughing mouth, and the
miscellaneous eyes showed grit and fun.
She VAS irreslstibly draw 10 the boy,
and was thankful she had a few flowers
left to offer him.
Thank you laughed the soldier lad.
adding mischievously. II knew was go
ing to get those
"How7' she asked, Interested.
"Oh." he said gayly, IL had my eye
en- them, and 1 knew you wouldn't 40
by" 1
1t was not n very satisfactory sxpia-
nation. but she laughed at It. and 30 did
some of the sick boys.
when are you coming again. de-
manded the boy suddenly, after a mo-
merts conversation. laying a detaining
hand upon her dress. as IL 10th tn have
her 60 even then.
whenever YOU say" she said. lightly.
and the lads face frightened.
Tomorrow" he said eagerly.
She smiled and said. Yes. tomorrow"
She went back to her home and all
through the night he dark eyes haunted
her; shc made up her mind that on the
morrow she would show him IA picture
she had. and perhaps tell him IA little
about another boy that had had dark.
fun-loving eyes. and that thirty'odd years
before had worn IA blue uniform, too.
But when shu reached tie hospital the
next day the jolly-fnced boy was too sick
to know her, and all through the follow
ing week he lay near tho snadowy hand.
aut ~ SIit uN Iut unltf Rb
out. and one day he smiled the recogni-
ton he was to- weak to speak. And NJ
she went homo that night a new idea
took possession of her; why not have him
moved to her house? And. now that he
was out of danger, she could make him
more comfortable and nurse him back -
health, as years before she had nurscd
that other black-cycd boy. Her hair was
| Whitening nnus than n t,na hrnxvp anl
glossy, and she was young. her life be-
fore her. She sighed: If only she could
know what had been the fate OF that
other. why he had never come back to
her! But she had long before given up
expecting TO know In this world.
One day a week or two later. when the
soldier lad was comfortably ensconced In
her home, and was growing strong
enough to take interest In his surround
ings. he said earnestly. "Nyhy Is II you
were SO good to us fellows In the hos
pital? You told me the picture In uni
form there is Of your father. that he was
an officer In the Confederate army. and
that your brother was In that army too:
and you know that II was our fathers
who fought them"
But that Is all over now" she an
swered gently. There were brave SOL
diers on both sides, and the sons are as
brave to-day"
But the boy persisted: why did you
bring me here, instead of some of the
other fellows?"
He was seeking no compliment; he
asked In direct honesty.
Il wish i could have had the others
too she said. but IL you would like
to know why ! singled you out, wait a
moment jack" and she went upstairs to
her room. quickly reappearing with n
picture In her hand. This she silently
handed to him.
Tho pictured face nc saw was that OF a
young man. In soldiers uniform: and on
the margin was written I'm a firm. manly
hand. Dorothy. from Edward, till this
cruel war is over. April. 49," Z.
For n moment the soldier on the couch
gazed In speechless establishment al the
soldier or the picture. you see Il. toopr
she cried, the strong resemblance? and
IL was even stronger than 1t looks there:
Tor his eyes were Just the color of yours.
and the expression was very like. / am
the Dorothy My name is Dorothy Ash
ten, his name was Edward Kendall. He
was a Yankee soldier, hut we found him.
my mother and l. wounds In cur barn.
where he had dragged himself after the
battle. We were loyal to the Confeder-
acy, but my mother was tender-hearted
and loving. and this soldier, apparently
dying. was Just the age OF her son, M
only brother. who was fighting far away
fiom us; so with thought of the boy
we loved, we took this other. our enemy,
into a little hidden room and nursed him
back to life. We grew to care for him;
for he was a gay, bright fellow. fun Of
fun. even when suffering. lie had a
mother in the North whom he had not
seen for many weary months. My
mother, too, had not seen her soldier SON
for a long time, and so this established
a bond between the Yankee and the
Rebel. And as for Edward and me, all
differences fell away when we looked
Into each others eyes. 1t was no time,
then, to talk much OF love: but when
he left us he gave me this picture and
/ gave him mine;, and he carried with
him my promise to be true till the time
when the war was over and he could re-
fnrn IN vnnEA ~ hto xulf