The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-10

the same thing he had said over and over
again in his delirium: When was the lit
tie man coming; why wouldn't they let
him in? He was just outside there asking
for Private Miller. over and over again
in all sorts of ways it had been repeated /;
as a question, complaint, or a request
Now here he was without a degree of
fever, and yet with the same words on
his lips.
"Oh, he's coming soon, but suppose he
is very busy now" said the nurse quietly,
and as she spoke it was evident wherein
lay her power and charm. 1t was her
voice, so low and sweet and comforting
Many a poor fellow had listened to it and
never known why he felt better. Many
had found the secret, and questioned her
for the mere sake of the sound of her re-
ply Private Miller only nodded his
head slowly two or three times, as IL he
agreed and was consoled.
In the evening, as is customary with
the fever, his temperature rose, and
when the nurse came to give him his lit
tie bowl of arrow-root. he was a little
Eighty and would not touch it.
HE waud ma coom," he muttered. Hes
hard pressed VII ia big fight that's COM
in on. 1 want ia dee He waud ma
coom.'
mo, he couldn't come to-day" said
Sister Potter "but perhaps tomorrow"
Then she went out and told the volun-
teer surgeon and that night he dined
with a member of the headquarters staff.
The convalescents in their light blue
hospital suits, with the broad, white trim
mings, stood up and saluted. A little knot
of red-capped nurses in the corridor were
in flutter of whispering. The orderlies
standing at the entrance of the wards
froze into an attitude of attention. Sis
ter Potter bent over Private Miller's pill
low.
Hell be in in few minutes" she said
"Who?"
1.-THE little man. You know you wanted
to see him."
God guide us. I'm not fit to be seem!
Caud ma I get shave first, Ell? A'am
sair unkept."
He put his weak fingers to his rough.
hairy chin. I'm disreputable. But
you're ma meanin' it, he added. weakly.
He waud ma take the trouble to see the
like o. me-"
In reply the nurse gave a little sooth-
ing caress to his wasted, bony hand.
Down the corridor came four or FIVE
khaki-clad figures. At the head walked
the volunteer surgeon, and beside him,
with a strong, quick step, walked a
short, well-knit figure, clad in an i'm
maculately neat uniform, held in by a
broad belt and cross straps. Above 1t
rose a kindly, strong face, with a gen.
tie, almost merry, expression in the eyes.
A firm mouth with strong downward
lines, yet sympathetic as a womans, a
crow burrowed by care and work, and
voice that, like the nurses, made ones
heart warm to him, completed the man.
1t was the little mon,' "Bobs," the
beloved.
The occupant of the end cot caught
sight of him just as he entered. He strug-
gled to rise, but Sister Potter's hand re-
strained him. He saluted none the less,
with swift movement at first, and then
a drop to the co1nterpane, as If the ef-
fort had been too much for him. His
face flushed, and his breath heaved. For
an instant the Sister looked at him ner-
vously. The other men in the room, who
were all convalescents, rose to sitting
posture The Field Marshal took them
all in with a sweeping. kindly recogni-
ton, and walked to the end cot quickly.
He sat down on the edge and took the
big. red, hairy paw in his.
We'll, Miller" he said, i've come to
see you. They tell me you're doing IA
mously, and soon will be out there sitting
in the sum-"
The man could not reply. His eyes
shifted from the Field MarshaPs face to
the hand that was holding his own Two
or three times MS lips HiONSN, DuL Ao
could not speak. But the little man was
talking again.
And now I'm going to tell you what
we're going to do with you,' he went on.
LAS soon as you're strong enough, we're
going to send you to England, to home,
and then when you come back you're go
ing to get your stripes, for your captain
has spoken very well of you. You were
wounded at Belmont. 1 understand, and
at Koodesberg, weren't you?"
But Private 1903 could not even move
his head in reply. He just looked and
looked; so the Field Marshal gave him
slight farewell hand grasp. then a
friendly nod, and with a word that in
cluded all the others and an answer to
their salute, he took his staff and his
presence from the room
AS for Private Miller, he looked up at
\ the sister, smiled a wan smile and faint
ed dead away But when he came to him
self the first words he said were these:
"Dye ken the little mon; he took my
hand A'am to get well soon! He took
ma hand"
And with that he lay there. looking at
the almost useless member, as If it were
a valuable curiosity.