Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-05
''Do you know him. miss 2"

Do you KNOW MN, miss
Il? Yes, yes! Is he WELLS he safe ?'
The man read more than she suspected,
and turned his eyes away embarrassed.
he was singularly helpless from his
wounds, and she had his face at her
mercy. Her woman's instinct dis
cerned his thought; her lips moved
without sound, but her soul was in the
appealing look riveted upon him.
II think-not," he said, reluctantly,
at last. I'm fact, know that he's
wounded"
"Dead!-you mean!" she gasped in
the struggle to conceal her anguish.
No, miss-not exactly that; but bad
~ wounded-very badly, am afraid. .
Where is hep" She made no effort
then to conceal the truth. She was on
her knees, her eyes close to his. I'm
Gods name, my friend, tell me-tell
me all! Can't you see? can't you see p
She covered her face, unable to con-
tinue.
Il can only tell you what | know,
miss. He was not dead when saw him
last. Our guns were in the line when
the charge came. The line was broken
at both Hanks, and the yelling confed-
crates were swarming about us. Every
horse we b d was down, when word
came for us to look out for ourselves.
and back we went to escape capture
what was left of US. Well, miss, some.
body said then that No. 3 had been
left Observation-Disclosures with cam
lster; the man at the lanyard had fall
en- dead just as he lifted his hand to
pull. And SO the gun stood. ready to
be turned upon US. Then Capt. Somers
halted and looked about for some one
to send back; but I think, miss, he
must have seen that the chance was
desperate. 1t was only an instant, and
he wouldn't order any man to go; he
rushed forward over the so yards,
reached the gun and seized the cord.
de was my captain, and l couldn't leave
him there, you know, SO. had followed
him, too. Then up in front an army of
gray seemed to rise as from the ground,
and they fired a volley as he pulled on
the lanyard 1 threw myself on my
face and escaped. When looked up
the crowd ahead was disordered and
torn, but still coming on; and the cap
tain lay by his gun. I crawled over
and laid my hand upon him.
Tom, he said, cool as I am right
now, I'm gone, but if you get out take
the papers in my pocket and my watch
to my mother!' took them as he told
me. He tainted, / think and was
afraid he was dead, but he breathed
again. And then, miss-I hadn't tried
1t since was boyle was lying upon
his face, and rolling over, lay upon
him, back to back, locking my arms
through his. Turning over suddenly 1
had him on me dead weight, and then.
somehow, I got up. The whole thing
was not minute long. The confed-
crates gave me cheer in tead of a vol
ley till the boys rushed back to meet us.
got it in both legs then and this shout
der, and down we went. The boys took
him and left me. which was right; for
four men had died there to save him
and looked like the fifth" Frances
was kneeling by the wounded man
when he finished, stroking his cheek
and brow, her frame trembling.
"Oh, brave! brave!" she cried. GOD
bless you and keep you-and keep
you'll" she sank her face beside him,
sobhinQ for inr-s El,a-,,-a4-al.--Al------
ing his commission. "Oh, sir, am his
i am his nearest relative, south!
Give them to me, give them to mel"
'In my coat" said the stranger
gently, wan smile upon his pale face.
Don't worry. miss; l guess the cap
tamil pull through all right" The
watch was there, and there too were
the letters sealed for his mother ready
for delivery if he we're picked up dead
| by friend or foe. No line for her, the
woman who loved him once-loved' him
as she had known him. Upon the inner
| case of his watch was his own name
and address; and still no line for her,
the woman who held him so dear. But
in the locket dangling from the chain
there were two lines cut into the vir-
gin gold:
| Frances, my wife.
| Richmond, April 18th, 1861"