Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-21

there loss of something from her ma {
ture? Orw there a gain?
No message had ever come to her
from Somers, no good or evil report.
None? Yes, just a scrap soon after the
war began. From some one, Brodnar,
probably, since his name was upon it,
she had received northern paper Civ
ing in its war gossip information that
Richard Somers had been reinstated in
the army and promoted to be captain
of artillery.
But one day early in the spring of
49,. when the great movement
against Richmond was beginning and
when every train was bringing in
bloody harvest, she leaned above
wounded enemy. The question SO often
asked, "To what command do you be-
long?" drew forth an answer that
filled her with excitement. She felt
her heart begin to beat madly and her
limbs yielding to a sudden excitement.
"Your captain! What is his name?'
Richard Somers, miss!" How
strangely thrilling Sounded the name
that morning! 1t was the first time |
she had heard it spoken since its bear
er had said among the Pickering shad-
| ows of her room: "If to carry in mem
| DRY the living record of one face will
help you, take mine, and with it. right
or wrong. the love of Richard Somers.'
The scene, never dimmed in all the
months that had passed, stood forth
again, illumined like some strong pic
ture under the swift magic of the light
ming. The wounded man saw in her
face the glow of its reflection. Tri-
utnph shone in her eloquent eyes.
sudden agitation locked the soft white
Il hands.
DO you know him. miss?'
81? 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 wonan's instinct dis
, cerned his thought; her lips moved
; without sound, but her soul was in the
) appealing look riveted upon him.
: Il think-not," he said, reluctantly,
, at last. I'm fact, know that he's
wounded"
E "Dead!--you mean!" she gasped in
!. the struggle to conceal her anguish.
mo, miss-not exactly that; but bad
ly wounded-very badly. | am afraid"
!, Where is he?" She made no effort
t then to conceal the truth. She was on
: her knees. her eyes close to his. In
/ Gods name, my friend. tell me--tell
9 me all! Can't you see ?.can't you see?"
l. She covered her face. unable to con-
7 tinue.
I 81 can only tell you what know,
miss. He was not dead when saw him
y last. Our guns were in the line when
e the charge came. The line was broken
= at both TANKS, and the yelling confed-
. crates were swarming about us. Every
i. horse we had was down. when word
!. came for US to look out for ourselves
~ and back we went to escape capture
u what was left of US. Well, miss, some
u body said then that No. 3 had been
5 left loaded-double-sho with can
y lister; the man at the lanyard had fall
"a en- dead just as he lifted his hand tt
r pull. And 50 the gun stood. ready t.
d be turned upon us. Then Capt. Somer!
lie halted and looked about for some on
1T to send back; but / think, miss, h
SIS must have seen that the chance wa
ly desperate. 1t was only an instant. ant
e. he wouldn't order any man to go; h
of rushed forward over the so yards
n reached the gun and seized the cord
rs He was my captain, and l couldn't leay
T. him there, you know, SO had followe
ad him, too. Then up in front an army Q
az gray seemed to rise as from the groune
ed and they fired volley as he pulled o
OF the lanyard. / threw myself on m
face and escaped. When 1 looked u
in the crowd ahead was disordered an
re torn, but still coming on; and the cal
OF tain lay by his gun. / crawled owe
as and laid my hand upon him.
hit Tom he said, cool as am rigf
ice now, I'm gone, but if you get out tax
Ter the papers in my pocket and my watc
ut to my mother!' took them as he. tol
m, me. He tainted, l think, and l We
mt afraid he was dead, but he breathe
en- again. And then, miss hadn't trit
ed it since was boy-he was lying upo
m. his face, and rolling over, | lay upe
he him, back to back. locking my arm
uB II HIS. Il SSCi
ly, had him on me dead weight, and the
of somehow, l got up. The whole thin
lad was not minute long. The COME
lily, crates gave me cheer instead of vt
I'M ley till the boys rushed back to meet !
nth / got. it in both legs then and this sho'
var der, and down we went. The boys to,
ow him and left me. which was right; f
the four men had died there to save HI
and l looked like the fifth" Franc
for was kneeling by the wounded m
INV when he finished, stroking his che
5 of and brow, her frame trembling.
cen "Oh, brave! braye!" she cried. sc
tie bless you and keep you-and Ike
he you'll" she sank her face beside hi
for sobbing for joy. THE watch-the |
he pers!" she cried, excitedly, rememb
ven ing, his commission. "Oh, sir am
YES II am his nearest relative, SOU
zen Give them to me, give them to mel"
for in my coat said the strans
the gently, wan smile upon his pale ia