Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-10-25
A NATURAL SEQUENCE

finger Opposite her stood a tow-haired |
boy, perhaps a year older.
"Pm goin' away to-morrer, Blossom"
announced the boy mournfully.
"Are yer?' said the girl soberly.
"Yep. It's an awful long way-most |
200 miles, pa says" Then, after a
pause: Don't see how Pm goin' to
marry yer when I'm away down in
New York"
20, soldiers is sent everywhere" said
the girl wisely, "and nurses, too. I'm
goin' to be nurse when grow up"
well, Pm goin' to be q soldier, sure,
cause pa said might, and when I'm
n major or a colonel Pm comm back
with regiment to get yer and"
There's ma calm. It's time to go
Eddie"
"Good-by, Blossom"
There was timid kiss and two heavy
little hearts wended their way home
ward.
1t was terrible day. The hot Cuban
sun beat mercilessly down upon the
group of tan-suited "Americanos" lying
fiat on their stomachs, creeping, creep
ing, ever nearer and nearer the thicket
where the Spanish sharpshooters lay
hidden.
Easy boys" whispered the captain;
Jenkins company will draw their fire
in a minute"
With sigh of relief the men lay fat.
The long rank grass cut their faces and
the yellow sand filed their eyes and
added fresh agony to their already
parched throats. Down at the end of
the line a man was cursing because
sharp stone had bruised his leg.
But their rest was only for a moment
Far in the rear they heard hoarse
cheer. Then a volley Of bullets few
high over them, and was answered by
the crack, crack Of the Spanish Maus-
erS.
Now, boys" whispered the captain
again. Over their heads the firing was
fast and furious, but the little group
crept on, almost to the very fringe of
the thicket.
"Now! at 'em, boys" roared the cap
tain. The whole command rose to their
feet With wild cheer, they rushed
forward. With hoarse oaths they threw
themselves on the sallow group of
sharpshooters. There was the rapid fir
ing of heavy revolvers, answering
shrieks Of wounded men, groans and
prayers. Out into the open air ran the
enemy, only to be shot down by Jenk-
ms men in front.
In five minutes 1t was all over, and
the Americans were gathering together
to count their numbers.
''That was quick work." grunted the
lieutenant, as he wiped the powder
stains from his face. where's Ma
son?'
'sWhere's Capt. Mason?' shouted the
sergeant.
Here he is," answered a hoarse
voice, and burly private appeared
with his arm around the captain, al
most dragging him along.
The officers face was white, and he
said, as he clenched his white teeth to-
gether: 81 guess they've done for me,
Tom, this time"
tsNonsense," said the lieutenant,
roughly. up with him, boys; easy,
easy" and as four Of the priyates lifted
him to their shoulders they retraced
their way back through the long grass
to their own lines, and there, in the
shade of the hospital tent, they tender
lv laid down their burden and left him
TO the care of the surgeon.
All night long they worked over him
the doctor and sweet-faced woman
with a red cross on her arm. AS the last
bandage was fastened and the doctor
rose to go his rounds he said: "He
won't last till tomorrow" The nurse
said nothing, but as the tent door flap
ned behind him she muttered rebel
liously: ''He will last till tomorrow
and a good many more to-morrows."
Early the next morning the wound
ed man opened his eyes, to find WON
an bending over him. He looked up
weakly and would have spoken, but she
nut her hand over his mouth, and said.
quite calmly: "It's only Blossom.
You're hurt, and I'm going to take care
of you. l told you was going to be
IA nurse"
He smiled family, and fell into a gen.
tile sleep, with her hand clasped tightly
in his.
/. Two days later as the fussy little doc
tor came his rounds he announced
with a considerable degree of self-sat
dsfaction: mason is going to live, Miss
lCarvill. Didn't think 1 could pull him
Through, but 1 did after ALL"
The nurse smiled inscrutably, bu
said nothing.
They were sitting just inside the ten
door waiting. for orders to embark OF
the transport.
His right arm was still in sling, bu
his left hand vainly sought to rest OF
hers, which she promptly removed.
''What are you going to do when 70,
are mustered out BlossomT p he asked
''I'm Miss Carvill, now people ar
well again." she observed, speaking t
nc one In particular.
"But am not well yet" he objected
.'You are going to be. What's the mat
ter? Aren't you glad% she demanded
as his face fell.
81 don't know; that depends" +" he said
significantly.
AS the girl made no answer, he wen
on reminiscently; DO you remembe