The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-04-01


How proud she'll be to hear of his
courage in this affair! Say, nurse,
couldn't he come In to see meY
mo. not under any circumstances"
was the decided answer. you've talk
ed too much now
sTll be quiet, nurse, but won't you
ask him to give me a whistle as he
passes by? He has the prettiest whistle
In the world. It's like a flute. Wait
TIN you hear itr'
A swift rush of tears blinded the
nurse. She was only woman, and it
meant much to her that the playmate
Of her childhood's days was even then
being carried away to lie forever silent
In soldiers grave.
ASK him to whistle just once. He'll
surely come to ask about me-"
sT'll see about it." she answered at
length, 'if you think it will not excite
you too much"
"Oh, nurse"-the big mans voice had
grown tremulous-'I haven't heard
that whistle for FIVE years! You'd
know what he is to me if you knew
what I've given up for him.
The nurse caught her breath. wen
pee about it tonight when go to make
my report" she said. REST now, so
that the report may be good one."
The man obeyed. 1t was some time
before he spoke again.
II don't know why you should re-
mind me of her." he said You're
such a little, soft voiced thing, and
Annie is a big western girl, with
voice that makes the room ring when
she laughs or sings. She does both,
bless her! She can whistle, too, as
well as any fellow I ever knew. Jim
taught her, and l used to tease her
about being whistling girl"
A sad little smile passed over the
] face of the tall nurse as she bent above
him to arrange the pillows.
II must leave you now to make my
report" she said. BE very quiet, and
! will not forget your message"
The man lay still, wondering how
long the darkness would last. He felt
lost, lying here alone, but suddenly
through the stiffness there came a
clear high whistle. another and then a
( succession of bird calls. The man lay
tingling with delight in the sounds.
"Jimy he whispered. "God bless
You, lad! Thank heaven that I was
with you in timer
When the nurse came In again, she
found him TRANQUILITY smiling.
"He did whistle, nurse, the same
merry old whistle. Couldn't you ask
him for me how Annie is? Only thatr'
Il can't ask him anything" replied
the girl, with forced calmness. 81
( shall not see him again."
The man sighed.
''Well, won't trouble you, nurse.
I'd like to know how she is, though.
There isn't another woman in all the
world like our whistling girl"
The nurse did not dare to speak.
you're a stranger to me, nurse" he
went on, land yet l can't help telling
you all about it. She lived near us all
her life, but it wasn't until Jim came
/ to me with his hopes that l realized
what she was to me. l never told her.
could see that she and Jim were
made for each other, but l couldn't
stay there and tamely wait for the
end. r.
! The man was trembling from head
to foot, but the nurse had sunk down
beside the bed and buried her face In
the covers.
II went away" he resumed, "end
haven't heard word from them since.
hope she's happy. I'd like to ask
Jim why he's here and not with her.
But she has spirit and courage. She's
not the one to bid him stay idle at
home in these times. Nurse, was that
q tear on my hand? There-I didn't
make you cry, did n"
Z The nurse choked back the tears and
replied In her habitual half voice: ut
was the lotion that use for your
bandages. No more talking tonight,
please"
mo more, nurse, but you know now
why wished to hear Jim's whistle
To hear him is to know that he is safe
and that no sorrow will come to An
ME-"
The whistle loated up to him each
morning and evening at the hour that
the nurse went to report.
The old airs that were familiar about
his western home came to the patient
listener In the darkened room. He
grew stronger as the days went by,
and the nurse watched him with
dreamy happiness.
She had been away from him one
morning, and when she returned she
met the doctor at the door. He was
talking with friend. and as she step
- Raa hin II Nssae gang clearly