The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-11


again, hearing in a moment. "Oh, what is
it? Can 1t be true? Again." That voice
hit my conscience hard. but 1 yelled out
again. Whereupon the door opened and in
she came running 10 me and speaking my
name softly and taking my hand.
In moment 1 had her fast by the arm.
Where have you been all day. madam"
She stood back looking at me in wonder
but she could not escape.
sit down dear heart" said l. sit
down. sit down. Twas all a conspiracy to
get you in here
Then l thought she would be angry. but
with flush she said:
Il am too relieved to be offended. but
twas not fair. was it?"
mo. dear, twas a cowardly trick. But
Deborah
Down went the face and the eyes looked
around the floor as she sat by my bed
'Debby, look at me-"
The eyes never moved.
Deborah. is it necessary for me- sitting
here done up in five miles of rags, too alb
surdly weak TO stand up-is it necessary for
me to make love to your Up came the
eyes straight at me with some of the old
fearless fire in them. DO you want me to
ask you to marry me?'
There was an instant's silence. and then
she suddenly gave way to burst of merry
laughter
"It seems to me. sir with a toss of her
head, that you put your question a bit late
in the day. since we have been married now
some six months"
That sobered me, for 1 remembered that
knew something still unknown to her, and
sitting there by the light of the lamp / told
! her of the comrade who had helped me in
the sugar house, and what he knew of Mar
| vim
! For a moment she sat quietly looking
| away from me, her hands lying i'm her lap.
! Then, turning to me with depth in her
/ beautiful eyes that seemed so new and re-
| cent, she gently laid her hand in mine and
! sat there looking at me without a word for
minute after minute; till L leaned forward
and took her fair. serious face in my two
! hands and drew it toward me and kissed il
! once. twice and asked:
Are you happy, Deborah?"
Yes. dear" said she, simply.
''WelI. what the devil do L care. madam?
! I've got TO dress the mans wound. Egad,
they can't bill and COO twenty-four hours
! in the day Let me in!' This from the
| other side of the door whispered plead
| ing was his answer.
Not at all! He can't get up till he's
well. So in I CO." And in he came, puff
ing and Tuning. and unwound and wound
me up again
1t was as he was rewinding the bandages
| after dressing the wound that the door
opened and Atherton came in Up he strobe
| of oh afa cod
! look, and shook hands.
How We, old man." said he. as If he
had seen me and talked but yesterday.
Right and fit, friend" said l. and then
we fell to silence. 'Tis ever a strange thing
! to me, and yet something L cannot fail TO
like. to see as / did now, two Anglo-Saxons
trying to hide all the good feelings in
them Even Low laughed out as he worked
on and said:
! Whats the price of beer?"
Cad. I'd like some now, Ell. Balfort?''
cried AthertOn and, growing easier, he sat
down and watched the skillful hands of the
doctor. I stretched out and took his hand.
Captain" said l, you've done more for
me than any"
Tut, tut, man." cried he, wringing my
poor. weak hand till it ached mot word!
Twas nothing. Let it pass. Doctor. for
Gods sake give us a drink! Is there naught
| of alcohol in this house?"
Drink, YOU big fool!' cried Low. DO
you want to kill him?"
"Oh. he's fit to fight again. and show me
what man can do besides fight
Look ye here, Atherton." said I, serious
~ 'Pm your prisoner. What will you do
| with me?"
He'll said he. Lets talk of something
pleasanter.
THAT l will not, man. 1 answered. Il
must get away and you cannot let me GO"
He looked at instant, and 1 knew
the same thought had been in his mind
since he heard L could recover.
"Balfort,'' he said in moment, will you
give me your parole till the end of the
war?''
knew it long before he said it, and lean
ing back my pillow 1 told him L could
not.
Give we his parole. you raving idiot -
| cried Low-never was such an actor lived
as that same chirurgeon. "Why, look, man!
| lookr' and with that he unwound the band
ages he had begun to replace and laid bare
the wound. 1 looked down at it and my
! gorge rose at the sight. Twas a slit a
ragged cut. from my right hip up along the
| ribs near to my shoulder, a good twelve
inches Only by the grace OF chance was it
that Hazeltine's point had not caught on
rib and gone through me. And the edges
stood even now far apart and ugly and ir-
| regular.
''Parole?" went on the doctor why,
man. he cannot hold a sword for yeari''
Atherton looked at me and took my hand
again.
Friend" said he. will we give me your
parole for six months? To tell you the
truth. your army cannot hold out that long,
and l am safe"
BY chance l caught the doctors eye. and
knew in some way that he babe me accept
it. So lying back again. told Atherton l
would
Then get you out of here when you can
| move.
Again 1 gave him my hand and thanked
him till he swore he'd hear no more and
went off with Low.
And so the days passed on, quickly
enough for a matter of three weeks And
/ then, beginning 10 feel stronger, 1 COM
menced 10 fret and worry and wonder when
l would get away and what was happening
at West Point. and where were my com
panions in Putnam's lewiston, and what Of
| Il