The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1903-12-24
WHO KISSED HIM /?
IOriginal.l

uuu L was DELL SpluW lLAS3 "AN'
Why was not killed don't know. A
fragment broke my arm, but that was
all the damage that was done by the
shell. The conclusion did much more,
and either flame or gunpowder or both
Eput my eyes in a critical condition.
The army was moving every day,
and what hospitals were established
were full Those for whom there was
no room were left in homes along the
way, and | was in one Of these houses.
lay on a bed with my eyes closed.
| The surgeon insisted on binding them,
but protested, and he laid my hand
kerchief over them, telling me that if
opened them l would lose my eye
sight.
l lay thinking of home and the care
would receive were | there We pity
the soldier worn with tramping, cold,
hunger; we pity him dead. 1t is not in
either of these conditions that he really
needs our sympathy, but sick or
wounded, with so many Of his com
rades in like condition that he cannot
receive attention. AS starving man
will pass his time ordering imaginary
dinners, 1 dwelt upon the acts of low
ing Kindness my mother and sisters
would lavish upon me were they at
hand Or, rather, were l in my own
room at home, in my old four post bed
stead, my fayorite pictures on the
wall and decorations with which l
had always been familiar on every
side. Thus thinking fell into a semi
|slumber, my day dream merging into
sleep dream. My favorite sister came
to my bedside and, saying softly
''Poor boy" bent over me and kissed
ME.
Before her lips were taken from mine
| was awake. Yet the dream did not
vanish with the waking. For an in
slant longer [ felt a pair of lips on
mine, and they We're extremely lifelike.
| took no thought of the surgeons warn
ing, but, Selling the handkerchief, drew
it away and opened my eyes. Before
my impaired vision became accustomed
to the light the person who kissed me
had vanished.)
! heard IA rumble of wheels at the
door, a hospital steward and two men
bearing Il stretcher entered, and l was
carried out to an ambulance where
there was room for one more and taken
to a hospital. There | remained a short
time, then was sent away to get treat
ment with a view to saving my eye
sight
The youngstcr of twenty three who
could submit to ignorance as to the
identity OF the bne who has kissed him
must be indeed untouched by romance.
surely could not. During days and
nights that | was obliged to sit or lie
With closed eyes my mind was con
stantly on her, for it never occurred to
me that the person could be aught but
a woman. She was a queenly brunette,
a blue eyed blond. endowed her with
every charm of soul and body that
woman can possess. If ever man was
in love with a fancy l was that man.
| recovered and rejoned my com
mand. The stern duties of soldier
somewhat diverted my mind, but were
incapable of blotting out the fascna
ton, the desire to learn who it was that
kissed me. The army had been driven
far from the region where / had been
wounded, but soon after / rejoined we
recovered the lost territory. Finding
myself near the house where l had
been kissed, | rode in search Of it and
found it deserted. The only house near
by where ! could make inquiries was
in the center of large plantation half
mile distant. There l repaired and,
riding up to the yeranda, was met by a
young girl who at the moment came
out of the hall door.
The people of the south whenever
Union troops approached suddenly
were sure to be disconnected. for they
never knew what treatment they
were to experience. The girl turned
pale. In order to rcassure her l told
her that | simply wished to know what
had become of the people who had oc-
cupied the house in which I was in
terested. She told me that they had
gone away; that the family consisted
of father, a mother and three grown
daughters. AS she recovered her equa-
nimity and l pushed my questions as
to the daughters she told me that
! the youngest was a pretty girl of sew
enteen. while her sisters were ordi-
| nary, one of them an old maid. told
her that she had only added fuel to my
curiosity and begged her to tell me
more about them. She not only did so.
but promised to try to find them for me.
We remained in the locality for some
time, and l saw her frequently. She
soon told me that she had seen the
| family and promised me an interview
but kept putting me off, tantalizing
me with different stories. Neverthe-
less managed to endure the delay, for
| was becoming cngrossed with the
young lady herself. Sic apt on with
her information but the statements va
ried from day to day. She declared
that the daughters denied my story en-
tirely. Then the youngest and prettiest
had kissed me. The next day it was the
old maid. began to suspect that l
was being fooled. Indeed, 1 had lost