Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-05-28
Two Soldier Boys.
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| 81 T was in Chickamauga, during Au-
| gust of '9S She was a Southern
| q woman, her home within a few miles
| of the camp, but the sick and suffering
soldiers that she ministered to in the
camp hospital were boys from Northern
homes. She had flowers for all, and va
rious little delicacies for those that were
permitted them; and now and then she
| stopped to brush back the damp locks
| from some aching brow, and to try to
soothe the pain. Often she would write
letters home for them with wonderful
| sweetness.
One day she stood by the side Of a boy
| that would never send another message
| to his mother, and her tears dropped fast
| for the 1S-year-old hero, now slipping
| away into eternal rest. She could not
bear any more that day, and turned to
| 20, but as she neared the entrance her
eyes fell on a face she had not seen be-
fore; she smiled back at the pair of jolly
dark eyes that met her own. The owner
lay PROSTATE with lines of pain in his
face; but a laughing mouth, and the mis-
|
vas irresistibly drawn to the boy, and
vas thankful she had a few flowers left
TO offer him.
THANK YOU" laughed the soldier lad,
adding mischievously, Il knew l was go
ing to get those"
How? she asked, interested.
oh" he said, gravely, 81 had my eye
on them, and l knew you wouldn't go
| by"
1t was not very satisfactory explana-
ton, but she laughed at it, and so did
some of the sick boys.
when are you coming againW de
manded the boy, suddenly, after mo-
ment's conversation, laying a OBTAINING
hand upon her dress, as If 10th to have
her go even then.
whenever you say" she said lightly,
and the lads face frightened.
Tomorrow" he said eagerly.
She went back to her home, and all
through the night the dark eyes haunted
her; she made up her mind that on the
morrow she would show him a picture
she had, and perhaps tell him little
about another boy that had dark, fun
loving eyes, and that, 30 odd years be-
fore, had worn blue uniform, too.
But when she reached the hospital the
next day the jolly-faced boy was too
sick to know her, and all through the
following week he lay near the shadowy
land.
But the brave spirit did not quite go
out and one day he smiled the recogni-
ton he was to weak to speak. And as
she went home that night new idea
took possession of her; why not have him
moved to her house. And now that
he was out of danger, she could make
him more comfortable and nurse him
back to health, as years before she had
nursed that other back-eyed boy. Her
hair was whitening now; then it was
brown and glossy, and she was young,
her life before her. She sighed; if only
she could know what had been the fate
of that other, why he had never come
back to her! But she had long before
given up expecting to know in this world.
One day, week or two later when
! the soldier lad was comfortably ensconc
ed in her home, and was growing strong
enough to take interest in his surround
ings, he said earnestly, "Why is it you
were so good to us fellows in the hos
pital? You told me the picture in uni
form there is of your father, that he was
an officer in the Confederate army, and
! that your brother was in that army, too,
and you know that il was our fathers
who fought them"
but that is all over now," she an
swered gently. "There were brave SOL
diers on both sides, and the sons are as
brave to-day"
But the boy persisted. "Why did you
J bring me here instead of some of the
] other fellowsp
=, He was seeking no compliment; he
asked in direct honesty.
II wish l could have had the others
too" she said, but if you would like to
know why | singled you out, wait mo
i ment, jack" and she went upstairs to
9 her room, quickly reappearing with pic
I ture in her hand This she silently
. handed to him.
, The pictured face he saw was that of
young man in soldiers uniform; and
on the margin was written in firm, man
e ly hand: Dorothy, from Edward, till
e this cruel war is over. April, 49,"
O For a moment the soldier on the couch
j. gazed in speechless establishment at the
!. soldier in the picture Then the WON
an broke the silence. "You see ii, tooY'
she cried, "the strong resemblance? and
it was even stronger than it looks there
for his eyes were just the color of yours
anu tue SApIeseloh was very Ike. am
u the Dorothy My name is Dorothy
q Ashton, his name was Edward Kendall
He was a Yankee soldier but we found
70 him, my mother and |. wounded in oul
70 barn, where he had dragged himself af
ter the battle. We were loyal to the
y Confederacy, but my mother was tender
~ hearted and loving, and this soldier, ap
parently dying, was just the age of hel
/. one son, my only brother, who was fight
- ing far away from us; so with thought
~ of the boy we loved, we took this othe
'our enemy, into little hidden room. anC