Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-01-15

Yes, ever since you were little, sh
princess of a girl, with long, blac
braids, hanging below your waist
"a little girl with shy, proud way
and dear, deep eyes, and / great
awkward lad-Oh, Margaret, hoy
long have loved you and how well
Too welll Too well!"
"Have loved?"
But truly the end had come ant
John Muir felt physical illness
born of the long strain upon nerve
and brain, soul and heart, overcome
him and he knew he could endure nc
more.
~Good-by'-and not needing the
slight cry that broke from the girls
lips, the leaning after him of her
whole body, he was down the steps
and gone with but the sound of his
firm, young football on the air as
trace of him.
Eyes, we do need new nurses, but"
the surgeons glance swept the
girls face and figure, then went
back again and rested upon the up
ward gaze of two deep, dark eyes.
well, yes-at first glance
thought you a little unfit; but"
"Ah, try me! Try mel" Her voice
was tense with stress of feeling and
her lips trembled, but steady pur-
pose and grave determination shone
from her whole face and gave mean
ing even to the posture her young
body assumed.
"Yes, youll do. Come, now. You'll
have TO get a good hold on your
self, miss, for you're likely to see
well, l won't daunt your spirit, but
things are not in very good shape in
this camp hospital of ours. But" he
continued, threading his way ahead
of her, through tents and groups Of
soldiers, "but-God knows we do the
very best we can"
She made no answer; stepping |
lightly and as though on sacred /
ground, a fair and gracious sight for
the hungry eyes turned to-her-ward,
she quietly followed him.
There was good stuff in Margaret's
makeup, or she could never have
the storm Of opposition
hat had met her determination to
be an army nurse, a member of
hat grand corps of Red Cross work
RS.
But that IL had been withstood
vas proven by her presence i'm the
amp, and her heart beat high with
rope and honest purpose "God
Wiling, she should yet prove" but
Ter thoughts were broken in upon
~ terrible sound-the scream of
! delirious man-and she started as
hough from blow and elutehed
moment at the surgeons arm, who
urned and said somewhat roughly, !
'et tenderly:
WHAT What You go down like I
hat at the first sound?" But she a
urned up to him a face so deadly T
'hite. so drained of life's current. V
nat with a tender, manly impulse o
e threw his arm about her and b
rev her, as he might have drawn 6
is own daughter, close to his side
nd just held her there firmly. o
THAT Is John Muir's voice and | s
we him. Take me TO him. For p
DDS sake, take me to him. I am d
trong. I shall not faint. Take me p
D him"
So impressed was the surgeon by r
he girls voice, by her manner, that ]
'ithout one word he turned and. 7
Gliding her hand as he might that e
I little child, led her through the r
apping doorway, down the narrow !
isle, where on either side the ghast- }
: figures were outlined beneath the a
light coverings, and halted beside a '
ot near the other opening. 4
Grace and strength met in the y
light figure that bent above the pitt
NJ figure, quiet enough now that the E
elirium had passed; love, deathless, /.
bsorbing and sufficient for her souls l
ore need, shone from the eyes that 7
welt upon the mans pale. pinched c
ace-love that had sought and found
nd was utterly satisfied.
W was enough that John Law here .
eneath her eyes, in touch of her
and. Gone the long. soul-devouring :.
lights; the empty. torturing davs.
'hough Death himself stood upon the I
Their side Of that lowly couch. Il was !
nough. John should know and feel !
er love ere that icy hand should
Fad him hence.
Tears stood in the kind ewes Of /.
he surgeon, and tears streamed :
yer the face Of the nurse who had :
aused in her passing TO and fro a. !
he saw the two enter. and now /.
TODD a step withdrawn WATCHING /,
he scene; but not a tear arose in
hose deep, dark ewes that bathed /.
ohm Muir in their heavenly looks.
"John."
Slowly the blue lids were lifted ,
nd the pale lins parted. gasped.
On the alert for a return Of the
surgeon and nurse moved
but an uplifted hand waved