The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-04-16

| had never thought of the possibility
or oelng among the wounded, and now
eha' you know my story I have no, fear,
1of would rather die than not show
mat there is no towards blood in a
Lyon: If 1 look as: if I were afraid,
Joe: just say. For honor's sake, Wal
ter, and I will be ali right
when Walter Lyon told his story,
zoe stoot listening With respect that
hao some thing like reverence in it, and
| as the BOY finished the old man laid
ooth hands on his head as he said, in
a husky voice: God bless you, my
orave laddie'; and, slipping from the
| with his thoughts.
NO one on the field made a better,
| more desperate showing of bravery
IMAM dlc the slender STRIPPING, closely
IolloWed by his faithful guardian, but
he was among the first wounded, and
carried from the battlefield.
AS the new surgeon, DR.. Stevens, was
ABOUT to attend the case, Joe, who had
stepped between him and the PROSTATE,
deathltke figure. said: "Dr. Stevens,
you cannot touch that young FOLDER
! until you have read this letter. I gave
my promise to that brave laddie, and
| Ill keep 1t if I must die for it,"
Dr.. Stevens took the letter, startled
at the familiar writing, and read rap
idly:
! Hugh, dear sweetheart: If you are
| angry that I am here, masquerading In
soldiers clothes. forgive me, dear, for
l nave done 1t for honor's sake. After
| Walter had drilled and been examined
by the officers and physicians in the
home regiment, he suddenly became
panic-stricken and ran away. I found
him In the country with Nancy, our
old nurse, and she would not let any
one see him, until promised that I
would not betray him, even for honor's
sake You know how our father felt
| about duty to ones country, and how
often he wished that I had been the
son, because I felt just as he die. Wall
ter and I, as twins, were very much
alike In appearance, until he grew so
strong and big this last year, but he
| refused to go to Cuba, and, rather than
have our father's' name disgraced for
| ever, and to have my twin brother
scorned as a coward, l. had Nancy, who
is a tai1oress cut his suit down to fit
me, and, with no thought beyond the
reason I have given, 1 came here. 1t
was through DR.. Dawson, our rector,
that I was changed into this company.
The colonel put me in Joe Ryan's care,
and, without my knowing that he sus-
pected, he has known, and shielded me
tenderly, like an own father. If / am
dead, be good to him, for my sake, and
do not think that l meant to be I'M
womanly. Oh, Hugh, my dearest, best
loved, try to think only with love OF
your foolish Winnie, and, for her sake,
do not betray Walter. I am giving
my life that the name may be unsul-
lied. For honors sake, and for mine
spare Walter now.
when you read this 7 shall be
dead, but don't forget me. Oh! Hugh,
don't forget-Winnie.'
Like a man hereft Of his senses ir
the agony he felt the young surgeon
knelt and raised the little form in his
arms. Putting hisTear to her heart, he
cried Hurry Jpes efor Gods sake, hur-
stop e: read thai, Letter tore found
Out 6 I'VE: must Save. her! Find sDr,
Il Thomas tell him to. take my place
and then come back here. 1t will be
over my dead body if anyone gets into
this tent 49,
Together the doctor and Joe worked
over the wounded girl until at last
Of ineffable' sweetness looked into he1
| lovers eyes.
That night Dr. Stevens had an in.
terview with the Colonel. It was the
; only thing to be done and soon afte,
the camp was quiet for the night DR.
) Stevens and Joe Ryan, by the Colonel's
; orders were on their way to shiI
|
carried "Laddie,'' the wounded yount
soldier.
j AS Joe turned to leave the ship tn,
= young surgeon laid one hand on the oil
t mans shoulder and held out the other
No word was spoken as these two stoot
!, with clasped hands, Tears unchecke,
5 rolled down Joe's furrowed cheeks, an,
$ the doctor put his hand On his throa
as if he felt Choked as each mai
t turned and went his own way
Three months later Joe Ryan re
s ! ceived these two letters, and it is ex
pressing it mildly that he was tn
:, proudest man III the world that day
e One read:
u my Dear Mr.. Ryan:
\ II am authorized by Miss Winnifre,
Lyons to invite you to be present a
= her wedding on Tuesday, the 25th. Sh
. particularly asks you to come directl
: to her present. home the day before, a
l. she has much of interest to talk owe
:: with you. I need not tell you that
who am so fortunate as to be tn
bridegroom ELECT, heartily second tn
r invitation. / can never repay one-ha1
i what I owe you and you are never for
J gotten by us.
- '"Hoping to see you soon, am wit
sincere regard, most truly yours,
- "HUGH STEVENS"
. The other letter Joe priced above a
j else in his possession. It containe
- only few words:
;, Dear Joe, My Faithful Friend:
v DO not fail to accept the invitatio
y I send through DR.. Stevens for tn
A. sake Of
'LADDIE."
~ Enclosed in this letter two photograph
g looked up at Joe as he sat with the1
y. in his hand. One was a young soldie
:. with earnest grey eyes, just as Ladd
- had looked. The other was most wiz
=, - some, happy girl. very like the yout
=. In uniform. With a sigh Of confer
t. Joe looked at th- smiling face and p,
~ ~ them carefully in his inner pocket.
LO NIT mnXX ma 0AHn