Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-26
WHO KISSED Him 7
tOriginal.]

face. There was fash, an explosion.
and I was sent sprawling backward.
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 fame or gunpowder or both
put my eyes in 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.
I 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 II
I opened them l would lose my eye
sight.
lay thinking Of home and the cart
I 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 CON-
rades in like condition that he cannot
receive attention. AS a starving man
| will pass his time ordering imaginary
dinners. l dwelt upon the acts Of low.
| ing kindness my mother and sisters
would lavish upon me were they at
hand, or, rather, were | in my own
room at home, in my old four post bed
stead, my favorite pictures on the
wall and decorations with which
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
I was awake. Yet the dream did not
vanish with the waking. For an in
slant longer l felt pair Of lips on
mine, and they were 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.
l heard rumble Of wheels at the
| door, hospital steward and two men
| bearing a stretcher entered, and was
| carried cat to an ambulance where
| there was room for one more and taken
to hospital. There l remained short
| time, then was sent away to get treat
ment with a view to saving my eye
sight.
| The youngster Of twenty-three who
could submit to ignorance as to the
identity of the one who has kissed him
Inust be indeed untouched by romance.
| surely could not. During days and
nights that l 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 queenly brunette,
| a blue eyed blond. l endowed her with
every charm of soul and body that a
| woman can possess. If ever man was
in love with fancy was that man.
l recovered and rejoined my COM
mand. The stern duties Of soldier
somewhat diverted my mind, but were
incapable Of blotting out the fascina-
ton. the desire to learn who it was that
kissed me. The army had been driver
far from the region where l 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 1t and
found it deserted. The only house near
by where l could make inquiries was
in the center Of large plantation half
mile distant. There I repaired and
riding up to the veranda, 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 reassure her I told
her that simply wished to know what
had become Of the people who had oc,
cupied the house in which | was In,
terested. She told me that they had
gone away; that the family consisted
Of father. mother and three grown
daughters AS she recovered her egua
nimity and I pushed my questions as
to the daughters she told me that
the youngest was pretty girl Of sew
enteen, while her sisters were ordi.
nary. one Of them an old maid | tol'
her that she had only added fuel to III.
curiosity and begged her to tell IL,
more about them. She not only did 50
but promised to try to find them for III"
We remained in the locality for so:a
time. and l saw her frequently. Sh
soon told me that she had seen tn
family and promised me an interview,
but kept putting me of, tantalzin
me with different stories. Neverthe
| loco mopopad m ondura tho deIav q,