Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-10
WHO KISSED Him +?
[Original.1


and 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 flame or gunpowder or both
out 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
lay on 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
I opened them l would lose my eye
sight.
lay thinking Of home and the care
1 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, l 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 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.
l took no thought of the surgeons warn
Ing, but, Selling the handkerchief, drew
1t 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, a hospital steward and two men
bearing strctcher entered, and / was
carried out to an ambulance where
there was room for one more and taken
to a hospital. There l remained a short
time, then was sent away to get treat
I, 70
sight
The younSster Of twenty-three who
could submit to ignorance as to the
identity of the one who has kissed him
must be indeed untouched by romance.
l 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
q woman. She was queenly brunette,
blue eyed blond. l endowed her with
every charm of soul and body that
woman can possess. If ever a man was
in love with fancy was that man.
I recovered and rejolned my CON-
mand. The stern duties of a soldier
somewhat diverted my mind, but were
incapable Of blotting out the fasclna
ton, the desire to learn who 1t was that
kissed me. The army had been driven
| far from the region where | had been
wounded. but soon after l rejoined we
| recovered the lost territory. Finding
myself near the house where | had
been kissed. rode in search Of 1t and
found it deserted. The only house near
by where | could make inquiries was
in the center of a large plantation half
a mile distant. There l repaired and,
riding up to the veranda, was met by q
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 told
her that l simply wished to know what
had become Of the people who had oc-
cupied the house in which l 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 IA
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 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 of. tantalizing
me with different stories. Neverthe-
less l managed to endure the delay. for