Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-10-22


again, illumined like some strong pic
cure under the swift magic of the light
ming. The wounded man saw in her
face the glow Of its reflection. Tri-
-umph shone in her eloquent eyes,
sudden agitation locked the soft white
hands.
DO you know him, miss?'
81? Yes, yes! Is he WELLS he safe ?"
The man read more than she suspected,
and turned his eyes away embarrassed.
he was singularly helpless from his
wounds, and she had his face at her
mercy. Her woman's instinct dis
cerned his thought; her lips moved
without sound, but her soul was in the
appealing look riveted upon him.
Il think-not," he said, reluctantly,
at last. 'In fact, know that he's
wounded"
'Dead!-you meant" she gasped in
the struggle to conceal her anguish.
mo, miss-not exactly that; but bad
~ wounded-very badly, l am afraid"
Where is he?" She made no effort
then to conceal the truth. She was on
her knees, her eyes close to his. In
Gods name, my friend, tell me-tell
me ALL Can't you see? can't you see p
She ceEeseS &as fsOs, unable to con-
aaea.
Il can only tell you what 1 know,
miss. He was not dead when | saw him
last. Our guns were in the line when
the charge came. The line was broken
at both TANKS, and the yelling confed-
crates were swarming about us Every
horse we I'D WIS down. when word
came for US to look out for ourselves,
and back we went to escape capture
what was left OF us. Well. miss, some
body said then that No. had been
> left loaded-double-s with can
lister; the man at Sle lanyard had fall
en- dead just as he lifted his hand to
pull. And so the gun stood, ready to
be turned upon US. Then Capt Somers
: halted and looked about for some one
! to send back; but / think. miss, he
must have seen that the chance was
desperate. 1t was only an instant. and
he wouldn't order any man to go; he
: rushed forward over the so yards,
reached the gun and seized the cord.
He was my captain, and L couldn't leave
him there, you know, so had followed
him, too. Then up in front an army of
! gray seemed to rise as from the ground,
and they fired volley as he pulled on
! the lanyard. / threw myself on my
| face and escaped. When 1 looked up
the crowd ahead was disordered and
torn, but still coming on; and the cap
tain lay by his gun. 1 crawled over
and laid my hand upon him.
Tom he said. cool as 1 am right
now, I'm gone, but if you get out take
the papers in my pocket and my watch
to my mother!' took them as he told
me. He tainted, think, and L was
afraid he was dead, but he breathe6
again. And then, miss-I hadn't tried
1t since | was a boy-he was lying upon
his face, and rolling over, lay upon
him, back to back, locking my arms
through his. Turning over suddenly
had him on me dead weight, and then
somehow, 1 got up. The whole thing
was not minute long. The copfed
crates gave me cheer instead Of vel
= ley TIL the boys rushed back to meet US
got it in both legs then and this shout
der, and down we went. The boys tool
him and left me. which was right; fol-
four men had died there to save hin
and / looked like the fifth" Frances
was kneeling by the woundeA mar
, when he finished, stroking his cheel
and brow, her frame trembling.
'oh, bravel bravei" she cried. "Got
bless you and keep you-and keel
you'll" she sank her face beside him
sobbing for JOY. THE watch-the pa
pers!" she cried, excitedly, remember
ing his commission. ooh, sir am hi
Il am his nearest relative, south
Give them to me, give them to mel"
"In my coat" said the strange
gently, a wan smile upon his pale face
Don't worry, miss; I guess the cap
: tamil pull through all right" TIL
watch was there, and there too wer
the letters sealed for his mother read
for delivery if he were picked up dea
by friend or foe. No line for her, tn
woman who loved him once-loved hin
: as she had known him. Upon the nne
7 case of his watch was his own nam
{ and address; and still no line for hei
/ the woman who held him so dear. Blu
= in the locket dangling from the chat
= there were two lines cut into the viz
r gin gold:
e ''Frcnces. my wife.
4 "Richmond, April 18th, 1851"
S How roseate then grew life for tn
a girl. He remembered He had KEEP
r her words with him night and day
E He loved her; he had told no false
r hood for the value of her father
j wealth. AS she stood by the wounde
r soldier, his eyes resting in sympathy o
her, her own seeing nothing but tn
: face in that half-lit room where he
5 shrine was raised, all that was lie.
e of resentment vanished out of he
-? heart. When afterward she realize
d this she was amazed and troubled.
S One federal soldier at least in all II
s hosts that fell into confederate hand
S had no cause to complain of his nur
f ing. A hospital stretcher bore him
S the home of Frances Brookin and int
d her room. 1t was her whim, and Ii
o stepmother was INDUCING her whiu
S in those days. There Frances ar
l. nanny, with William as helper ar
| RrOdpar an OcoaSiona al adViSAr In