The new South-news., 1909-05-08
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hospital any longer. She would 20
bach home She wondered how she
could ever have left that homo AZ
she thought of her mother and father.
True. they ala not need her there.
ana there was none too much for the
others, but aho did not think OF that
Everything lovely that she had left
ihorn came back to her, everything
unlOfely that she had voluntarily
sought. showed mp black a3d ugly by
contrast There was tho menlai work
in the Kitchen. the nickeninE work ia
tho wards. The little dlsagrecable
raaping things attendant on proha-
toner's FIRST years An this. together
with her several duties. piled high
before her mental vision. giving her
terrible sense OF dcspalr aud des-
pcration.
I'm write 20 them this very after
noon. then III speak 20 Miss Fcreu-
son tomorrow. IN tell them that
! was fool 10 leave my nice home.
and that I'm coming back az soon as
can. ! won't stay another woek"-
and down went the girls head In such
burst OF homosickness and moral
weakness aH surprised herself. but she
iaid. II can't help Il. %
Then she wrote her letter, n pretty
dolcful one. ana told her parents OF
her Intentions. This scaled and
stamped, she thought she felt better.
but she aha not.
She was not very big girl. though
fhe Impressed people as being larger
than she was Ncr eye was bright.
as rule. and ahe had a good cain
and a forehead indicating more than
the usual amount of reasoning now
or, but now that she was discouraged
her gaze was dun and she was too
Tired 70 reason out things. she could
not even think OF anything that did
not Increase her feeling OF dcspora-
ton
one OF the nurses rang for her. 81
want you I'm the rtous surrlca,
Wnf5. W. M M scHrre evNx> 1rrcr.
weary sign. and muttcring, I'm
nothing but a servant" washed her
face. brushed her hair. and went over
In the other part OF the building--a
part she especially dctestcd Most
of the men we're foreigners who could
not speak English. and the rest most
ly belonged 60 that class OF men who
distinguish themselves In the break
1ng of civil and natural law.
Il want you TO sit here during vis-
iting hours said the directing head
OF the ward. There is nothing to
do: you can get your work II you
wish to-" But Agnes did not wish to.
She did not Wish TO do anything but
get away from the place.
Perhaps sitting still and doing
nothing helped her a little TO notice
others. One lady. coming out.
stopped and looked at n bed near the
door. "See there" shc said to her
companion: that poor fellow was
once a soldier and In active service.
and he IL always fancying that he is
in the thick OF "a fight. and II is terri
BILE to see him. | feel very sorry for
him. It Is bad enough to have been
by the recollection OF It must be
something awful,
The ladies passed out and Agnes
took glance at the ex-soldier. she
had not noticed him before AS she
looked. he opened his eyes. and she
felt MS ". In that moments glance.
he saw more than she cared anyone
10 see lie seemed to read her
thoughts.
Presently he raised his head as n
fun OF the strength OF some oyernias-
tcring feeling. His eyes shoue bright
ly with fever and excitement, lie
saEed AT the girl with strange inter
est and curiosity. then his lips moved
and his hands twltchod IN a mute ap.
peal which she almost understood
Fascinated. she watched him In
breathlcss fear.
what did they say about mo1" hs
demanded ilereoly, indicating the Wis
itors.
Agnes went over 20 his bed. the,
said You had been soldier" rhel
she added impulslvely because some
thing in his face made her sorry. ="
should think you would be glad al
the rest of your life when YOU though
about IT, II is a glorious thing e
fight for your country
The old man looked anything bu
glad "You don't know he cried
II thought so once. too he begal
TO tremble and his white face grey
ashy There it is. the noise. don
you hear it, Now they're firing. tn
airs fun OF builcts-look at that
the horses are trampling down men
Save me. save mel Then Ia voic
of Wild despair. My God, can
get past this linci
The fire OF battle ragged in him.
maddened fear held his senses. HI
eyes had the unseeius glitter OF fcyel
He threw out his hands. wrestlin
with invisible foes, In vain he trie
40 overthrow the force which resis,c
hin. He was fleeing from somethin
Ald in his mad desire TO escape b