The evening world., 1912-05-21

other daily. and when not On duty to-
esther W would light our pipes and
wander through tho dusty and fever
stricken streets. smoke, and tank Of
homo, but never did We speak OF Ensn.
though she was constantly In my
thoughts, and bslfevs IN her brothers
also.
Disease had broken out IN camp and
typhoid ragged with deadly effect during
that long, cruel summer. One evening
! went to bed esvsrish and not feeling
IKE myself at all. Tho day had been
one Of horror IN the camp. and de-
apatches were flying between headQSar-
tsrs and the War Department.
made an effort to rise, but fen back.
too weak to move again. The surgeon
came In shortly After that and took my
temperature. II was with . sickening
sense Of humiliation chat heard him
Before could b moved Bud came IN.
III I should die. Bud. will you tell
Mise Ellen that have always loved her
and that my last thoughts were of
her?' said In q half whisper.
He pressed my hand for an answer
and placed his other on my lowered
temple. I heard him ask the Doctor to
lot him have charge of this patient.
HIS life - dearer than my own" he
and heard him add that It would take
great nursing to pull me through.
1t was the last thing I remember for
many a day. I heard afterward how he
nursed me; how he slept by my cot at
night and sat by Il all day. Afteeward
he told mo that talked only Of the
Pines in my delirium. and for the first
time he had learned that It Wa who
had taken up the mortgage and reduced
re -
surgeons dospAired Of my aifs. and then
It was that he telegraphed his sister. I
have that faded bit of paper on which
ne wrote tho message framed and hang
ing over my desk and underneath II her
answer.
'IAeut. Palmer lying at point of death.
Your name necessarily on his lbs.
Don't come II you think best, but It
might save his life." was what he sent.
The answer was even shorter. Il read
sdmpiy:
Keep him alivs until sssoh there. I"
They told M that her nursing saved
my hfe. One touch from her hand and
my delirium would subside, and though
lay unconscious for days she took
little rest, and when she would Ne down
IT y. was was hSd who would take nor place
One morning Just after orders came
for my regiment to start for Cuba my
eyes opened to the world and my esnses
returned. Bud was by my SIDE. I knew
them that Mics Ellen had been there. for
the influence OF her presence was with
me still.
Where b she@- assced.
Getting q little needed rest" 10 an
swered. ''rhe crisis was paosd lNst
might and she knows you are saved to
hsr."
Tho big. strong fellow could stssd 4
no longer. He knsit by my bed and,
holding my hand. buried his face in tne
covering. I knew that no was wsepins
Tor very 10y for his sister. I turned
over wearaly and aaid my hand On Ms
head.
BUD" Whispered. mas she for
gwen"
Yes. Howard" no said. 'rshe has ,oNd
you 90 herself many a time IN the dong
watches of the night"
lapsed into Inconsistencies asafn,
and when awoke Miss Ellen was by
my side. She II was who told me that
my regiment was going and held my
hand In sympathy. for she knew how II
would hurt me TO be left behind.
After that she talked to me Of the
Pines, and then II was she told me
she had never read my letters TO her
me, and that she did not want to do
that, even IN her heart When ! was
strong enough to sit up was given Q
leave. and It was Miss Ellen herself
who undertook to make all arrange
ments for my journey to the Pines. foq
II was there that I wanted to 20 Ia
rscuperate. Finally the day came when
my regiment was to move. wai
propped up with pillows that ] might
see II break camp and march away.
''Dllsn," said as ~ W the last com.
pany. the one to which ] belonged. fall
into fours, but for you ! could moi
stand that" pointing to the refreshing
regiment.
She turned 10 me and making . Low
courtesy. as she had done that Apri
night now many months ago. she said
smiling all the while through her tears
you were not made for a soldier
my Lord. You havo been forced L
lay aside the sword; you must take VI
the pen again"
And then i knew for the first tim,
that she had not only forgiven me, bu
that At last sfs had understood.
011D- mGOJ