The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-07-26

the -Uld Kentucky Home" The notes
fell sweet and clear across the tented
field. Before he had finished n bar
some one took up the tune and whis.
tied second. One after another Join
ed in the melody, and finally there
was hardly c man in the regiment. 20
1t seemed TO me, who was not wbis-
Ting. 1t died away as suddenly as lt
had been inspired, and l think the
camp slept with sweeter rest for hav-
ing heard the serenade. | fell into p
fitful sleep and walked to partial con
sciousness only when reveille was
sounded.
made an effort to rise, but fell back.
too weak to move again. The surgeon
came in shortly after that and took my
temperature. It was with a sickening
sense of humiliation that l heard him
! say that II was a bad case of fever
Before could be moved Bud came in,
| and learned afterward that he feared
I would be taken down. l turned my
eyes to him in mute appeal. He touch
ed my hand kindly. and l drew him
neartme.
"If l should die, Bud, will you tell
Miss Ellen that l have always loved
her and that my last thoughts were of
herr l said In half whisper.
He pressed my hand for an answer
and placed his other on my fCvered
temple. beard him ask the doctor to
let him have charge of this patient.
"Tlis life is dearer than my own he
,aid. saw the surgeon nod his head
and heard him add that 1t would take
great nursing to pull me through.
1t was the last thing ! remember for
many a day. l heard afterward how
he nursed me; how he slept by my cot
at night and sat by it all day. After
ward he told me that / talked only of
sae Pines in my delirium, and for the
| first time he had learned that it was |
who had taken up the mortgage and
| reduced the interest The day came
when the surgeons despaired of my
life, and then it was that he tele-
graphed his sister. I have that faded
bit of paper on which he wrote the
message framed and hanging over my
desk and underneath it her answer.
Lieutenant Palmer lying at point of
death. Your name incessantly on his
lips. Don't come if you think best, but
1t might save his life," was what he
sent.
The answer was even shorter. 1t
read simply, Keep him alive until I
beach there"
They told me that her nursing saved
my life. One touch from her hand and
my delirium would subside, and, though
| lay unconscious for days, she took
little rest, and when she would lie
down it was Bud who would take her
place at my side.
One morning just after orders came
for my regiment 10 start for Cuba my
eyes opened to the world and my
senses returned. Bud was by my side.
l knew then that Miss Ellen had been
there, for the influence of her presence
was with me still.
where Is sheT' asked.
Getting a little needed rest" he an
swered. The crisis was passed last
night and she knows you are saved to
her."
The big, strong fellow could stand it
no longer. He knelt by my bed and
holding my hand. buried his face in
the covering. l knew that he was
weeping for very JOY for his sister
turned over wearily and laid my hand
ON his head.
bud" I whispered, has she for
given"
Yes, Howard" he said. "She has
told you 80 herself many a time in the
long watches Of the night"
lapsed into unconsciousness again.
and when l awoke Miss Ellen was by
my side. She it was who told me that
my regiment was going and held my
hand in sympathy, for she knew how
it would hurt me to be left behind.
She read me the presidents noble
words Of praise for the men who had
answered 70 the cail for troops and,
drawing from her pocket a little slip
Of paper, read me what the executive
had to say of those who had fallen Ill
with fever and who had served their
country only in the camp. It was only
a short message from our president In
answer to an Invitation to come to
Chickamauga, but it cheered' many a
poor fellow who, as l, lay stricken
with the fever and who was forced to
see his comrades march away to duty
at the front. 1t was the message just
as it came, and as she read it her eyes
filed with tears.
Mn&