The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-04-19

Danvers sister. Then he went bacl
to the hospital and went to bed. hav
ing written his aunt's address on ;
prescription pad Zone Of his acquire
ments in his foraging trips) with ,
remarkably spelled request that hi
pay be sent her, and his other proper
ty be given his friend, r. E. Danvers
to divide among his friends, giving
the captain first choice.
Lots of folks die of typhoid fever,
he remarked quite easily, land it dom
hurt to be ready. l feel like / was in
for bad time, and l amt stuck or
the nursing here little bit"
Before the week was out he recog
| nized as we'll as the doctors that he
was a very sick man.
IF you'd only gone Off with your
regiment three weeks ago." the doctor
growled one day, you'd have missed
this, Spruce"
That's all right" said Spruce, "but
some OF the boys are home that
wouldn't be, maybe. I guess It's all
right. Only, you know captain and
Danvers; wish you'd write back to
the old town and tell the committee
I done my duty. I can't be a credit
to the company, but I done my duty.
though l expect there's folks In town
may think was malingering."
Stop talking!" commanded the doc
tor. did you know the women are
coming tomorrow; you are to have a
nurse Of your own here?'
Time" said Spruce; "if my town
had Its way they'd been here long ago.
Ever been In my town, major?"
mo. Good-by. Spruce; keep quiet"
tits the bulliest town in the coun-
try, and the prettiest. And when G
company goes back-Oh, Lord, l won't
be with emf"
When the nurse came he was so
light-headed as to have no control of
his words, yet quite able to recognize
her and welcome her with an apollo
getic politeness.
I'D have had some lemonade for
you IL I'd been up myself, ma'am.
We're glad to see you. All the G boys
are convalescing; most Of ems gone.
We all come from the same city; it's
an awful pretty town. I got a lot
Of friends there that maybe don't take
1t in why I'm here stead of with my
regiment, with the old man. got a
good reason; only can't remember
1t now"
The captains father stood outside
the telegraph office In Spruce's town.
Beside him was the chairman of the
relief committee.
TOO bad about that Regular" said
the chairman. "Spruce-isn't that his
name? One Of the boys telegraphed
he couldn't live through the day. Bet
ter have him brought here for the fu-
neral, guess; he's been very faithful.
Young Danvers wanted to 20 right
down to Florida; but he had a re-
lapse after he got home and he's fiat
on his back"
Il heard" said the captains "a
Their; I've just telegraphed, on my
own responsibility, for them to send
him here. 1t won't make any differ
ence to him. poor fellow; but we owe
It to him. I wish we could do some
thing that would help him. but don't
see anything"
I'VE have told them to spare no ex-
pense. and he's got plenty of money
NO. you have done everything. We'll.
good-by; remember me to the cap
tain; we're all proud of him."
The captains father thanked him
with rather an absent air. II wish we
could do something for that fellow"
le was thinking; Il don't suppose a
message to him wopld-when a fel-
ow's dying. messages are nonsense
It's bit Of sentiment-I don't care,
I'll do IT," He turned and went back
INTO the Office.
IT am afraid there Is not q chance"
'aid the doctor; too bad, he was a
good fellow. Well, you can give him
Ill the morphine he needs-and strych-
line, though he's past strychnine. I
ear; morphine's the one chance, and
hats mighty little"
He talked about wanting to see
7ou." said the nurse. She had a
sweet voice. plainly q lady's voice:
Ind her slim figure, in the blue
striped gown and white surplice. had
! lady's grace. Her face was not
nor was 1t very young, but
t had a touch Of her voices sweet.
less. The doctor found himself glad
o look at her; and forgetting his pa
tents in his interest In the nurse.
"Oh, yes."-he reused himself-Tll
ook round later; I suppose he IL d.
irious?
mot so much that he does not REQ
,gnize US. He talks all the time Of
IFS town, poor fellow, and seems to
want to have them understand that
lie hasn't neglected his duty. He only
nee has spoken Of any relations. It's
III the town, and the captain and
)anvers making 1t right there; and
he boys going back-I suppose he
las lived there all his life and"
Not a bit Of It; Danvers told me
le, merely enlisted from there. But
hey are making great time over
i'm. Telegraphed to have his body
ent there; and here's another tele-
ram. See"
I'll let him see," said the nurse,
aking It. may I, doctor?"
yes, but not the first part about
ending him back; that's little too
revious."