Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-20
ing your head. You tainted a little,

ing your Hedu. lou tainted IIJle,
and"
"Fainted!" exclaimed Wiltred in
deep disgust. 81 fainted?" He made
a feeble attempt to rise, but sank back
weakly. Eyes, of course, was in
fight with the Yankees and got wound.
ed somewhere
He stopped, puzzled, staring strange.
ly, almost afraid. at Caroline.
What is it?" asked the girl.
See here" he began seriously; II
will tell you one thing right now.
am not going to load you up with a
cripple. not much
His resignation was wonderful
"Cripple" exclaimed Caroline, be-
wildered.
81 reckon I've got an arm knocked
off, haven't II"
mo, you haven't, Wilfred; they are
both on all right"
Perhaps 1t was a hand that they
shot away?"
Not single one" said Caroline.
Are my-my ears on all right?"
YES" answered the girl You
needn't bother about them for a mo-,
ment"
Wilfred staked all on the last ques.
ton.
How many legs have I got left7"
"All of them" answered Caroline:
every one!"
Then, if there's enough of me left
TOTO amount to anything-youll take
charge of it, Just the same? How about
that"
That's all right" said the girl, bury.
ing her face on his shoulder.
Wilfred got hold OF her hand and
kissed it passionately. He seemed
quite strong enough for that
Il tried to send you a telegram but
they wouldn't let me-" whispered Caro-
line suddenly. raising her head and
looking at him.
You did,"
Eyes"
What did you say in it?''
But here the girls courage failed
her.
Tell me what you said" persisted
Wilfred.
ut was something very NICE" fal.
tered poor Caroline.
ut was. eh?"
YES"
WAS It as nice as this ?" asked VII.
fred, suddenly lifting his head and
| kissing her.
II don't know about that" STAN.
mered Caroline. blushing a beautiful
crimson, "but it was very nice.
wouldn't have tried to telegraph it il
1t was something bad, would -?
well, if it was so good" said VIII.
fred, why on earth didn't you send
1T"
Goodness gracfous!" exclaimed
Caroline; how could l when they
wouldn't let me?"
Wouldn't let you?"
81 should think not. They had a
dreadful time at the telegraph office. -
"At the telegraph Office; were YOU
there" Wilfred made a violent effort
to >recollect. Il have it," he said in
stronger tones; they told me at the
hospital. l must get up"
mo, no; you mustn't" said Caro-
line, interposing.
Don't" said Wilfred; Il have to at
tend to it," He spoke with a stern,
strange decision. entirely foreign to
his previous idle love-making. 81
know all about Thorne He gets hold
Of our department telegraph and sends
out false order, weakens our de-
lenses at Cemetery Hill" The boy
got to his feet by this time, steadying
himself by Caroline's shoulder. 'They
are down on US in a moment" A look
of pain, not physical, shot across his
face, but he mastered 1t. And she
gave 1t to him, the commission: my
sister Edith" he continued bitterly.
"Oh!" said Caroline; you know"
II know this. If my father were
here. he'd see her. AS he isn't here. l
will attend to 1t Send her To me"
He spoke weakly, but in clear
voice and a most imperative manner.
He took mis- hand off Carofine's shout
der. II he were to deal with this, so
grave and critical situation, he must
do 1t without feminine support. BY a
great effort he held himself resolutely
erect, repeating his command.
Send her to me-"
No" said Caroline family. just as