The Springfield herald., 1913-04-11

to the hospital and went to bed. hav-
ing written his aunts address on =
prescription pad Zone of his acquire
ments in his foraging trips) with
remarkably spelled request that his
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 1t don't
hurt to be ready. / feel like was in
for a bad time. and l amt stuck on
the,nursing here little bit"
Before the week was out he recog-
nized as well as the doctors that he
was a very sick man.
IF you'd only gone OF with your
regiment three weeks ago." the doctor
growled one day. you'd have missed
this. Spruce"
That's all right" said Spruce. 'but
wouldn't be. maybe. guess It's all
right. Only. you know captain and
Danvers; wish you'd write back to
the old town and tell the committee
done my duty. can't be . credit
to the company but l done my. duty.
though I expect there's folks in town
may think l was malinsering."
stop talking!" commanded the doc
tor. Did you know the women are
coming tomorrow: you are to have a
nurse Of your swn here"
Time" said Spruce; III my town
had its way they'd been here long ago.
Ever been in my town. major?"
"No. Good-by. Spruce; keep quiet"
ITS the bulliest town in the coun-
try. and the prettiest. And when G
company goes back-Oh, Lord, l won't
be with 'em!"
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.
you II 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. got lot
Of friends there that maybe don't take
1t in why I'm here stead of with my
regiment. with the old man. I got
good reason; only can't remember
1t now"
The captains father stood outside
the telegraph ONCE 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 go right
down to Florida; but he had a re-
lapse after he got home and he's nat
on his back"
II heard" said the captains ia
ther; 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
1t to him. wish we could do some
thing that would help him, but don't
see anything" fiFA
1--WE have told them to spare no ex-
pense. and he's got plenty of money.
No, you have done everything. Well.
good-by; remember me to the cap
tain; we're all proud of him."
The captains father thanked him
with rather an absent air. Il wish we
could do something for that fellow"
he was thinking; Il don't suppose a
message to him would-when a fell
lows 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.
Il am afraid there is not a chance"
said the doctor; too bad. he was
good fellow. Well. you can give him
all the morphine he needs-and strych-
nine, though he's past strychnine.
fear; morphine's the one chance, and
that's mighty little"
"He talked about wanting to see
you." said the nurse. She had
sweet voice. plainly lady's voice:
and her slim figure. in the blue
striped gown and white surplice, had
a lady's grace. Her face was not
handsome. NOT was 1t very young, but
IL udu tOuCu VI uST VOlCe . Sweet
ness. The doctor found himself glad
to look at her; and forgetting his pa
tients in his interest in the nurse.
"Oh, yes,"-he reused himself-"I'll
look round later: suppose he Is de-
lirious?" .
Not so much that he does not rec
ognize US. He talks all the time Of
his town. poor fellow, and seems to
want to have them understand that
he hasn't neglected his duty. He only
once has spoken of any relations. It's
all the town. and the captain and
Danvers making 1t right there; and
the boys going back-I suppose he
has lived there all his life and"
Not bit of 1t; Danvers told me
he merely enlisted from there. But
they are making great time over
him, Telegraphed to have his body
sent there; and here's another tele-
gram. See"
I'll let him see," said the nurse,
taking It, may l, doctor?"
Yes, but not the first part about
sending him back; that's little too
previous"
The nurses touch reused Spruce.
"Dick." he murmured. "Dick, you tell
the folks. couldn't go with the regi-