The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-03-06


colonel l learned nftcrward that he
had enlisted rs u private, but was soon
given commission for nm excellent
record. aud he owed his present place
TO his ability to handle men aud not
/ to political influences.
/ After that first meeting we saw each
her daily. aud when not on duty TO
gether We would light our pipes and
wander through the dusty and fever
stricken streets. smoke and talk OF
home. but never did we speak Of Ellen
though she WIS constantly IN my
| thoughts aud I believe In her brothers
/ also
/ Disease had broken out In camp aud
/ typhoid rnrcd with deadly effect dur
| ing that long cruel summer one even
/ Ing went To bed feverish aud not feel
. Ing myself NJ all The day had been
one OF horror In the camp, aud dis
patches were dying between hcadquar
ters aud the war department The
evening shades brought no relief to the
tired soldiers No one seemed TO b.
asleep. and the men were stretched
outside their dog tents The ground
was dry and hot. and the moon hung
IN the heavens like great bali of dre
Just as the midnight hour was called
! heard some one IN the direction Of
the Kentucky regiment. that lay across
the road from us. begin TO whistle
the "Old Kentucky Home" The notes
fell sweet and clear across the tented
field BEFORE he had finished a bar
some one took up the tune aud whIs
tied second one after another Join.
ell In the melody. and finally there .
was hardly man In the regiment so /
II seemed Ia me. who was not Wits.
Ting u died away "a suddenly as II
had been inspired. and think the
camp slept with swceter rest for hav.
ing heard the serenade | fell into a
ttful sleep and walked 10 partial con
sciousncss only when reyeille was
sounded
made an effort 10 rise, but fell back.
too weak TO move again The surgeon
came IN shortly after that and took my
temperature Il was with "A slckeninc
sense OF humiliation that heard him
say that II was bad case Of fever
Before I could he moved Rud rame In.
and learned afterward that he feared
] would be- taken down ! turned my
eyes Ia him IN mute appeal lie touch
ed my hand kindly. aud ! drew him
near me
III should die. Rud. will you tell
Miss Ellen that nave always loved
her and that my last thoughts were of
herr | said IN half whisper
Tie pressed my hand for an answer
ana plnccd MS other on my fevercd
temple I heard him ask the doctor TO
let him have charge Of this patient
His ME i frnreT than NV own he
said I saw the surgeon nod his bead
and heard him add that 70 would take
great nursing to pull me through
IL was-the last thing ! remember for
many day heard afterward how
he nursed me. how tie slept by my cot
at night and sat by II all day After.
ward he told the that talked only of
the Tines IN my delirium. and for the
FIRST time he had learned that Il was
who had taken up the mortgage aud
reduced the interest The day came
when the surgeons despaired OF my
life. aud then II was that he tele-
graphed his sister have that faded
bit OF paper on which he wrote the
message framed and hanging over my
desk and underneath II her answer.
Lieutenant Palmer lying nj point OF
death Your name necessarily on his
lips Don't come II you think best. but
1t might save his life." was what he
sent
The answer was even shorter II
read simply, Keep him alive until 1
reach 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 IL was Bud who would take her
place at my side
One morning just after orders came
for my regiment To start for Cuba my
eyes opened TO the world and my
senses returned Bud was by my side.
| knew then that Miss Ellen had been
there for the influence OF her presence
was with me still
where is sheT' asked
Getting n 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 1t
no longer. lie knelt by my bed and.
holding my hand. buried his face In
the covering knew that he was
weeping for very Joy for his sister |
turned over YEARLY and laid my hand
on his head
Bud" whispered. has she for.
yivenT
yes. Howard" he said. "She has
told you 80 herself many a time In the
ong watches OF the night"
Continued NEXT week