The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-05-01
Continued.)


Disease had broken out in camp. and
typhoid ragged with deadly effect dur
ing that long, cruel summer. One even
ing went to bed feverish and not feel
ing myself at all. The day had been
one of horror in the camp, and dis
patches were flying between headquar=
tiers and the war department. The
evening shades brought no relief TO the
tired soldiers. No one seemed to be
asleep, and the men were stretched
outside their dog tents. The ground
was dry and hot, and the moon hing
In the heavens like a great ball of fire.
Just as the midnight hour was called
heard some one in the direction of
the Kentucky regiment, that lay across
the road from rs, begin to whistle
the HOld Kentucky Home" The notes
fell sweet and clear across the tented
field Before he had finished a bar
some one took up the tune and whis-
tied a second. One after another JOIN
ed in the melody, and finally there
was hardly a man in the regiment, so
it seemed to me, who was not Whis-
thing It died away as suddenly as it
had been inspired, and think the
camp slept with sweeter rest for hav-
ing heard the serenade. I fell into a
f1tfuI sleep and walked to partial con-
seriousness 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
tempera ture. It was with q sickening
sense of humiliation. that heard him
say that it was bad case of fever.
Before could be moved Bud came in,
and learned afterward that he feared
j would be taken down. turned my
eyes to him in mute appeal He touch
ed my hand kindly, and drew him
near me
TT I should die, Bud, will you tell
Miss Ellen that I have always loved
her and that my. last thoughts were of
her?' said in a half whisper. = -.5''
/ He pressed my hand for an answer
and placed his other on my fevered
temple I heard him ask the doctor to
let him have charge of this patient.
His life is dearer than my own,'' he
said. saw the surgeon nod his head
and heard him add that it would take
great nursing to pull me through
1t was the last thing 1 remember for
many a day. 1 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 onIJ of |
the Pines in my delirium, and for the |
first time ne had learned that it was 1 |
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 1 have that faded |
hit 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 necessarily on his |
lips Don't come if you think best, but |
it might save his life was what he
sent
The answer was even shorter. 1t !
read simply, Keep him alive until 1
reach there
They told me that her nursing saved
my life. One touch fpom her hand and
my del1rium would subside. and, though
I 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 to start for Cuba my
eyes opened to the world and my
senses returned Bud was by my side
7 knew then that Miss Ellen had been
there, for the influence of her presence
was with me still
where is she2'' I asked.
Getting 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
tie covering I knew that he was
weeping for very JOY for his sister. l
armed over YEARLY and laid my hand
IN bis head.
Bud whispered, has she for
give7T'
"Ies. Howard he said. ''She kas.l
tcld ycu so herself many a time in the
lQex watches of the night =.
I lapsed into unconsciousness again,
and when I 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