The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-02

time was blank to what had been
Richard Doubledick.
Slowly laboring at last through a
long. heavy dream of confused time
and place. presenting faint glimpses Of
army surgeons whom he knew and of
faces that had been familiar to his
youth-dearest and kindest among
them Mary Marshalrs, with a solicit
tude upon it more like reality than any
thing he could discern-Lieutenant
Richard DoubIedick came back to life
to the beautiful life of calm autumn
evening sunset, to the peaceful life of
a fresh, quiet room with a large win
dow standing open. balcony beyond
in which were moving leaves and
sweet smelling flowers: beyond, again.
the clear sky, with the sun full in his
sight, pouring its golden radiance on
his bed.
1t was so tranquil and so lovely that
he thought he had passed into another
world. And he said in a faint voice.
Taunton. are you near me?"
A face bent over him-not his. his
mothers
Il came to nurse you. We have
nursed you many weeks. You were
moved here long ago. Do you remem-
Der nothingT
Nothing
The lady kissed his cheek and held
his hand, soothing him.
Where is the regiment? What has
happened? Let me call you mother.
What has happened. mother?"
"A great victory. dear. The war is
over, and the regiment was the bravest
in the field
His eyes kindled. his lips trembled.
he sobbed. and the tears ran down his
face. He was very weak-too weak to
move his hand.
WAS it dark just now?' he asked
presently.
No
1T was only dark to me? Some
thing passed away. like black shad-
ow. But as it went and the sun-oh.
the blessed sun. how beautiful it is.-
touched my face l thought i saw a
light white cloud pass out at the door.
Was there nothing that went out?"
She shook her head. and in a little
while he fell asleep. she still holding
his hand and soothing him.
From that time he recovered-slowly.
for he had been desperately wounded
in the head and had been shot in the
body. but making some little advance
every day.
One day he awoke out of a sleep re-
freshed and asked her to read to him.
But the curtain of the bed. softening
the light, which she always drew back
when he awoke that she might see him
from her table at the bedside where
she sat at work. was held undrawn
and Il woman's voice spoke, which was
not hers.
''Can you bear to see stranger?" il
said softly. will you like to see
stranger?'
Stranger he repeated. The voice
awoke old memories before the days Of
Private Richard Doubledick.
"a stranger now, but not stranger
once" it said in tones that thrilled
him. Richard, dear Richard, lost
through so many years, my name
He cried out her name, Mary" and
she held him in her arms, and his head
lay on her bosom.
ST am not breaking rash VOW, Rich
ard. These are not Mary Marshall's
lips that speak. l have another name"
She was married.
81 have another name, Richard. Did
you ever hear it?''
''Neverr'
He looked into her face, so pensive-
ly beautiful, and wondered at the smile
upon it through her tears.
Think again, Richard. Are you sure
you never heard my altered Manner
Never
"Don't move your head to look at
me, dear Richard Let it lie here
while 1 tell my story. loved a gen.
erous, noble man, loved him with my
whole heart. loved him for years and
years. loved him faithfully. devotedly,
loved him with no hope of return, low
ed him, knowing nothing of his high
est qualites-not even knowing that
he was alive. He was brave soldier.
He was honored and beloved by thou
sands of thousands, when the mother
of his dear friend found me and show
ed me that in all his triumphs he had
never forgotten me. He was wounded
in a great battle. He was brought.
dying, here into Brussels. l came to
watch and tend him. as 1 would have
joyfully gone with such purpose to
the dreariest ends of the earth. When
he knew no one else he knew me.
When he suffered most he bore his
sufferings barely murmuring. content
to rest his head where yours rests now.
When he lay at the point of death he
married me that he might call me wife
before he died. And the name. my
night
'T know it nowr' he sobbed. 1.-THE
shadowy remembrance streng Chens. 1t
is come back thank heaven that my
mind is quite restored. My Mary, kiss
me- Lull this weary head to rest. or
shall die of gratitude. His parting
words were fulfilled. see home
again.
We'll! They were happy. 1t was
long recovery. but they were happy
through it all. The snow had melted
on the ground and the birds were sing
ing in the leafiess thickets of the early
spring when those three were first able
to ride out together and when people
iocked about the open carriage to
cheer and congratulate Captain Rich
ard Doubledick
But even then it became necessary
for the captain, instead of returning to
England. to complete his recovery in
the climate of southern France. They
found spot upon the Rhone within
a ride of the old town of Ayignon and
within view of its broken bridge. which
was all they could desire They lived
there together six months. then return
ed to England. Mrs. Taunton, growing
old after three years though not so.