Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-07-24

other. But as IL was not my habit {,
try to cross Il bridge till / got to It
settled nothing In my mind as to wha
l would do In the premises. Indeed,
appeared to me that Jlm's plan for I'M
and his sweetheart was but fame,
OF his which had died with him.
The war lasted two years after jim
was killed and brought great changes
l was wounded at the battle of Win
chester and sent to hospital, where
remained some months. A number o
young women In those days cam
down to devote themselves to nursin,
soldiers, and 1t so happened that fel
under the care of young woman VIII,
ministered to me. am quite sur,
that 1t was due to her attention tina
l recovered from my wound.
This being cared for by an attractiv,
woman was dangerous situation fol
man to be placed In who had already
two women to whom he might be said
to be In a measure bound. believe
there are more marriages resulting
from men being nursed by women dur
ing sickness than through any Other
cause. l am ashamed to confess tina,
my betrothed and Jim's betrothed both
faded before my growing attachment
to my nurse
Another weak spot In the situation
for me was that, not having my nat
ural physical strength, did not have
my full moral strength. craved a
demOnstrative sympathy from my
nurse and showed that l craved It. At
first l got only an indulgent nurses
pettlng, but little by little the barriers
were broken down between us, and we
became lovers.
The day l was discharged from the
hospital marked the close OF my mill
tary service, for the war had ended. |
was surely In an unenvlable position
| was expected to go home and marry
my fiancee. felt that | should pay
some attention to my dead friends
wishes, and was in love with my
nurse, who showed willingness to
listen to my suit. What should do?
Providence was kind to me, for on
rejolning my regiment for the purpose
OF being mustered out OF service
found letter from the girl to whom |
had been engaged, but had not seen
for four years. IL was n long effort to
excuse herself for breaking her en-
gagement with me. She said that when
we parted she was little more than n
child, while now she was a woman.
She had recently met Il man who had
been very kind to her and had the
means to make her very comfortable.
To refuse him would spoil his whole
life. This was the glst of the matter,
though 1t was spread out over sixteen
pages Of letter paper. II might have
been condensed into six words. "You
are thrown over for another"
1 released her joyfully. though in
sorrowful letter, and an important
point Of my triangular complication
was Cancelled. II remained for me to
go to Jim's sweetheart and see what
was in store for me there. could not
divest myself of tho feeling that /
would soon forgive myself n ala not
do my part in bringing about what
Jim had desired. regarded It mat
ter OF feeling rather than one OF honor.
but the feeling was very strong.
wondered IL Jim had ever written her
on the subject. II he had and Il mn
Deared that her future happiness MS a
wife depended on me would not
shrink from acceding to .Ilin's plan.
tried to make up my mind to 20
to see the lady and abide by what the
meeting brought forth. but In cownrdce
we always prefer to write rather thnn
"take the bull by the horns" wrote
her letter telling her OF Jims wish
and leaving II with her rs to what
should be done In the matter. recely
ed kindly note in reply, couched IN
delicate terms, the main feature of
which was that IL | were fancy free
she would be happy to see me, but
II not the matter OF Jlm's wish need
not even be taken up.
This reply helped matters amazingly. |
wrote her that loved another. In
due time a reply came releasing me
from any obligation TO Jim. but lnvit |
ing me to bring the ring for friendly |
visit. She had n great desire to meet
dear Jlm's bosom friend
| resolved TO clear up this second
point at once, then go and offer my |
heart and hand to tho woman who
had nursed me. took train the next
day and on arriving at my destination
drove to the house and sent up my
card. Presently | heard soft step
on the staircase, and who should enter
but-my nursel
While ! was pnralyzed by astonlsh
ment, her face wns covered with
smiles and bushes stammercd
something about a remarkable COMET
dence, when she stopped me:
THE coincidence IL not here. Il was
In our meeting In the hospital, you as
patient, as nurse. And | knew who
you were the moment saw the ring
Jim had from me the day he marched
AWAY 10 the war"
did jim write YOU
"He did"
Then" ] said, taking her In my
lrms, since you have said that You
Will marry only the man who wenrs
This ring claim you"
For brief space she was lost IN
thought fancied could understand
her reverie. She was thinking OF the
lay. the moment, when she had spoken
those words. What difference be.
:ween then and now! Those four years |
had broken the bonds uniting many n |
happy family The man she had then
loved wns among the many victims.
had taken his place, Nevertheless we