The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-08-11
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE.
What Troubled Madse as She Waited
Beside the Wounded Officer.
GARRISON

4
Beside the Wounded Officer.
"Ah-"
The word was hardly more than {
breath, but it startled me as if i
had been the ping of a bullet close t.
my ear
For it came from the lips of the
| wounded officer whom I was heIpine
to nurse. and there was sanity in II
instead Of the disjointed murmurs
which he had been uttering before.
I had been so engrossed in thoughts
| Of Dicky that had lost sight for the
moment of the important task which
had been delegated to me, that OF
calming by my presence the delirious
imaginings of the wounded man be-
fore me-
looked down quickly into his face
although my eyes were somewhat
blurred by the rush of tears which had
come to them at my thoughts of my
husband, and which I had in some
fashion kept from shedding. The
wounded officers eyes were open, and
he was looking intently at me. The
wild light-of which the nurse had
told me-had gone out of them. In it's
stead there was a look of unuttera BILE
relief, but even as my eyes cleared and
I saw him clearly, a shadow crept in
to his.
"You-are-real?" he said slowly,
doubtfuIly. You-are-alive?
Every much alive" I answered
cheerily, for instinct told me this was
the best way to reassure him. AS
spoke I took my hand from his fore
head.
He frowned as 7 did so. and looked
like an unhappy child.
"Don't-take-it-aw he said
painfully. Like it,"
"PII Not Go Away"
Reluctantly I resumed the smooth
Ing of his hair back from his forehead,
the service which the nurse had re-
Quested Of me while he was deIirious.
was furious at myself because 1
couldn't control the flush which over
spread my face at his request.
He did not see my embarrassment
however, for he had closed his eyes s
he spoke, and for a little while Law
quiet, so quiet, indeed, that I was be-
ginning to be alarmed But just as I
was about to appeal to the nurse, who
also was watching him, he opened his
eyes again.
why did your eyes have tears in
them just now?" he asked, and this
time his words came less painfully,
closer together. Are you hurt badly,
after all? I've been afraid they were
lying to me-"
His voice rose in excitement I saw
that the only way to quiet him was the
method one would use with fright
ened child. I bent little closer to
him.
Look at me-" I said, just a hint of
sharpness in my tone, and listen
carefully while tell you the absolute
truth. I am not hurt. 1 am very we'll,
and you must have been mistaken
a bout the tears in my eyes. You don't
see any there now, do your"
I smiled at him, as I asked the last
question, and a slow, weak grin curved
the corners of his mouth.
Mary a one" he returned with a
pitiful attempt at lightness, and then
the nurse interviewed.
Take this now, please" she said,
and then close your eyes and try to
go to sleep"
She held a formidable looking dose
Of medicine out to him. He looked up
at her rebelliously.
IT don't want to go to sleep"
ST know" soothingly. But you
must" the note of authority predom-
Inant.
win she stay right here and not
et go my hand?"
The nurse looked at me, a calm, ,
glance, yet I could not
but imagine that her eyelashes yelled |
\ quizzical look. I felt myself flush |
ng again, but knew there was only |
one answer for me to give. I looked |
down into the pleading eyes of the |
man.
I'll not go away. I promise you"
Thank you. All right, nurse"
Obedientlv he swallowed the dose |
The gave him. smiled up at me with |
ouch of whimsicality, and closed his
yes like tired child. For several tor
uring minutes his fingers and eyes |
witched nervously, and his head /
erked occasionally from side to side
g if he were in pain. But gradually
10 became quieter, and before long
vas drawing deep, regular, restful
reaths, and sleeping as naturally as
{ he were just an ordinarily fatigued
nan.
"But | Promised"
II think you can slip away now" the
urse murmured in my ear. He Will
ever notice your going"
1 felt vaguely, foolishly resentful of
he air Of complete authority which
nveloped her. It was as If she had
aid: You have done we'll, child but
re- don't need you any longer"
I didn't stop to analyZe the impulse
,hich made me say determinedly:
But 1 promised him wouldn't
ave while he slept, and 1 must keep
ly word"