The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-10-26
By Tanet II. Fairbank
Copyright by The Bobbs-Merrill Co.

said, at length. 81 hate to have you go
God knows, tonight we know what
may happen-but the country needs
the young men,"
Suddenly Ann melted. She chung to
Hendricks as she had never done, and
lifted an ardent face to his.
when you come home, Hendricks
when the Confederates are beaten
I'll marry you if you ha~en't a cent -
"Well," he said, gloomily. although
his arm frightened about Ann, that
settles it,"
"Oh." she cried, undeterred by the
presence of her guardian and Fanny,
Il love you, Hendricks! / do love you,
after all |"
Having made up his mind, Hen.
bricks Renneslyer lost no time in sew
ering his connection with the bank,
and the next day, while Ann was only
beginning to taste the Joy of having
bent him to her will. he announced
that he had Joined the Fifty-fifth New
York volunteers. A week later he was
under canvas on Staten island, en-
deavoring to absorb sufficient infor-
nation in regard to drills and maneu-
vers to enable him to perform his
duties as second lieutenant with some
likelihood of success.
He was greatly bewildered by his
new duties, for his months service had
not. after all, taught him much, but
he managed to pick up some useful in
formation from soldier in his com
pany who had served in Africa and
the Crimea, and when the Fifty-ffth
was ready to march, he had fair
parade ground idea of his duties.
Hendricks second military depar-
ture was strangely different from his
first. 1t was only four months since
the Seventh regiment had marched
away, in jubila Of adulation, but in
that time war had become an ominous
thing. When the Fifty-fifth broke
camp, and started for the front, Ann
had an eXultant thrill. Uncle" she
gasped, '"I don't want them to got"
She had a sudden clear vision of
young Philip Vanderdyken, lying shot
through the head on the field of battle.
She was all at once fearful that she
might never see Hendricks again.
AT the train she puzzled him by her
inarticulate depression. She chung to
him desperately, SO that he was en-
barrassed at such public demonstra-
ton, and she did not smile nor wave
her hand as the train drew away she
only looked at him profoundly.
Back in Washington square Mrs.
William Cortlandt was awaiting them.
Hendricks" she said at once, 81
have come for some money"
Sanitary commission again." Mr..
Cortlandt asked, smiling.
Moths time it is for IN army
hospital"
HAS it been decided to equip one?"
Mr.. Cortlandt asked.
Eyes. Hendricks don't know what
you will think. +. When we get the
hospital ready, l have made up my
mind TO nurse in it." Mrs. William
looked as frightened as daring little
girl.
AIMS eyes widened. To nurse! To
battle brows, and to moisten fevered
lips; to read poetry, and to place flow
ers by sick beds! That was life. She,
too, would be nursel
1T is new work for gentlewomen,"
her guardian said doubtfully.
"Yes-but so are hardships of cam
| 70
1t amazed Ann to hear Fanny's con-
servative mother championing some
thing her guardian thought unconven-
tional, and she flung herself into the
talk, eager to help her. IT'S the next
best thing to fighting, to be nurse,
uncle" she declared. And when the
hospital is opened 1 shall work there,
| too
Mrs. William turned on her, ingrati-
tude in every line of her plump figure.
Indeed you shan't, miss!" she cried.
"What an idea A young girl"
swell, young men are fighting !"
The girl appealed 10 her guardian.
"Uncle-I may, mayn't II"
He shook his head, smiling. She
could see that he did not take her re-
quest seriously. Hendricks wouldn't
like it, l am sure" he chaffed, and
she felt herself flushing up sharply.
LA! l should think he wouldn't z"
exclaimed Mrs. William, and swept
on with her plans for Transforming a
dwelling house into hospital. The
subject of AIMS participation ap-
peared to be disposed of, but the girl
knew better. AS she sat silently by,
absently taking in the conversation,
she was quite determined as to one
thing; when the hospital was opened
she would work in it, no matter what
opposition she Overcame. She watched
Mr.. Cortlandt draw a generous check,
with exultation; it brought her oppor-
tunity so much the nearer.
Letters came promptly from Hen
bricks. He wrote that Washington was
greatly changed in the two months he
had been in New York.
| Apparently the Fifty-fifth had made
a good impression in Washington, for
I, the crowd had cheered as it marched
(! up Pennsylvania avenue, and mar
veled at the spectacle of new troops
J already familiar with the rudiments of
| drilling.
CHAPTER VII
Hospitals.
Tho first army hoSnitaI in Now YORK