A Daughter of Maryland — page 203: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Beg es SANA crit: cab ‘ng ee etalkist tether RGR hw shes ‘ re + MN Py ee me * Gita. Z| be: Bere ae nt eros ert ye pars 5S AS ee vet; = - mn ¢ 4 ; ee . GET CY, Be bf Pee Ped Ae Fane: Tein ong we os <- ~ oe ~~ ~ 4 es “ - Pow ™‘~ _t a - e ie ae ae moo ae ~*~ - z +. : * * <7 > ~ 178 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. ‘“You have been wounded,’’ she said, noticing for the first time his empty sleeve. ‘*T contributed an arm to Gettysburg, and they can’t say I shirked my duty. I have come back a maimed and dis- figured man, but my heart is as loyal as ever. I trust you will prize that above all else. Did you get my letter, Aurian ?’’ | ‘*Hush, Robert! I had forgotten him in my joy at seeing you. We must not awaken him, for it is his first refresh- ing sleep,’’ and she pointed to a motionless figure on a couch at the extreme part of the room. ‘““Who is it?’’ he asked. ie ‘*Ksten Berners. The poor man has been through a fear- ful ordeal, but the doctor says he will recover his eyesight with his restoration to health, and that his mind will then be restored. ’’ Without speaking he crossed the floor on tiptoe, and gazed silently into the face of the sleeper. ‘*Poor fellow! this is little like our last meeting. He was a noble soldier, but I belonged to the victors then, . while I dragged his body out of the track of the trampling thousands.’’ Then a swift pallor came over his sun- bronzed countenance as if a new light had broken. in upon his mind. Turning to her, he said: ‘You did not answer my question, ‘Aurian. Hasmy com- ing in this condition made any difference in your answer ?’’ ‘*No, Robert; I should be unworthy of the name of woman if it did.’’ ‘*Then I have not hoped in vain through all these dark——’’ Perhaps she glanced unconsciously toward the sleeper; it may even have been an act born of his. feverish imagina- tion, and never have actually occurred, for she was looking him steadily in the face, when he paused in the midst of his speech. Eye looked into eye, heart into heart, and spirit seemed to speak to spirit. comicboo ~~ Ps iy