Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

THE “SANTY CLAUS” TO MY WILL. 169 ment was ordered home and mustered out. I must have heard of it at the time, but my every thought was on my chum, and therfact must have slipped my mind. It was only when the climax of the fever was passed and we were able to take a long breath that we turned our minds to outside things. Then it was that we learned of the dismandment of Harry’s regiment. . The first day that he saw Alice and me the doctor told him that the boys of his company sent their love to their captain. The poor lad was so weak that he could not raise his head as he whispered : “When did you hear from them? ” “Why, Harry,” the M. D. continued, “ they’re all home and mustered out long ago.” I have just said that the fellow was too weak to move his head, but it took his father and me to hold him in bed as he struggled to get up. ‘“Where’s Santy? Where’s my Santy?” he gasped. Heavens! None of us had the least idea, but the doctor was a man of re- sources. He stood behind the sick lad, and he held up his finger to us as a sign of warning. Then he turned to Harry. “Your horse Santy is all right, Harry. We bought him at auction when the horses of your regiment were disposed of, and he is waiting for you to get well and exercise him in the Park.” It was a lie, pure and simple, on the doctor’s part, but then it had the de- sired effect on the patient. Harrison sighed as if a great load had been lifted from his mind, sank back on the pillow and soon fell.asleep. But. that lie rebounded upon innocent me, and its curse has left me in this frightful condi- tion, which frightens my friends and puzzles my acquaintances. My troubles date from that moment. When we had all left the room I turned to the physician. “ Dr. Short,” I said, “ why did you tell the boy that we have his horse? I haven’t the faintest idea where the beast is. Have you?” Short smiled as if he knew what was in store for me in the future. “Nor have I, Mr. Knowlton.” “ Then why in the world did you tell him something that wasn’t so?” “ Simply to save our patient, my dear sir; that’s all. Not for the sake of lying, let me assure you. Harry is in that condition when the slightest cloud on his mental horison would mean a relapse and—J—don’t dare say what. If I had just told him the bare truth, that we have no idea as to the where- abouts of his horse, he would never have survived the news. His mind has rested constantly on that horse, why, I cannot say. You know fever patients always have queer hallucinations, and Harrison’s mind has settled on the horse he rode in service. So to satisfy him I told hima lie. You don’t con- demn me for that, do you? ” , “Why, nota bit. Only what are we going to do when the boy gets better and wants to see this plaguy horse? ” - The doctor looked calmly at me and answered: “Find him.” “Find him?” I yelled so that the nurse turned and said, “Shu-u.” I - choked my, wrath and went on: “ Why, my dear doctor, how do you suppose GONG OOO UN ceo