the red acorn- 第28部分

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　lapsing　still　deeper　into　a　mood　which　she　soon　came　to　recognize　in　him　as　a　frequent　one　of　spiritual　exaltation；　〃we　who　toil　here；　labor　amidst　the　wreck　and　ruin　of　war　without　the　benefit　of　that　stirring　impulse　which　fills　the　souls　of　those　who　actually　go　into　battle。　　The　terrors　of　human　suffering　which　they　see　but　for　an　instant；　as　when　the　lightning　in　the　night　shows　the　ravages　of　the　storm；　encompass　us　about　and　abide　with　us　continually。　　We　are　called　upon　for　another　kind　of　fortitude；　and　we　must　look　for　our　reward　otherwise　than　in　the　victor's　laurels。　　We　can　only　have　to　animate　us　our　own　consciousness　of　a　high　duty　well　done。　　To　one　class　of　minds　this　is　an　infinitely　rich　meed。　　The　old　Jewish　legend　says　that　Abrahams　principal　jewel　was　one　worn　upon　his　breast；　'whose　light　raised　those　who　were　bowed　down；　and　healed　the　sick；'　and　when　he　passed　from　earth　it　was　placed　in　heaven；　where　it　shown　as　one　of　the　great　stars。　　Of　such　kind　must　be　our　jewel。〃

He　stopped；　and　blushing　through　his　beard；　as　if　ashamed　of　his　heroics；　said　with　a　light　laugh：

〃But　if　there　is　anything　I　fear　it　is　self…righteousness　which　cankereth　the　soul。　　Come；　I　will　show　you　a　sight　which　will　repress　any　tendency　you　may　ever　feel　to　exalt　your　services　to　the　pinnacle　of　human　merit。〃

While　leading　her　to　a　remote　part　of　the　hospital　he　continued：　〃Of　course　greater　love　hath　no　man　than　this；　that　he　gave　his　life　for　that　which　he　loves。　　Considered　relatively　to　the　person　the　peasant　who　falls　in　the　defense　of　his　country　gives　just　as　much　as　the　Emperor　who　may　die　by　his　side。　　In　either　case　the　measure　of　devotion　is　brim…full。　　Nothing　more　can　be　added　to　it。　　But　there　are　accessories　and　surroundings　which　apparently　make　one　life　of　much　greater　value　than　another；　and　make　it　a　vastly　richer　sacrifice　when　laid　on　the　altar　of　patriotism。〃

〃There　are　certainly　degrees　of　merit；　even　in　yielding　up　one's　life；〃　said　Rachel；　not　altogther　unmindful　of　the　sacrifice　she　herself　had　made　in　coming　to　the　front。

〃Judged　by　this　standard；〃　the　Doctor　continued；　〃the　young　man　whom　we　are　about　to　see　has　made　a　richer　offering　to　his　country　than　it　is　possible　for　most　men　to　make。　　It　is　almost　shames　me　as　to　the　meagerness　of　the　gift　I　bring。〃

〃If　you　be　ashamed　how　must　others　who　give　much　less　feel？〃

〃He　was　in　the　first　dawn　of　manhood；〃　the　Doctor　went　on；　without　noticing　the　interruption；　〃handsome　as　a　heathen　god；　educated　and　wealty；　and　with　high　aspirations　for　a　distinguished　scientific　career　fermenting　in　his　young　blood　like　new　wine。　　Yet　he　turned　his　back　upon　all　thisupon　the　opening　of　a　happy　married　lifeto　carry　a　private　soldier's　musket　in　the　ranks；　and　to　die　ingloriously　by　the　shot　of　a　skulking　bushwhacker。　　He　would　not　even　take　a　commision；　because　he　wanted　that　used　to　encourage　some　other　man；　who　might　need　the　inducement。〃

〃But　why　call　his　death　inglorious？　　If　a　man　braves　death　why　is　any　one　time　or　place　worse　than　another？〃

〃Because　for　a　man　of　his　temperament　he　is　dying　the　cruelest　death　possible。　　He　had　expected；　if　called　upon　to　yield　his　life；　to　purchase　with　it　some　great　good　for　his　country。　　But　to　perish　uselessly　as　he　is　doing；　as　if　bitten　by　a　snake；　is　terrible。　Here　we　are。　　I　will　tell　you　before　we　go　in　that　he　has　a　bullet　wound　through　the　body；　just　grazing　an　artery　and　it　is　only　a　question　of　a　short　time；　and　the　slightest　shock；　when　a　fatal　hemorrhage　will　ensue。　　Be　very　quiet　and　careful。〃

He　untied　a　rope　stretched　across　the　entrance　to　a　little　wing　of　the　building　to　keep　unnecessary　footsteps　at　a　distance。

〃How　is　he　this　morning？〃　he　asked　of　a　gray…haired　nurse　seated　in　front　of　a　door　curtained　with　a　blanket。

〃Quiet　and　cheeful　as　ever；〃　answered　the　nurse；　rising　and　pulling　the　blanket　aside　that　they　might　enter。

The　face　upon　which　Rachel's　eyes　fell　when　she　entered　the　room　impressed　her　as　an　unusual　combination　of　refinement　and　strength。　Beyond　this　she　noted　little　as　to　the　details　of　the　patient's　countenance；　except　that　he　had　hazel　eyes；　and　a　clear　complexion　asserting　itself　under　the　deep　sun…burning。

When　they　entered　he　was　languidly　fanning　himself　with　a　fan　which　had　been　ingeniously　constructed　for　him　by　some　inmate；　out　of　a　twig　of　willow　bent　into　a　hoop；　and　covered　by　pasting　paper　over　it。　　He　gave　a　faint　smile　of　welcome　to　the　Doctor；　but　his　face　lighted　up　with　pleasure　when　he　saw　Rachel。

〃Good　morning；　Sanderson；〃　said　Dr。　Denslow；　in　a　repressed　voice。　〃How　do　you　feel？〃

〃As　usual；〃　whispered　Sanderson。

〃This　is　Miss　Rachel　Bond；　who　is　assigned　to　our　hospital　as　nurse。〃

A　slight　movement　of　Sanderson's　head　acknowledged　Rachel's　bow。

〃I　am　so　glad　to　see　you；〃　he　whispered；　taking　hold　of　her　hand。　〃Sit　down　there；　please。〃

Rachel　took　the　indicated　seat　at　the　head　of　the　cot。

〃Doctor；〃　inquired　Sanderson；　〃is　it　true　that　McClellan　has　had　to　fall　back　from　before　Richmond？〃

〃I　have　tried　hard　to　keep　the　news　from　you；〃　answered　Dr。　Denslow；　reluctantly。　　〃I　feat　it　is　too　true。　　Let　us　hope　it　is　only　a　temporary　reverse；　and　that　it　will　soon　be　more　than　overcome。〃

〃Not　in　time　for　me；〃　said　Sanderson；　in　deep　dejection。　　〃I　have　lived　several　days　merely　because　I　wanted　to　see　Richmond　taken　before　I　died。　　I　can　wait　no　longer。〃

The　Doctor　essayed　some　confused　words　of　encouragement；　but　stopped　abruptly；　and　feigning　important　business　in　another　part　of　the　hospital；　hurried　out；　bidding　Rachel　await　his　return。

When　he　was　gone　Sanderson　lifted　Rachel's　hand　to　his　lips；　and　said　with　deep　feeling：

〃I　am　so　glad　you　have　come。　　You　remind　me　of　her。〃

The　ebbing　life　welled　up　for　the　last　time　into　such　ardent　virility　that　Rachel's　first　maidenly　instinct　was　to　withdraw　her　hand　from　his　earnest　pressure　and　kiss。

〃No；　do　not　take　your　hand　away；〃　he　said　eagerly。　　〃There　need　be　no　shame；　for　I　shall　be　clay　almost　before　you　flush　has　had　time　to　fade。　　I　infringe　on　no　other's　rights；　for　I　see　in　you　only　another　whom　you　much　resemble。〃

Rachel　suffered　her　hand　to　remain　within　his　grasp。

〃I　would　that　she　knew　as　you　do；　that　I　died　thinking　of　her；　next　to　my　country。　　You　will　write　and　tell　her　so。　　The　Doctor　will　give　you　her　address；　and　you　can　tell　her；　as　only　a　woman　can　tell　another　what　the　woman…heart　hungers　for；　of　my　last　moments。　It　is　so　much　better　that　you　should　do　it　than　Dr。　Denslow；　even；　grand　as　he　is　in　every　way。　　You　will　tell　her　that　there　was　not　a　thought　of　repiningthat　I　felt　that　giving　my　life　was　only　partial　payment　to　those　who　gave　theirs　to　purchase　for　me　every　good　thing　that　I　have　enjoyed。　　I　had　twenty…five　years　of　as　happy　a　life　as　ever　a　man　lived；　and　she　came　as　its　crowning　joy。　　I　look　forward　almost　eagerly　to　what　that　Power；　which　has　made　every　succeeding　year　of　my　life　happier　than　the　previous　one；　has　in　store　for　me　in　the　awakening　beyond。　　Ah；　see　there！　　It　has　come。　There　goes　my　life。〃

She　looked　in　the　direction　of　his　gaze；　and　saw　a　pool　of　blood　slowly　spreading　out　from　under　the　bed；　banking　itself　against　the　dust　into　miniature　gulfs　and　seas。　　The　hand　that　held　hers　relaxed；　and　looking　around　she　saw　his　eyes　closed　as　if　in　peaceful　sleep。

Dr。　Denslow　entered　while　she　still　gazed　on　the　dead　face；　and　said：

〃I　am　so　sorry　I　left　you　alone。　　I　did　not　expect　this　for　some　hours。〃

〃How　petty　and　selfish　all　my　life　has　been；〃　said　Rachel；　dejectedly；　as　they　left　the　room。

〃Not　a　particle　more　than　his　was；　probably；〃　said　Dr。　Denslow；　〃until　his　opportunity　came。　　It　is　opportunity　that　makes　the　hero；　as　well　as　the　less　reputable　personage；　and　I　haev　no　doubt　that　when　yours　comes；　you　will　redeem　yourself　from　all　blame　of　selfishness　and　pettiness。〃





Chapter　XVI。　　The　Ambuscade。




This　heavy…headed　revel；　east　and　west；　Makes　us　traduced　and　taxed　of　other　nations；　They　clepe　us　drunkards；　and　with　swinish　frase　Soul　our　addition：　　and　indeed　it　takes　From　our　achievements；　though　performed　at　hight；　The　pith　and　marrow　of　our　attribute。Hamlet。


The　day　spent　with　Aunt　Debby　had　been　of　the　greatest　benefit　to　Harry　Glen。　　Since　his　parting　with　Rachel　Bond；　there　had　been　going　on　in　his　spirit　a　fermentation　like　that　with　which　good　wine　discharges　itself　of　its　grossness　and　impurities；　and　becomes　clear　and　fine。　　In　this　process　had　vanished　the　absorbing　selfishness　of　a　much…indulged　only　son；　and　teh　supercilious　egotism　which　came　as　an　almost　necessary　result　of　his　college　curriculum。　　This　spiritual　ripening　received　its　perfecting　color　and　bloom　from　the　serene　exaltation　of　Aunt　Debby's　soul。　　So　filled　was　she　with　lofty　devotion　to　the　cause；　so　complete　her　faith　in　its　holiness；　and　so　unquestioning　her　belief　that　it　was　every　one's　simple　duty　to　brave　all　dangers　for　it；　and　die　if　need　be　without　a　murmur；　that　contact　with　her　would　have　inspired　with　pure　patriotic　ardor　a　nature　much　less　ready　for　such　leavening　than　Harry's。

As　Dr。　Denslow　had　surmised；　his　faults　were　mainly　superficial；　and　underneath　them　was　a　firm　gristle　of　manhood；　which　would　speedily　harden　into　bone。　　With　the　experience　he　had　been　having；　days　would　mature　this　as　rapidly　as　ordinary　years。　　He　was　himself　hardly　aware　of　the　transformation；　but　only　felt；　as　his　physical　exhaustion　disappeared；　a　new　eagerness　to　participate　in　the　great　work　of　the　war。　　He　was　gratified　to　know　a　little　later　that　this　was　no　transient　feeling。　　In　the　course　of　the　evening　Jim　Fortner　came　back　in；　with　Kent　Edwards　and　Abe　Bolton。　　After　they　had　all　satisfied　their　hunger；　Fortner　informed　Harry　and　Aunt　Debby　that　the　enemy　had　fallen　back　to　London；　from　which　point　he　was　sending　out　wagons　into　the　surrounding　country；　to　gather　up　food；　forage；　arms；　clothing；　ammunition；　etc。；　with　the　double　object　of　depriving　the　Union　men　of　them；　and　adding　the　same　to　the　Rebel　resources。　　A　long　train　had　also　been　sent　out　to　the　Goose　Creek　Salt　Workstwenty…five　miles　northeast　of　Londonto　bring　away　a　lot　of　salt　stored　there；　of