Page 120 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

Middleburgh and the nearest telegraph station, and was
sending a message to G eneral---------„ his commander, Ac
last an answer came. Tom Adams read it.
‘ Tell him it is a matter of life and death," he said to

the operator, " Tell him there is no one else who under­
stands it and can check it, and tell him iL must be done
before the afternoon train leaves, or it will be too late.
Here, I’JI write it out/’ And lie did so, putting all his
eloquence into the despatch,
Late that night two men galloped through the mud

and slush in the direction of Middleburgh. The younger
one had a large box before him on his horse ; the other
was quite an old man. Picket after picket was passed
with a word spoken by the younger man, and they gal­

loped on. At last they stopped at the judge’s gate, and
sprang from their splashed and smoking horses.
As they hurried up the walk, the guard at the sLeps chal­
lenged them in a rich Irish brogue*
11 It’s I, O'Meara. You here still } How is she? "

‘‘ ’Most in the Holy Virgin’s arms," said the Irishman.
" Is she alive ? ” asked both men.
" It's a docther can tell that/'said the sentinel. "T h e y
thought her gone an hour ago. There’s several in there,'1 he
said to his captain. 411 didn't let 'em in at firrst, but the

young1 leddy said they wuz the frien’s of the little gurl, an' I
let 'em by a bit,”
A minute later the old man entered the sick-room, whilst