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The Bushwhacker Nurse
by
“‘There is a great deal of sense in what you say,’ exclaimed the Exceptional Pedestrian. ‘I admit I am a soldier, but I do not approve of war. The statistics of social aspects prove–‘
“He was interrupted by the brown-haired soldier, who remarked: ‘It would be well for us to retire, for doubtless the enemy will soon occupy the ridge.’
“The general took no notice; apparently he was lost in thought.
“‘Excuse me, sir,’ said the brown-haired man, ‘but you must seek a place of safety.’
“The general raised his head. ‘Is there a road to the west?’ he asked. ‘I must take a roundabout way, and join my army, and share its fortunes, whatever they may be.’
“‘Yes, sir,’ said the Exceptional Pedestrian; ‘if you skirt these woods, and follow the upward trend of the limestone- and quartz-beds, and then keep along the crest of the mountain for about eight miles, you will come to the village of Kirksville, where our retreating army will no doubt halt for the night.’
“The general said no more. He turned his horse, whose bridle Almia had now released, and, casting another look of sadness upon the erect form of the bushwhacker nurse, he sped away.
“I will not say anything more of the general, except that after following for half an hour the directions given to him by the Exceptional Pedestrian, he rode at full speed into the ranks of the enemy, and was obliged to surrender. No evil happened to him, however, for the war was soon ended, and he was released.
“‘Now,’ said the Exceptional Pedestrian, who was in no way a traitor, but only a person accustomed to making mistakes, ‘the day is drawing to a close, and we must hurry away.’
“No one objected, and the three soldiers accompanied Almia back over the way she had taken when she walked to the battle-field. A little after eight o’clock they arrived at the main road, and there Almia found her cab waiting for her.
“‘I will probably not see you again,’ said the Exceptional Pedestrian, shaking her very cordially by the hand; ‘for as the war is now practically over, and my regiment probably scattered, I shall go West. There are many features of our social aspects out there which I wish to study. But before I leave you, miss, I wish to thank you for having made yourself so highly instrumental in bringing this terrible and inhuman war to a close.’
“‘Good-by,’ said Almia. ‘But I think it may be said that it was an Albert biscuit which gave us peace. If that horse had not been used to being fed by girls, my efforts might have come to nothing.’
“When the two younger soldiers bade good-by to Almia they did not say much, but it seemed to her they felt a good deal. At any rate, she knew she felt a good deal. She had known them but a little while, but they had come into her life in such a strange way; for a time she had ruled their destinies, and they had been so good to her! They had stood by her, regardless of everything but her wishes; and then, they were both so handsome, such gallant soldiers. She took their hands, she gazed into their honest faces, a few words of farewell were spoken, and then they helped her into the cab, the door was shut, and she drove away.
“As she turned and looked out of the little window in the back of the cab she saw one of them gazing after her; but the dusk of the evening had come on so rapidly she could not be certain which one of them it was. At a turn in the road she sank into her seat. She was tired; she was faint; and, instinctively thrusting her hand into her pocket, she found there one Albert biscuit which had been left. She drew it out, but when she looked at it, it seemed to her as though it would be a sacrilege to eat it; its companions had done so much for humanity. But she did eat it, and felt stronger.