d 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 repining--that 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