“Good-bye, Robert,” said Tom, “meet me in de kingdom.”  Suddenly a look of recognition and rapture lit up his face, and he murmured, “Angels, bright angels, all’s well, all’s well!”

Slowly his hand released its pressure, a peaceful calm overspread his countenance, and without a sigh or murmur Thomas Anderson, Iola’s faithful and devoted friend, passed away, leaving the world so much poorer for her than it was before.  Just then Dr. Gresham, the hospital physician, came to the bedside, felt for the pulse which would never throb again, and sat down in silence by the cot.

“What do you think, Doctor,” said Iola, “has he fainted?”

“No,” said the doctor, “poor fellow! he is dead.”

Iola bowed her head in silent sorrow, and then relieved the anguish of her heart by a flood of tears.  Robert rose, and sorrowfully left the room.

Iola, with tearful eyes and aching heart, clasped the cold hands over the still breast, closed the waxen lid over the eye which had once beamed with kindness or flashed with courage, and then went back, after the burial, to her daily round of duties, feeling the sad missing of something from her life.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MYSTIFIED DOCTOR.

“Colonel,” said Dr. Gresham to Col.  Robinson, the commander of the post, “I am perfectly mystified by Miss Leroy.”

“What is the matter with her?” asked Col.  Robinson.  “Is she not faithful to her duties and obedient to your directions?”

“Faithful is not the word to express her tireless energy and devotion to her work,” responded Dr. Gresham.  “She must have been a born nurse to put such enthusiasm into her work.”

“Why, Doctor, what is the matter with you?  You talk like a lover.”

A faint flush rose to the cheek of Dr. Gresham as he smiled, and said, “Oh! come now, Colonel, can’t a man praise a woman without being in love with her?”

“Of course he can,” said Col.  Robinson; “but I know where such admiration is apt to lead.  I’ve been there myself.  But, Doctor, had you not better defer your love-making till you’re out of the woods?”

“I assure you, Colonel, I am not thinking of love or courtship.  That is the business of the drawing-room, and not of the camp.  But she did mystify me last night.”

“How so?” asked Col.  Robinson.

“When Tom was dying,” responded the doctor, “I saw that beautiful and refined young lady bend over and kiss him.  When she found that he was dead, she just cried as if her heart was breaking.  Well, that was a new thing to me.  I can eat with colored people, walk, talk, and fight with them, but kissing them is something I don’t hanker after.”

“And yet you saw Miss Leroy do it?”