He had been gone about two weeks, and I was beginning to count the days which must elapse before I could reasonably expect his return, when, one afternoon, I went over to pay a visit to my sister at the fort. As I passed into the large hall that ran through the quarters, Lieut. Lacy[[119]] came suddenly in, from the opposite direction, and almost without stopping, cried,
“Bad news, madam! Have you heard it?”
“No. What is it?”
“The cholera has broken out at Rock Island, and they are dying by five hundred a day. Dr. Finley has just arrived with the news.” So saying, he vanished without stopping to answer a question.
The cholera at Rock Island, and my husband there! I flew to the other door of the hall, which looked out upon the parade ground. A sentinel was walking near. “Soldier,” cried I, “will you run to the young officers' quarters and ask Dr. Finley to come here for a moment?”
The man shook his head—he was not allowed to leave his post.
Presently, Mrs. Lacy’s servant girl appeared from a door under the steps. She was a worthless creature, but where help was so scarce, ladies could not afford to keep a scrupulous tariff of moral qualification.
“Oh! Catherine,” said I, “will you run over and ask Dr. Finley to come here a moment? I must hear what news he has brought from Rock Island.” She put on a modest look and said,
“I do not like to go to the young officers' quarters.”