Ride to the Four Corners, and
present this note to Sergeant Hollister, or to Mrs. Elizabeth Flanagan,
either of whom will furnish the necessary pledge of connubial affection;
and return forthwith."
The letter which the surgeon put into the hands of his messenger, as he
ceased, was conceived in the following terms:--
"If the fever has left Kinder, give him nourishment. Take three ounces
more of blood from Watson. Have a search made that the woman Flanagan
has left none of her jugs of alcohol in the hospital. Renew the
dressings of Johnson, and dismiss Smith to duty. Send the ring, which is
pendent from the chain of the watch, that I left with you to time the
doses, by the bearer.
"ARCHIBALD SITGREAVES, M. D.",
_"Surgeon of Dragoons."_
"Caesar," said Katy, when she was alone with the black, "put the ring,
when you get it, in your left pocket, for that is nearest your heart;
and by no means endeavor to try it on your finger, for it is unlucky."
"Try um on he finger?" interrupted the negro, stretching forth his bony
knuckles. "T'ink a Miss Sally's ring go on old Caesar finger?"
"'Tis not consequential whether it goes on or not," said the
housekeeper; "but it is an evil omen to place a marriage ring on the
finger of another after wedlock, and of course it may be
dangerous before.
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