Lieutenant Jacob
Alspaugh had been brought in, suffering from what the Surgeon pronounced
to be "febrile symptoms of a mild type, from which he will no doubt
recover in a few days, with rest, quiet and proper food."

It is possibly worth while to note the coincidence that these
symptoms developed with unexpected suddenness in the midst of earnest
preparations by the Army of the Cumberland, for a terrible grapple at
Perryville with the Rebel Army of the Tennessee.

Alspaugh recognized Rachel at once, much to her embarrassment, for
her pride winced at playing the role of nurse before an acquaintance,
especially when that acquaintance was her father's hired-man, whom she
knew too well to esteem highly.

"O, Miss Rachel," he groaned, as she came to his cot in response to his
earnest call, "I'm so glad to see you, for I'm the sickest man that
ever came into this hospital. Nothin' but the best o' care 'll carry me
through, and I know you'll give it to me for the sake of old times," and
Jacob's face expressed to his comrades the idea that there had been a
time when his relations with her had been exceedingly tender.

Rachel's face flushed at the impudent assumption, but she overcame the
temptation to make a snubbing answer, and replied quietly:

"No, Jacob, you are not so sick as you think you are." ("She calls
him 'Jacob,'" audibly commented some of those near, as if this was a
confirmation of Jakes insinuation.) "The Surgeons say," she continued,
"that your symptoms are not at all bad, and that you'll be up again in a
few days."

"O, them Doctors always talk that way. They're the flintiest-hearted
set I ever see in all my born days. They're always pretending that
they don't believe there is nothin' the matter with a feller. I really
believe they'd a little liefer a man'd die than not. They don't seem to
take no sort of interest in savin' the soldiers that the country needs
so badly."

Rachel felt as if it would sweeten much hard service if she could tell
Alspaugh outright her opinion that he was acting very calfishly; but
other counsels prevailed, and she said encouragingly:

"You are only discouraged, Jacob--that's all. A few days rest here will
restore both your health and your spirits."

"No, I'm not discouraged. I'm not the kind to git down in the mouth--you
know me well enough for that. I'm sick, sick I tell you--sicker'n any
other man in this hospital, an' nothin' but the best o' nursin' 'll save
my life for