The Portland daily press., 1862-09-19

manner, and was anxious for the time to come
when the surgeon would pronounce him in {
condition TO join his regiment. His wound
when referred TO, evidently gave him more
pleasure than pain. 1t was mark of distinc
uon-a sign that he had offered even life fol
his country
How different with Mrs. Harley! 1t touched
you to look at her dreamy, absent eyes-oI
her patient lips, and exhausted countenance.
she has worn herself out in nursing me =
said her husband, in answer to remark on hel
appearance. He looked at her tenderly. with
just a shade of anxiety in his face Was the
truth not plain TO him? Didhe not know that
she had been wounded also? That two balls
left tie rifle when he was struck, one of them
reaching to his distant home?
In three weeks L hope TO be i'm the field
again, and face TO face with the enemy"
lie spoke with the ardor of strong desire.
MS eyes bright, and his face in gow-wound-
ing, and the pain of woundng, all forgotten.
But another's eyes became dim as his bright
ened-anothers cheeks paled as his grew
warm. saw the tears shining as Mrs. Har-
ley answered, in an unsteady voice:
| Il am neither brave enough, nor strong
! enough fer a soldiers wife,
| She had meant 10 say more, as was plain
from her manner; but she could not trust her
self
20, yes, You are; brave enough and strong
enough" replied Mr.. Harley, with animation.
Not every one could have moved so calm
ly amidst the dreadful scenes of camp hos
pitai, after a battle. watched you often, and
felt proud of YOU"
IF she had not been wounded, also,'-my
wife began; but Mr.. Harley interrupted her
with the ejaculation,
wounded? ?" in a tone of surprise.
Yes, wounded resumed my wife; "and,
0c ffaerr Al.
you were. Did you not know this before, Mr..
Harley?"
My friend was perplexed for little while.
He could not get down at once to my wife's
meaning.
when you was struck, she was struck. al
SOP
80, yes.'
Light broke in upon Mr.. Harley. He turn
ed quickly toward his wife. and saw i'm her face
what had not been seen before, the wasting
and exhaustion that came from deep-seated
pam. lie had thought the paleness of her
countenance, the weakness that made her step
slow and cautious, only the result of oyer-tax-
ed muscles and nerves; but he knew better
now.
Il didn't think of that" he said. with visible
anxiety, as he gazed into his wife's counte-
nance.
"Our wounds so ghastly to the ewes. often
get no deeper than the flesh and bone. The
pain is short. and nature comes nu;cLIy 10 ,he
work of cure with ali her beaIng a1ergas ,Y s.e
We suffer for a while and then II Is over W.
are strong and ready for the conflict agai, ;,
"But.n said nv wife ainto the homes that
stand far away IRON battle-fields come swift
winged messengers that wound and k;lI nc
surely as iron hail. They strike mothers
wives. sisters-some with death uonnds al
with the agony of vital main Alasi far thesa
wounded. The healing If II follows l. nayar
as the surgeons saw. by first intention bnt al
WAYS slow. and often throngb abscess and NJ
ceration. They must linper for wears Int do
not lose the marks of sufierinor
A long silence followed. There were o,bers
present who. like Mr.. Harley had never
thought of this. / noticed that for the bour
we remained touether he v.,s tsndarar .,,,,ud ou
his wife. and more than once 7 sau him 1s,,.-
ing at her. while she was ,ot ohsar,;, h;.,,
with troubled countenance-9 Ue ia not
again speak of the early period A. which ha
expected to ioin his regiment.
On the day following. another lono list uas
given to the public. AZ read over tho ,,a mes
and counted the numbers. INV tbought can,a
back from the bloody field and sut,arinc, hos,,;-
tai. "These are moi all. . I said aaias' nn,
all. The hall struck twice th,;ca-sn,a,;,1'..s mos
oftener. Their is main. There l. argn;sh ,hn,e
is wounding. even nn,o death in mani, S" nn. au.'v