Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-09-30

10 one OF the IOoLnS apoNe'
No more was said, and ! followed he
rapid, silent footsteps till they reacheC
the side of her dead husband, and knel
beside it, kissing the white, cold lips il
speechless agony.
Shot through the heart said one o
the men in a low voice. Poor fellow
She'll never hear him speak again. AnC
then, as his eyes rested on her, they fll
ed aud be turned away.
Oh it was sad and sonowful sight tc
see her that nigh: She had asked fol
water to wash the dust from his face, an(
would let no one touch him but herself
With her own fingers she pressed dowr
/ the lids over the eyes, and smoothed the
damp hair from the cold brow. She
crossed his hands over his bosom, and
kissed his face again and again, moaring
in those pitiful tones devoid of complaint
but full of utter wretchedness. / saw
her all the while, and my heart ached
willie gave to others the help she had
gently rejected.
l looked at my watch after while, and
found that it was twelve O'Clock. How
the time had hownl A few minutes
later | saw Marian spread white sheet
over her husband and leave him.
Come, / am going now.' she said, in
her low, sweet voice. Half the suffer-
ers are not found yet, and hundreds may
die with thirst before they can be reliev-
ed. The dead do not need me, and
the living do. Those that are in the
house are sufficiently relieved to spare
US. Come.
Out into the night we went, and on
to the battlefield where the contest had
ragged hottest-one heart rising crushed
and bleeding from deadly blow to
struggle onward among the dead for the
sake of the living; the other with the
fires of suspense and agony still burning
within it and gazing into each upturned
face with dread lest it should prove to be
the missing face of husband.
Oh, those hours among the mapgled
forms upon the field of Corinth Nights
dark mantle spread above Us made the
light of the lanterns we held more fear
fully vivid as it fell upon the gbastIy
faces Of the dead. Ard every step we
took was 10 clotted gore of nearly fifty |
yards. Little groups Of men, with their
lanterns, were seen here and there pick |
lag up the wounded and their voices
came to US strongly through the gloom.
Low, faint means startled US sometimes
from forms under our very feet, and pit
iful voices came to US for help. The de-
mon of thirst ragged among the fallen on
the field, and we trod the horrible ground
over and over to refill our vessels ill the
gray dawn came and friends found US.
But all through that night Marian
Prince proved her right to the brightest
crown Of fame that ever graced woman's
brow. With heroism worthy of i'm
she carried relief to the suffer-
ng, ignoring the agony of her own heart,
and, one might have thought, the dead
orm in the house behind US, but for the
ow, shivering means that came TO me
through the gloom. Once l heard her
ob--one great, deep sob--as she laid a
wounded head upon a little pile of leaves
he had raked up for it to rest upon, and
hen the low, pitiful voice broke into
wall that went to my heart.
"Oh, Harry, Harry Ob, Harry my
iarling, my husband--no more and
or a minute the head bowed as if unable
onger to sustain the weight Of grief. !
vent to her and laid my band upon the
lrooping head"
"Go in, Marian" urged tearfully.--
You are overtaxing yourself Go in t
nd stay with him."
"No, no, Katie. That is only his dear |
cad body, and it don't need me. His I
pirt is--who knows-here with me, {
erhaps must stay while / am need '
d and can be of use. o God, what hor- )
Ors are all around US p +
She got up and continued her work, b
nd, as | said, never left the field except !
or water till the morning came.
The morning passed in the same ago i
izing uncertainty. My husband was
OF found among the dead or wounded a
Iut later in the day heard that he had :
cen taken prisoner and was unhurt. j !,
ill here add that he was among the
rst exchanged after the Corinth battle,
nd Immediately resumed his place in I
arvice, where he is still engaged as an :
fiieer of cavalry. d
Marian Prince and left Corinth to- s
ether, and with us brought the remains !