Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-11-28
A FORTUNE SAWED.
ny MARY G. vAUGN.

/
come home to me7-that is, the shad
owy wreck which answered to tn
name, and assumed the place in, on
home life that had been, occupied b.
my handsome young husband.
! confess ! sometimes, vaguely
questioned II it were req lily he whom
saw moving about 80 uncertainty
and stifiiy, and heard speaking will
the weak, cracked voice in which
could trace no relation to the round
ringing tones I had 30 loved to hear
His face was pale, with deep scar
across the brow, his hair was thin
and faded, his form angular and
weak, and swaying quite unbalanc'
ed by that useless sleeve that dangl-
ed limp where his good right arm
had been.
"Oh, is it's it Belai cried
out, weakly, myself, when left alone.
| could hardly believe that, or any.
thing else. doubted often if were
|, SO different / looked and felt from
the rosy young girl who only three
years before had stood up proudly
beside that tall, handsome Bella
StOLe, in his smart blue uniform,
with the shining buttons and the
majors leaves upon the shoulders.
had never had an anxious
thought or care till he went into
the army. have had many since,
especially since our marriage.
He had brief furlough, and some
hindrances had brought it nearly to
its expiration at our wedding day.
So our bridal tour was army ward.
We had meant it for 80 much of a
pleasure journey as might be won
from those gloomy war times. but
it proved far different.
We found my husbands regiment
was already treading the path which
led to active service, and none knew
what peril; and our farewells were
said the very next morning, while
was left to reach my home alone.
He was gone to danger aud suffer.
ing. and it was no part of my ideal
life in these sad, stirring days to
shrink from either. The half.aban.
doned post now held only hospitals
and their suf1icing guard. and l saw
work for me-not pleasant, but
worthy and satisfying-in those
great wards where so much pain
and misery gathered.
And thus it was that my brow,
above which the bridal blossoms
lad not yet faded, bent daily over
;he couch of suffering.
do not know how long l remain.
ID there in the hospitals. cannot
'enember, and i never asked. Ono
morning 1 seemed to wake sudden
y out of long eclipse of life,
ong, strange stagnation Of faculties,
through which few vague and
thoughts had seemed to
win slowly and elusively. al
I was in my own old bed and
amiIiar room at home. l tried to
Use from my pillow and take a look
bout me; but it seemed easier for
ne to lie still and listless, vaguely
wondering, but with faint unreal
bought; noting i'll the same half
Indifferent way that the fields and
gardens were covered by snow, all
mike the greenness of those Vir-
'inia fields aud woodlands l had
ast seen. ~
Then it occurred to me that 1 had
cen i'll. 1 seemed to remember a
urning brain and aching head, and
connected these with the
Ospitals. And my white, thin 1
ands, and skeleton arms, my fee
le listlessness-little by little l not.
i these and built up the probable
leory of their cause. And then,
tile by little, l learned all and
card how, summoned by the It'd
,gs of my terrible illness, my mo- :
Ter had FASTENED to Virginia and
ursed me there through its most
angerous phases. Ii
During this time, the army had i
cen passing through the fiery jar {
nd 'tunult, of the greatest and I
lost decisive battles of the war.
iany women had lost their nearest {
nd dearest. Mine was spared to II
'e. But oh, so manned aud suffer.
lg, sosfeeble and wany He had re- I
,vered, had been home and left {
gain while l lay in that stupor of
be faculties and, dear fellow, they |
lid he sorrOwed mOre-far more
n me than for himself, and the loss {
that good right arm that threw t
m, hol,olosa .ot, fho uorld =