The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-15

tighten the WEAKNESS OF hospital lie IN
the beginning, he now found these letters
none the less adapted to the frightening
of camp life, and they were still con-
tinued. But as his regiment was often
on the move and the mails were un-
certain, they were less frequent and
regular. With the battle Of Chickamauga
they came to an abrupt end. Lilies
letters were returned, with the sad in
telligence that Raymond had been killed
in battle. If she had heretofore de-
ceived herself with regard to her interest
in this soldier whom she had never seen,
she did so now no longer. It was in the
spirit of widowhood that she mourned
her dead hero and king Of men. Foolish
it may have been and unreasonable, but
when has love reasoned? Nor was this
loss alone. Peace has its vicissitudes and
its tragedies as we'll as war. Her father
sickened AMI died. The mother had
gone years before. Overwhelmed with
her .,orrows, Lille went to live with an
aunt in neighboring State. Her father
had once. been well-to-do, but had lost
his property, and there was but little lcft.
Until the estate was settled that little
was not available. She did not want to
feel dependent on her relatives, and. so
engaged in teaching in the village. She
often thought Of offering herself as a
nurse, but now she felt quite unequal to
the work. With a good constitution, a
lively disposition, and in perfect health
when troubles came upon her, she now
grew istless, thoughtful and sad.
Raymond was not killed. A shell had
burst near his head, and the tremendous
conclusion had felled him to the earth,
where he lay long time unconscious.
None of the fragments Of the shell had
touched him. When he finally recovered
his senses so far as to sit up, he looked
around, bewildered. He only partially
recalled what had occurred. The battle
had ebbed away, but the thunder ragged
and roared in the distance. A blind IN
stinct led him to try to regain his regi-
ment. He stood up dizzily at last, and
with his musket for support started in
the direction of the firing. He had no
idea of his bearings, and did not know
that his regiment and the whole line had
fallen back, and he soon ran into group
of Confederates and was captured.
The accident was more serious than the
reader might be led to suppose. With
care, rest and good food, he would prob
ably at no distant day have regalned his
former condition. As it was, while he
soon recovered his physical health IN
part, it left him in curious mental state.
The past had at first been entirely blotted
out. Little by little he recovered its ex-
periences, but he could not for a long
time recall names. Months of imprison-
ment followed. At last he managed to
escape, and after incredible hardshlps
reached the Union lines more dead than
alive. And now another hospital ex-
perience followed, ightened by no cor
rcspondence, for he could not remember
Lilies name or address-he had, of
course, lost all letters-and the more he
tried to remember, the more hopeless
seemed the attempt. Finally, he gave it
up altogether. At last he reached his
regiment again, greatly 70 the astonish-
ment of his comrades, but not to sec
much more service. The three years for
which the men had enlisted were about
to expire, and although the Government
gave them the inestimablc privilege OF re-
cnlstinc as veterans, most Of the ''boys"
decided that they would first go to their
homes.
Early one morning, therefore, in the
autumn of 1864, the cars bought them to
the little town of H. They had no
rations, and we're hungry. Arrange
ments had been made for their breakfast
at a larger place on the road a little
farther along, but for some reason they
were delayed several hours here. Natur-
ally they began to spread about the little
village, and the citizens bestirred them
selves to do the best they could under
the circumstances. Without preparation
or concert, their efforts were not very sys-
tematic, but they were hearty. The gro
ceries, restaurants and hotels were taxed
to their utmost. Raymond was walking
through the little town, looking for the
chance of breakfast, but not seeing how
he could exactly press himself upon those
citizens who already seemed much over
crowded.
As he was passing modest cottage on
a side street middlc-aged lady, standing
in the yard, and holding child by the
hand, addressed him:
"Soldierm
He turned and brought his hand to the
visor of his cap as though it was a superior
officer, instead of superior being, he
saluted.
'tDid you speak, ma'am?"
"Have you had breakfast?" she said.
He said that he had not yet had that
pleasure.
"Comc in, then," she returned. "Ours
is justready."
He looked at his hands and his clothes
with some anxiety. It was three years
since he had eaten really civilized meal,
and his ambition did not extend beyond
slice of bread and meat. Perceiving
the kindness of the intention however, he
accepted the invitation.
Opposite him at the table sat young
lady dressed in black, whom the hostess
spoke of, in half introduction, as her
niece. His own name was not asked.
There was something in the air and man
ner of this young lady, even more than in
her dress, suggesting some recent great
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