Passaic City record., 1891-09-12

nent peril OF his life; ne DegBeu hs oap
tors not to put him to disgraceful death
protesting that he had ever been stancn
Unionist. He was leading the noun.
taineers against the enemy; ne fougnl
over again both days at Shiloh; again he
toiled toward Vicksburg, through battle
and slaughter; and, last of all, he led his
men up 10 the deadly assault. Such wert
the subjects of his rawlings, and they con.
tinued to disturb his brain until he wat
wearied into sleep. SoIt was Tor many
days.
When at last he awoke TO life and con.
seriousness, feeble, but realizing that he
should recover, he found himself in com.
Portable bed in well-furnished apart
ment. A negro woman waited IN the
room. and man in the Confederate uni.
form sat by his bedside.
well, Colonel -, you're on the mend
should say" said the officer. in hearty
voice.
Il really don't know what to say re-
piled Smedley, feebly. Il believe know
myself now, but can't tell anything that
has happened since-since-
"Say since you tried to visit Vicksbure
in rather a rude way, on May I'D, ano
got some good Confederate lead into yor
for your pains" said the good-natured
officer.
"Ah-I remember The 22d of May
yes, shall not forget that day very soon
What date is it now?"
June the 5th-"
%.rwo weeks passed. Is it possible;
How is the siege getting on? Have oui
lines advanced any? Is there talk OF
surrender? What does General Pember.
ton"
In his excitement Smedley tried to SIT
up in bed The other put strong hano
on his breast and held him down.
"Lie still, sir, if you please. You must
know that you are prisoner, and al
present under my orders. You are not to
excite yourself, because that would be
bad for you in your present condition.
For that reason I shall not answer the
impertiment questions you have just
asked; and also, for the reason that il
would not be prudent to give such iA-or'
nation to a prisoner"
Smedley looked at the officer. He was
too weak to ask more questions, aftel
his sudden exertion. The other perfect.
ly understood him.
"Lie still and don't talk, and I will tell
you all you ought to know. l am DR..
Singleton, at your service-the Confed-
crate surgeon who dug the bullet out OF
your DdCh budb WtuV plCtpy htdi
you and came pretty near finishing you
believe you are going to get well-that
is, as we'll as a man can ever be, with
such wound-but you'll fight no more
battles. You've got nothing to do but tc
lie here, take the good nursing that you
are having, and get as strong as you can
as soon as you Nn. I'll come to see you
once in while. Good-by, for the pres
ent."
He rose to go. An imploring look in
his patients eyes detained him.
"Well?"
Where am I? What place is this? II
doesn't seem like hospital. I"
"Stop!-you shall not talk. This is not
hospital What it is, I am forbidden tc
tell you"
He walked hastily out, to escape more
questioning. Smedley closed his eyes and
fretted himself over this mystery till the
black woman brought small stand to his
bedside and told him that he was to have
some broth.
"Aunty," asked the patient, where am
I?a
4Wha is you, honey? In yo' bed, to be
suah."
Now, do tell me, he coaxed. Whose
house is this?"
"Yo' isn't to know" was the emphatic
reply; and the nurse proceeded to admin
lister the nourishment.
For almost three weeks he lay there, vis-
tied each few days by the doctor, careful
ly nursed and watched with. and gradu-
ally growing stronger. He had dreams
and visions that he thought must be rem
nants of his delirium; once he thought
sad and beautiful face was bending ovel
L nd ha ,ci hat I.,
could with difficulty dismiss it from his
mind.
"Aunty," he asked, was there lady
here just now, while was asleep?"
"A lady? Only yo' ole aunty. What's
got in yo' head, honey?"
New efforts to ascertain what house he
was in, or how hostilities progressed,
were as vain as before. When he was
able to sit up and walk about the room, a
suit of citizens clothes was laid out for
him, the negro woman informing him that
his own clothes had been spoiled by his
blood and the doctors shears.
But who furnishes these for me?" he
asked.
"Yo' find out I nebber tell"
The days passed. Six weeks had gone
since he received his wound, and no ex-
planation had yet been given him. He
felt able to walk a distance; he grew rest
less and fretful. Finally he said to his
nurse:
"Aunty, can't stay here any longer.
must go out and learn the news, even if
[ get put in confinement for it."
"Jes' wait till tomorrow, honey. Yo's
to go then.
"Go-where?"
Il can't tell yo'. Wait jes' one day."
He had been treated here so kindly,
spite. of the mystery that attended the
treatment, that he felt like complying.
He rose in the morning eager to go
abroad. The nurse restrained his impa-
tience, insisted on careful toilet and a
good breakfast, and was provokingly slow
In her movements. Itwas hard for Smed-
ley to recognize himself in the glass.
His attendant had cut his hair during his
convalescence. but his face was grown
with thick beard, which contrasted
strangely with his sunken cheeks and hol-
low eyes.
The nurse led him into handsome
par1or and left him, bidding him walt a
moment. From the sofa where he sat he