The National tribune., 1902-02-06
WHO GOES THERE?

the head, but there Is no longer any dan,
ger TO your brain at all.
Il think l am dreaming" said /.
"Well," said he; continue to think so;
that will do no harm"
He went away, but soon returned-l
say soon, but l may be wrong in that.
How do you get on with that dream
of yours?' he asked; what have you
dreamed while | was gomez"
Confusion" said 1; nothing but con
fusion
IF a man is dreaming. will a sharp
pain awake him?"
Il suppose So"
We'll, let me try it," and he opened
his lancet.
! | shrank, and he laughed.
! "Iou are beginning to understand that
many things have happened since you
We're in Aiken
l made a motion of my head-meanine
half assent.
You will end by remembering your
broken experience" he said; but if may
take some time Your case is more stub
born than ! thought"
How did | get hurt?' ] asked.
You were knocked down." said he.
"Whn did it, | asked.
Don't precisely know said he: hut
it makes no difference which one did it;
we all know that you were in the right.
There WAS a quarrcl| ] asked.
"A big one said he: II think it best
to relieve your curiosity at once by tell
ing you what has happened in the world.
If | lid not, you would make yourself
worse 10y fancying too much. and you
would become more and more bcwildcrcd.
| can put You right. Bat can you make
up yOur mind to accept the situation rs
it is, and bear up in the hope that You
will come right in the cnd:'
/ did not reply. | do not know what
feeling WAS uppcrmnSt in my mind. II
was not anxiety, for my interest in 9th
crs was pure blank. 1t was not fear. for
he had assured me that my physical con-
ditipn WAS more favorable.
Yes" he continued; 1T is best to tell
you the truth, and the whole truth, lest
your fancy conjure up things that do not
exist. After all. there is nothing in it
but what you might have reasonably ex-
pcctcd when you We're in Aiken in 1SJ9.''
How long have ! been in this condi-
tom | asked.
This condition? Only since yesterday
morning."
Then why do You say 1897
"1onr present condition began ycstcr-
day: bnt it is also true-or at least seems
to he truc-that you do not remember
your experience from October, 1859, until
yesterday"
You mean for me to believe that 1859
has all gomez
YcS-all gone-in fact, this is Sum
NOR weather."
| remembered the heat Of tie past day
and the thunder. Yet it was hard for
me to believe that ] had been unconscious
for SIX mOnths-but no; he was not say
ing had been unconscious for six months
nobody could live through such state
he was telling me that | could not re
member what | had known six months
ago.
What month is this:' asked.
June" said he: June L."
From October to June is a long time"
said.
Yes and many things have happened
since October. 1SJ9,'' said he.
doctor, are you serious?' ! asked.
"On my honor said he.
"And | have lost eight months of my
life?"
'..Oh, no; only the memory of the past,
and that loss is but temporary. You will
get all right after while.'
And what have / been doing for the
past eight months?"
That is what I've been trying to find
out said he; II am trying now to find
your regiment
There you 20 again about my regiment
DO you expect me to accept thatT'
You said you could trust me-" he re-
piled: why should ] deceive you? Tell
me why you think l may be dcceivine
you"
''Becausc"-said I.
Because what?'
81 fear that you are hiding worse
thing in order To do me good"
But | gave you my word of honor.
and l give it again. These hills around
you are covered by an army"
Where are we?' | asked, in wonder
IL.
miles of it,
What Richmond?'
in Virginia"
And what brought me here? Why
should | be here?"
Ton came here voluntarily, while you
were in good health, no doubt, and while
your mind acted perfectly"
But why should | have Gomez
Because your regiment was ordered to
come"
And why should there be an army?"
Because your country was invaded
You volunteered to defend your country.
and your regiment was ordered here"
Country invaded? Volunteered?"
Yes"
Then Then we are at war;"
with England?"
No; not with England, but with the
United States"
| laughed gayly, perhaps Historically.
''NoY | know that this is dream"
said I.
Why"
The idea of the United States being at
war with itself" | laughed again.
Take this" said he, and he gave me
another potion. He waited Il few min
uteS for the medicine to affect me- Then
he said, Can you remember how many
States compose the United States:'
"Tlirtythree, I believe" said l.
There were SO, / suppose, in 1852
said he; "but now there are not so many.
Eleven of the States-the most of the
Southern States-have seeded and have
set up u Government of their own. We
call ourselves the Confederate States of
America. Our Capital is Richmond. The
Northern States are at war with us, try
ing to force us back into the Union, as
they call it. War has been going on
for more than year"
''What!'
Yes" said he; ''all these great events
required more than eight months"
More than year, l exclaimed: !
what year is this:"
Here is my record said he; "here