Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-01-04
CHAPTER XIII.
Field Hospital, Sixth Corps.

WAS COup0llcU W CLOSE LQem again,
merely realizing dimly that 1 looked
up at something white above me,
which appeared to sway as though
blown gently by the wind. My CROP
ing hand, the only one ! appeared
able to move, told me was lying
upon camp-cot, with soft sheets
about me, and that my head rested
upon pillow Then passed once
more into Inconsistencies, but this
time it was asleep.
When I once more awakened the
Sthrobbing pain had largely left my
hot temples, and saw that the sway
ing white canopy composed the roof
iof large tent, upon which the
golden sunlight now lay in checkered
masses, telling me the canvas had
been erected among trees. A faint
moan caused me to move my head
Slightly on the gratefully soft pillow,
and i could perceive long row of
cots, exactly similar to the one l
occupied, each apparently filled,
stretching away toward an opening
THAT looked forth into the open air.
IA man was moving slowly down the
marrow aisle toward me, stopping
shere and there to bend over some
! asufferer with medicine or a CHEEKY
eword. He wore short white jacket,
#and was without cap, his head of
yheavy red hair a most conspicuous
object. As he approached l en-
al1eavored to speak, but for the moment
B b my throat refused response to the ef-
Fort. Then managed to ask feebly:
tWhere am I?'
The blue eyes in the freckled, boy
ish face danced spontaneously, and
he laid big red hand gently upon
MY forehead.
Field hospital, Sixth Corps," he
sAid, with strong Hibernian &C
cent. An how de We loike it, John
n|y?s
Better than some others I've seen"
managed to articulate family. "Whc
won"
Divil wan of us knows" he ad-
nAitted frankly, "but your fellows did
te retratin'.''
sss 1t was an old, old story to all of us
by that time, and | closed my eyes
AgsWearily, content to ask no more.
i have no way of knowing how long
j rested there motionless although
awake, my eyes closed to keep out the
painful glare, my sad thoughts busted
with memory of those men whom !
had seen reel and fall upon that
stricken field we had battled so vainly
to save. Once I wondered. with sud
den start of fear If l had lost a limb
h f1f was to be crippled for life, the
pne thing dreaded above all else
Feeling feebly beneath my bed-cloth
ssfang tested, as best could, each
limb. All were apparently intact, al
though my left arm seemed useless
land devoid of feeling, broken nc
doubt, and heaved sigh Of genuine
,elief. Then / became partially
aroused to my surroundings by a
voice speaking from the cot next
nine
aYou lazy Irish marine!" it cried
1etulantly, that beef stew was te
aaye been given me an hour ago."
Sure, sor," was the soothing reply
ST wasn't to be given yer honor till
HstYos o'clock"
'eEVell, it's all of three now"
''Wan-thirty, on me sowl, sor."
That first voice sounded oddly
fsmiliar, and turned my face that
way, but was unable to perceive the
SPEAKER.
rs that Lieutenant Caton?" asked
donbtfully.
TMost assuredly it is" quickly
and who are you?"
HCoptain Wayne, of the Confederate
Army
sob, Wayne? Glad you spoke, bu
extremely sorry to have you here
Eadly hurt?"
Not seriously, think. No limbs
missing, anyhow, but exceedingly
weak Where did they get your"
TN the side, musket ball, but ex
81 Eracted. would be all right if tina
lazy irish scamp would only give me
iss ha1f enough to eat. By the way
Wayne, of course never got tn.
4traight of it, for there are half-a
dozen stories about the affair flying
N salround, and those most interested will
D hot talk, but one of your specia
! friends, and to my notion a mos
X charming young woman, will be il
I here to see me sometime this after
Il Hoon. She will be delighted to NEE
you again, I'm sure"
One of my friends?" questioned
III iAcredulously, yet instantly thinkin,
ling Of Edith Brennan. "a young wo
phan?"
"Sure; at least she has confessed
enough to me regarding that night
work to make me strongly suspicion
THAT Captain Wayne, of the Confed
4 crate Army. and Colonel Curran. lat
s5s Of Maj General Halleck's staff, ar
olhe and the same person. A might,
s ,nesat trick, by Jove, and it would hav
Agdqne you good to see Sheridan's fac
when they told him. But about tn
1yrSx Y,Jx H. LIT, F~i@ =