Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-03-07
CHAPTER XIII.
Field Hospital, sIxt,, Corn,

Field Hospital, Sixth Corps.
My head ached SO abominably
"phen | first opened my eyes that l
was compelled to close them again,
merely realizing dimly that looked
''1p at something white above me,
Which appeared to sway rs though
blown gently by the wind. My CROP
ing hand, the only one l appeared
able to move. toll me I was lying
upon q camp-cot, with soft sheets
about me, and that my head rested
upon a pillow. Then l passed once
o lntu Inconsistencies, but this
Time ii was asleep.
When ! once more awakened the
throbbing pain had largely left my
hnt temples, and I saw that the sway
Ing white canopy composed the roof
of a large tent, upon which the
golden sunlight now lay In checkered
masses. telling mo the canvas had
been erected among trees. A faint
moan caused me to move my head
slightly on the gratefully soft pillow,
and could perceive a 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.
A man was moving slowly down the
marrow aisle toward me, stopping
here and there to bend over some
sufferer with medicine or a CHEEKY
word, He wore a short white Jacket,
and was without a cap, his head of
heavy red hair a most conspicuous
object, AS he approached l en-
deavoted to speak. but for the moment
Zdy throat refused response to the eff
fort. Then / managed to ask feebly:
where am II"
The blue eyes in the freckled, boy
ish face danced spontaneously, and
he laid a big red hand gently upon
rny forehead.
Field hospital, Sixth Corps" he
said, with a strong Hibernian &C.
cent, An how de We loike it, John
Ery?"
Better than some others I've seen,"
4 managed to a%rticulate family. who
won?"
~DiviI a var of lis knows" he ad-
nlitted frankly, "but your fellows did
the retratin'."
II WIS an old, old story to all OF us
by that time, and | closed my eyes
YEARLY. content to ask no more.
I haYs no way of knowing how long
Z 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
10 save. Once l wondered, with sud.
den start of fear, If I-had lost a limb,
&C l was to be crippled for life, the
one thing dreaded above all else.
Feeling feebly beneath my bed-cloth-
lug | tested, as best / could, each
limb. All were apparently intact, al
though my left arm seemed useless
and devoid of feeling, broken no
doubt, and ! heaved a sigh Of genuine
relief. Then l became partially
aroused to my surroundings by a
voice speaking from the cot next
mine.
you lazy Irish marine!" It cried
petulantly, that beef stew was to
have been given me an hour ago"
Sure. sor," was the soothing reply.
1T wasn't to be given yer honor till
ewo o'clock"
We'll, it's all of three now"
"Wan-thirty, on mo sowl, sor."
That first voice sounded oddly
familiar, and I turned my face that
way, but was unable to perceive the
speaker.
~ that Lieutenant caton?" esked
doubtfuIly.
Most i~.ssuredly 1t is" quickly.
And who are you?.
Captain Wayne Of the Confederate
army"
"oh, Wayne? Glad you spoke, but
extremely sorry to have you here,
Badly hurt7"
mot seriously. ! think. No limbs
uuissirg, anyhow, but exceedingly
weak. Where did they get your"
Tin the side. q musket ball. but ex
tracted. would be all right II that
7azy Irish scamp would only give me
L1if enough to eat. BY the way,
Wayne. Of course ! never got the
straight OF 1t. for there are half-a-
dozen stories about the affair flying
around, and those most interested will
not talk. but one Of your special
friends Ind to my notion a most
charming young woman, will be In
here ID see me sometime this after.
noon She viii be delighted to meet
you sgain. I'm sure
One Of my friendsgy ! questioned
slrcreduloisIy. yet Instantly thinking
q Edith Brennan A yotng WON
Ans