Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-05-08
CHAPTER XIII.
Field Hosnltal. slxtn Cana

Field Hospital, sixth Corps.
MY head ached so abominably
|een first opened my eyes that I
was compelled to close them again,
merely realizing dimly that 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
aple to move. toll me / was lying
upon a camp-cot with soft sheets
about me. and that my head rested
upon a pillow. Then l passed once
more into Inconsistencies, but this
time 1t was asleep.
When ! once more awakened the
throbbing pain had largely left my
not temples, and | saw that the sway
ing white canopy composed the roof
OF a large tent, upon which the
golden sunlight now lay in checkereo
masses. telling mo the canvas had
been erected among trees. 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
occupied. each apparently filled,
stretching away toward an opening
that looked forth into the open air.
A man was moving slowly down the
narrow 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 en-
deEgored to speak, but for the moment
Lay throat refused response to the ef-
fort Then | managed to ask feebly:
Where am II"
The blue eyes in the freckIed, boy
ish face danced good-humoredly, and
he laid a big red hand gently upon
my forehead
Field hospital, Sixth Corps" he
said, with strong Hibernian ac-
cent AN how de ye loike It. John
N.Y."
Better than some others I've seen,
managed to articulate family. who
won?"
'Divil a wan of us knows" he ad.
mltted frankly. but your fellows did
the retratin'."
II was an old, old story to all OF us
by that time. and closed my eyes
YEARLY, content to ask no more.
have no way of knowing how long
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 thai
stricken field we had battled so vainly
to save. Once l wondered, with sud
den start Of fear, If had lost limb
tg / was to be crippled for life, the
one thing | dreaded above all else
Feeling feebly beneath my bed-cloth
ing tested, as best could, eaci
limb. All we're apparently intact. al
though my left arm seemed useless
and devoid of feeling, broken NJ
doubt, and | heaveG sigh OF genuine
relief. Then became PARTIAL,
aroused to my surroundings by
voice speaking from the cot mex
mine.
You lazy Irish marine!" 1t cries
petulantly, that beef stew was u
have been given me an hour ago
Sure, sor," was the soothing reply
ut wasn't to be given yer honor til
two o'clock"
We'll, it's all Of three now"
"Wan.thirty, on me sowl. sor,"
That first voice sounded oddl
.amiliar, and l turned my face tina
way. bu, was unable to perceive tn
speaker,
u. that Lieutenant Caton?" eske
doubtfully.
Most lssuredly it is" quickl!
And who are you?"
Captain Wayne of the Confederat
Army"
"oh, Wayne? Glad you spoke, br
extremely sorry to have you her
Badly hurt?"
Not seriously. think. No link
missing anyhow, but exceedingl
weak Where did they get your
On the side. musket ball, but e
tracted / would he all right If th'
lazy Irish scamp would only give n
half enough to eat BY the wa
Wayne, of course | never got u
straight of It, for there are half
dozen stories about the affair flyir
around. and those most interested vi
not talk. but one Of your speci
friends. md to my notion mo
charming young woman, Will be
here to see me sometime this afts
noou she will be delighted to me
YOU again. I'm sure.
zone Of my friends?" | question:
ircreduIously. yet instantly thinkii
~ Edith Brennan. "A young VOL
sBr'