The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-02
CHAPTER XIII.
Field Hospital, Sixth Corps.

was compelled to close them again,
merely realizing dimly that / looked
up at something white above me,
which appea 'ed to sway as though
blown gentl! by the Eind. My crop
ing hand, the only one / appeared
able to move, told me l 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 unconsciousness, but this
time 1t wss asleep.
WheS / once more awakened the
throbbing pain had largely left my
hot temples, and l 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 me 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
narrow aisle toward me, stopping
here and there to bend over some
sufferer with medicine or q CHEEKY
word. He wore short white jacket,
and was without cap. his head Of
heavy red hair q most conspicuous
object. As he approached en-
deavored to speak, but for the moment
my throat refused response to the ef.
fort. Then / managed to ask feebly:
Where am II"
The blue eyes In the freckled. boy.
ish face danced good and
he laid 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 articulste family. who
won?"
"Divil q wan of US knows" he ad.
mitted frankly, but your fellows did
the retratin'."
1t was an old. old story to all of US
by that time. and closed my eyes
wearily, content to ask no more.
have No way of knowing how long
1 rested there motionless although
awake. my eyes closed to keep out the
painful glare. my sad thoughts busIed
with memory Of those men whom /
had seen reel and fall upon that
stricken field We had battled 80 vainly
TO save. Once I wondered, with sud
den start OF fear, II had lost limb,
IL ! was to be crippled for life, tho
one thing dreaded above all else.
Feeling feebly beneath my bed-cloth.
Ing l tested, as best l could, each
limb. All were apparently intact. al.
though my left arm seemed useless
and devoid OF feeling, broken no
doubt. and l heaved a sigh of genuine
relief. Then 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
two o'clock"
We'll. IT'S all Of three now"
"Wan-thirty, on me sowl, sor."
That first voice sounded oddly
familiar. and l turned my face that
way, but was unable to perceive the
speaker.
Us that Lieutenant Caton?" asked
doubtfully.
Most assuredly It is." quickly.
And who are your"
"Coptain Wayne. Of the Confederate
Army"
"Oh. Wayne? Glad you spoke, but
extremely sorry to have you here.
Eadly hurt?"
Not seriously. / think. No limbs
missing. anyhow. but exceedingly
weak. Where did they get you?"
I'm the side. musket ball, but ex-
tracted. I would be all right II that
lazy Irish scamp would only give me
4 y,
Wayne. OF course l never got the
straight OF It. 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, and to my notion most
charming young woman, will be In
here to see me sometime this after.
noon. She will be delighted to meet
you again, I'm sure"
One OF my friends?" question ed
incredulously. yet instantly thinking
Ing OF Edith Brennan. "A young wo-
MANI"
Sure; at least she has confessed
enough to me regarding that nights q
work TO make me strongly suspicious
that Captain Wayne. Of the Confed
crate Army, and Colonel Curran, late
OF Major-General Halleck's staff, are
one and the same person. mighty
al l. -.