resume my Confederate Uniform. A perilous Attempt to reach the Confederate Lines. What a Drink of Whiskey can do. I become lame in my wounded Foot, and am sent to Atlanta for medical Treatment 298
CHAPTER XXVI.
IN THE HOSPITAL.
The Kind of People an Army is made up Of. Gentlemen and Black guards. The Demoralization of Warfare. How I managed to keep out of Difficulties. The Value of a fighting Reputation. A Quarrel with a drunken General. I threaten to shoot Him. My Illness, and the kind Attentions received from Friends. I am admitted to the Em pire Hospital. The Irksomeness of a Sick-bed. I learn that my Lover is in the same Hospital, and resolve to see him as soon as I am Convalescent 310
CHAPTER XXVII.
A STRANGE STORY OF TRUE LOVE.
Sick-bed Fancies. Reflections on my military Career. I almost resolve to abandon the Garb of a Soldier. Difficulties in the Way of achieving Greatness. Warfare as a laborious Business. The Favors of Fortune sparingly Bestowed. Prospective Meeting with my Lover. Anxiety to know what he would think of the Course I had been pursuing in fig uring in the Army as a Man. A strange Courtship. More like a Chapter of Romance than a grave Reality. My Recollections of an old Spanish Story, read in my Childhood, that in some Respects reminds me of my own Experiences The Story of Estela. How the Desires of a Pair of Lovers were opposed by stern Parents. An Elopement Planned. The Abduction of Estela through the Instrumentality of a Rival. She is carried off by Moorish Pirates, and sold as a Slave. Her Escape from Slavery, and how she entered the Army of the Em peror disguised as a Man. Estela saves the Emperor's Life, and is pro moted to a high Office Her Meeting with her Lover, and her Endeav ors to make him confess his Faith in her Honor. The Appointment of Estela as Governor of her native City. The Trial of her Lover on the Charge of having murdered her. Happy Ending of the Story. I am inspired, by my Recollections of the Story of Estela, to hear from the Lips of my Lover his Opinion of me before I reveal myself to him. Impatient Waiting for the Hour of Meeting 317
CHAPTER XXVIII.
AGAIN A WIFE AND AGAIN A WIDOW.
Convalescence. I pay a Visit to my Lover. A friendly Feeling. A Surprise in Store for him. I ask him about his Matrimonial Prospects, and endeavor to ascertain the State of his Affections towards me. An affecting Scene. The Captain receives a Letter from his Lady-love. "She has come ! She has come ! " The Captain prepares for a Meet ing with his Sweetheart. A Question of Likeness. A puzzling Sit-
