'
"I saw her turn as he spoke, and fix those glaring eyes on me again.
They were enough to burn a hole in you, Surry, and made me feel for
some weapon. But there was none--and the scene here terminated--both
retired. The next night, however, it was renewed. This time the surgeon
felt my pulse, touched my forehead, placed his ear to my breast to
listen to the action of the heart, and rising up said, in reply to
madam's earnest glance of inquiry:--
"'Yes, I am sure he will live. You can give yourself no further anxiety
about your cousin, madam.'
"_Her cousin_! That was not bad, you see. She had gained access, as I
ascertained from some words of their conversation, by representing
herself as my cousin. I was a member of her family who had 'gone
astray' and embraced the cause of the rebellion, but was still dear to
her! Womanly heart! clinging affection! not even the sin of the
prodigal cousin could sever the tender chord of her love! I had
wandered from the right path--fed on husks with the Confederate swine;
but I was wounded--had come back; should the fatted calf remain
unbutchered, and the loving welcome be withheld?
"'_You can give yourself no further uneasiness about your cousin,
madam_!'
"Such was the assurance of the surgeon, and he turned away to other
patients, of whom there were, however, very few in the hospital, and
none near me.
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