Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-02-10

from the day OF Balls Hiuff. Nv dear friend
Evermond is Captain of my old COMPANY; and
a better soldier does not live, and | know
there cannot be a truer friend'
Once more the iudgesand bis dan ghter were
anxious. The til Regiment was before
Yorktown. Then came the bloody field Of
/" lliIamsourg; but George was not called IL
/ 10 the battle. At length, however, came It'd
ings of another bloody frav, in which our reg
iment was engaged. FAIR OAKsi The list
OF killed and wounded Jagged but the letter
| from George was received He was alive,
/ but badly wounded
| Our Colonel was stricken down, he wrote,
- early in the engagement. | had been act
4 ing as Lieutenant Colonel for some time, and
| the command devolved upon me. | was fol-
| lowing the lead Of the gallant Howard, when
/ a bullet passed through my thigh. Captain
/ Evermond was on the right of the regiment
/ and had just time to pass the command over
j to him when the clash OF the final charge
came. | was faint and dizzy; but | saw him
| dash on at the head of our noble regiment,
| and the shout of victory struck nv ear as
was borne from the field. Late at night Cap
tain Evermond was borne into our quarters,
severely wounded by a sabre cut on the shout
der lie had Il hand-to-hand conflict with
the enemy over battery; and he took it,
and held H."
Three weeks afterwards another letter
came.
Dear Nellie, am coming home have
a furlOugh for forty DAYS. Captain Evermond
Is coming with me. Our wounds are doing
well"
The train arrived at three o'clock in the
afternoon. Major Preston came from the car
upon his crutches, and bis father was there
to receive him. Nellie had not come down.
/ Big, proud tears coursed down the old mans
face as he heard the glad shouts that welcom-
ed his noble boy and for while his son was
monopolized by the multitude.
Where l. your friend Eyermoud = asked
the Judge, as they moved towards the car
riage.
. o, hc will be with Us this evening. He
had to stop to see a friend on the way, and
will come in the next train | told HIM our
carriage should be on hand for him"
i joyful moment was ii for Nellie Preston
when she threw her arms around the neck of
her returned brother. O, she knew now how
much-how very much she loved him What
numberless questions were asked, and how
eagerly were tue answers listened TO.
By and by Nellie asked after Captain Ever
mond.
Oh she cried, " I hope he is not old and
ugly, for | want to love him"
Not very old, " said George, with smiIe
$ and not very ugly. But there is a curious
circumstance connected with his experience
'
the story with tears in his eyes. After the
affair at Balls Bluff we were like brothers
Eyermond is an orphan; without father and
mother, sister or brother. He has "a splendid
. education which he owes to an old aunt who
intended him for a minister: but his DISPOSE
ton did not lead him that way, and he started
to study law. His aunt withdrew her favor
and he was left to struggle alone. H. was in
danger Of becoming dissipated, when the
hot h .,,1i l
/ enlisted as private in the company of which
was captain. While we were waiting at the
depot, on the morning when we left for the
+ teat of war, Lyermoud stood alone, gazing
upon the scenes OF weeping and blessing
and as the thought passed through his mind
. that he was relieved from the pain of parting
with friends, he felt thankful, and expressed
himself to that effect. let he said, he felt
that il would be a blessing to bear away one
trieE lly kiss that he could remember as com
ing from q sister. He said this aloud, and in
moment young girl-he says the most
beautiful girl he ever saw-put her hands up
ON his shoulders, and kissed him upon the
cheek. lie says he had Just time to bless the
angel, when the order came to fall in |
think the girl that gave Walter Evermond
that kiss did glorious deed He saws that
the memory of that sweet face has led him TO
high and holy resolves; and that he had
sworn within himself that he would never do
a decd that could cause thatgirl to blush that
she had kissed him, even were she the daugh-
| ter OF king.
. You said he was private then 2" re-
marked Nellie.
"No,-he was a corporal then. He was
made "a corporal very shortly after he enlist
ed. and before We had beer in camp a week
IN Maryland he was made "a Sergeant. But,
my sister, what is the matter? Mercy YOU
/ look pale"
"Ol" whispered Nellie, hiding her face
with her hands, what dreadful things :"
Ny, | thought the story of Eyermond
would attract your thoughts from the darker
themes"
So it does, in a measure George; but l
can not help my feelings"
George Preston, never mistrusting. never
Z dreaming that his sweet sister had ever seen
I Walter Eyernoud drew his arm about her
and gave her a brothers kiss
7 4 eight o'clock in the evening the coach
was sem tothc depot, and at half-past eight
I II returned. Nellie left the parlor, and sped
away to her own room. Her heart was in a
iuttcr, ana Der face was burning It might
be possible that she had never seen Captain
/ Evermond, but She did not think il proba-
bic What should she do? How should she
meet him Twice had she attempted to tell
her brother of her own adventure at the de-
pot on that memorable morning; but she
could not.
Major Preston, upon his crutches went 70
the door and welcomed Captain Evermonl
who carried his right arm in a sling The old
Judge welcomed the hero as another SON
and he was surprised when be found that the
4 taptainwas fair faced, handsome youth. Just
+ upon the opening stage Of manhood.
/ But where was Ncllic2 The bell was runc
I and a servant was sent in quest of her At
I length she came, trembling at every point.
but her father and brother did not notice it.
Nellie, my sister, cried George, here
Is our dear friend, " sitter Evermondt"
/ The captain advanced with a quick step.
and had half extended his hand. when he
stopped As though he had been shot
Good angels !" he Gasped; what is this?
This your sisteri"
With a mighty effort Nellie smiled and
put forth both hands
Aha" exclaimed George, lifting his
clutches from the floor. and standing them
/ Gown with wonderful energy, " l think l see
. il Low Say, Walter-tell me-telI is this
your angel 50 " Ten thousand blessings on
her head" murmured the brave youth.
while the tears started down his cheeks. u
did not dream OF this"