Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-02-13
rHE ANGEL OF THE DEPOT; or WHAT
CAME OF A KISS.

- and il was known that they were to go
,bare fighting was sure 10 come. The
ar. had backed into the building, and the
snrine was shrieking impatiently The regi-
gFnt had filed into the depot, and as the sol
Fiers rested for a few moments upon their
rms. fond friends gathered around, and the
lords Of parting were spoken. There were
tears. and sObs, and blessings; there was
rriuring Of hands, and wringing of hearts
wives we're parting with husbands; mothers
we're parting with their sons; sisters were
Fiiing goodbye to brothers; and fathers
we're speaking the last words of caution and
are. II was season of painful anxiety; for
the departing ones were going away with
tbrir lives in their hands, and the offering on
the battle-altar might speedily be made.
Corporal Walter EvermOnd leaned on his
ridp. and gazed upon the scene. No one
came 10 kiss him-nOne to bid him farewell
Not over One-and-twenty was Corporal Wal
.-r EvermOnd. He had a fresh, handsome
face, and a bright pure eye; and his frame
Was one Of those marvels wherein magnifi-
cent physical structure is developed with
snail body
). | declare" said the Corporal, wiping a
iii of moisture from his eve, Il am glad that
/ have nobody here to weep and sob for me.
Yet" he added, with longing look, sit
would be pleasant to bear away one parting
hiss But | shan't get it."
III kiss you if you'll let me ?"
Walter EvermOnd felt a hand upon his
arm and the prettiest, sweetest face he had
ever seen, beamed upon him with a smile.
III kiss you, sir - And the girl placed
both hands upon his shoulders, and pressed
brr lips upon his blooming cheek.
Thank you Bless you!'
/" FaR III FdR ing"
The Corporal pressed the hand of the
beautiful girl; gave one more look into her
leaning face, and then fell into line and ere
long the ears rolled out from the depot, bear
liz the volunteers towards the field where
patriot duty called them.
In a little while the train was out Of sight
around the turn, and the thrOng of friends
gradually dispersed.
Nellie, I'm astonished ut YOU :"
Astonished at me :" repeated Nellie Pres
TON, looking up into the face of John Gains
ford, who walked by her side to a carriage.
Yes How could you do such thing ;"
such a thing as what :"
As kiss that fellow in the depot Good
ness gracious What were YOU thinking off"
= was thinking" replied Nellie, with a
p-rcrpIhle flush of feeling, that lac might
Is poor motherless, sisterless boy, who had
HH one IN the world 10 love MN.
" And 20 you thought you'd love him, ell ?"
3" / love all those brave, noble men who
lave gone out to offer up their lives for their
colntrys welfare - said the girl with deep
emotion. a. never knew how we'll loved
ny own brother until saw him 20 away to-
I4v. hope God will keep him, and return
him 10 US in safety"
Did you notice" said Mr.. Gainsford after
a pause, " that your foolish behavior caused
considerable remark ,"
ia rather you wouldn't say anything more
about that, Mr.. Gainsford"
You are ashamed of il, ell -
= am ashamed of you, sir You need not
help me. | can get into the carriage alone"
Two DAYS after this Judge Preston came
home looking very thoughtful. After sca he
called Nellie to him, and asked her if she
had made up her mind to be the wife of John
tainsford
have made up my mind that will NOT
be his wife !" was her prompt reply.
have no wish To urge YOU my child"
DO not love him, father; and should
prefer to have no more intimacy with him.
never liked him. He is unkind to his poor
sister and he might be unkind to me-"
You are right, my daughter; and am
now free to confess that / am pleased with
brother said to me, before he left with his
company, was, that he hoped you would not
make John Gainsford his brother-in-law He
knows Gainsford well, and has no respect for
him."
The Judge kissed his child, and the matter
was settled GainsfOrd was the son of one
Of his oldest friends, and thus the intimacy
had commenced; and he had been willing for
his daughters sake, to try the Young man
but he felt a sense of relief now that the
trial was over.
George Preston, the Judges only son, had
gone as Captain of a company; and the fami-
i watched anxiOusly for the news that was to
bear to them intelligence of the movement of
the tin Regiment. By-and-by intelligence
came. The regiment was at POOlesville The
regiment was at Balls Bluff The regiment
had been under fire nearly all of that terrible
day; and fearful havoc had been made in
the ranks. Where was George? o, how
anxious was Nellie Preston nowl More than
ever before did she know that she loved her
brother
HaI Good news. George is safe. The
Judge came home with an evening paper
and handed it TO Nellie, pointing with his fin
ger 10 the paragraph she was to read. She
read as follows:
Captain Preston, after being exposed to
a merciless fire for four consecutive hours,
vas one Of the last to swim the river He
lad made his way down the bluff and was as
ssting some of his wounded comrades, when
the enemy came pouring down upon him.
tie was surrounded, and would have been
slain, but for the heroic bravery and devotion
q a sergeant of his company. The sergeant,
whose name was Walter Evermond, seeing
the captain in danger, sprang TO his side, and
With his revolver shot down three men who
we're pressing upon him. When they gained
the water Captain Preston had received a
wound in his shoulder, which rendered it inn
possible for him tO-swim but Evemond did
not forsake him. The noble fellow chung to
bis captain like brother, aud succeeded in
happy to state that Captain Preston's wound
i not dangerous"
Oh Heaven bless that noble sergeant"
CALCULATED Nellie, as she finished reading the
account.
And her father joined her with his whole
soul.
Later in the evening a curious thought
worked its way into Nellie Preston's
mind She wished the man who had saved
her brothers. life so bravely had been only
eOrpOrall And then she wondered where
That iair-faced, bright-eyed soldier was whom
she had kissed in the depot She wished she
knew his name 1t would be a satisfaction
10 know how he Jared. She hoped he was
safe.
Ere long letter came from George, in
which he gave thrilling account of the bat
ue He spoke of Sergeant Walter EvermOnd
As he would have spoken of brother. " He