Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-11
THE ANGEL OF THE DEPOT: OR WHAT
CANE OF KISS.

where fighting was sure TO come. The
ears had backed into the building, and the
engine was shrieking impatently. The regi-
ment had fled into the depot, and as the sol
diers rested for few moments upon their
arms, fond friends gathered around, and the
words of parting were spoken. There were
tears, and sobs, and blessings; there was
wringng of hands, and wringing of hearts
Wives were parting with husbands; mothers
were parting with their sons sisters were
bidding goodbye to brothers; and fathers
were speaking the last words of caution and
care. 1t was a season Of painful anxiety; for
the departing ones We're going away with
their lives in their hands, and the offering on
the battle-altar might speedily be made.
Corporal Walter EvermOnd LEANED on his
rife, and gazcd upon the scene. No one
came to kiss him-none to bid him farewell.
Not over one-andtwenty was Corporal Wal
ter Evermond. lie had fresh, handsome
face, and a bright pure eye; and his frame
was one of those marvels wherein magnif-
cent physical structure is developed with a
small body.
g DECLARE" said the Corporal, wiping a
bit Of moisture from his eye, II am glad that
| have nobody here to weep and sob for me
Yet" he added, with longing look, 'it
would be pleasant to bear away one parting
kiss But | shan't get it."
I'll kiss you if you'll let me ?'
Walter Eyemond felt hand upon his
arm; and the prettiest, sweetest face he had
ever seen, beamed upon him with a smile.
"L'll kiss you, sir !" And the girl placed
both hands upon his shoulders, and pressed
her lips upon his blooming cheek
Thank you! Bless your
Fail M Fail H."
The Corporal pressed the hand of the
beautiful girl; gave one more look into her
beaming face, and then fell into line and ere
long the ears rolled out from the depot, bear
ing the volunteers towards the field where
patriot duty called them.
In 4 little while the train was out Of sight
around the turn, and the throng of friends
gradually dispersed.
Nellie, I'm astonished at you ~
E" Astonished at me !" repeated Nellie Pres
ton, looking up into the face of John Gains
ford, who walked by her side to Il carriage
Yes. How could you do such Il thing >"
Such thing as what ?"
As kiss that fellow in the depot. Good
ness gracious! What were YOU thinking of"
9 was thinking" replied Nellie, with Il
perceptble flush Of feeling "that he might
be poor, motherless, sisterless boy, who had
no one in the world to love him"
And 50 you thought you'd love him, ell :"
love all those brave, noble men who
have gone out to offer up their lives for their
country's welfare !" said the girl with deep
emotion. ~ never knew how well loved
my own brother until | saw him 90 away to-
day. | hope God will keep him, and return
him to us in safety
Did you notice. said Mr. Gansford after
pause, " that your foolish behavior caused
considerable remark ,"
"pd rather you wouldn't say ANYTHING more
about that, Mr.. Gainsford."
"You are ashamed Of it, 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 tea he
called Nellie to him, and asked her if she
had made up her mind TO be the wife of John
GainstOrd
Z" have made up my mind that I will NOT
be his wife y was her prompt reply
81 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
your decision. Almost the last thing your
brother said to me, before he left with his
company, YVES, that he hoped you would not
make John Gainstord 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 Il sense of relief now that the
trial was over.
George Preston, the Judges only son, had
gone as Captain of company and the fami-
ly watched anXiOusly for the news that was to
bear to them intelligence of the movement of
the tn Regiment. By-and-by intelligence
came The 5iment was at PooesviIle 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? 0, how
anxious was Nellie Preston now More than
ever before did she know that she loved her
brother.
Ha! Good news. George is safe. The
Judge came home with an evening paper,
and handed it to Nellie, pointing with his fin
ger to the paragraph she was to read. She
read as follows:
Captain Preston, after being exposed to
a merciless fire for four consecutive hours,
was one of the last to swim tie river He
had made his way down the bluff, and was as
sisting some of his wounded comrades, when
the enemy came pouring down upon him.
He was surrounded, and would have been
sain but for the heroic bravery and devotion
OF 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
were pressing upon him. When they gained
the water Captain Preston had received q
wound in his shoulder, which rendered it I'M
possible for him toiswim; but Evermond did
not torsa&e him. The noble fellow clung tC
his captain like a brother, aud succeeded il
getting HIM safely over the river. We are
happy to state that Captain Preston's wound
is not dangerous"
ooh! Heaven bless that noble sergeant ;
calculated Nellie, rs she finished reading the
account
And her father joined her with his whole
soul.
Later in the evening curious though
worked its way into Nellie Prestont
mind She wished the man who had saveC
her brothers life so bravely had been only .
cornoral! And then she wondered wher,
that fair-faced, bright-eyed soldier was whom
she had kissed in the depot. She wished sh
knew his name. 1t would be satisfaction
to know how he Jared. She hoped he wa
safe.
Ere long letter came from George, il
which he gave thrilling account OF the bat
tie, He spoke of Sergeant Walter Evermon
as he would have spoken of a brother. " ii
saved my life at the risk of his own, he wrote
8 and but for him you would have no son lv
ing to write this and Nellie would have NJ
brother" There was postscript to the lette
as follows:
T. S.-Walter Evermond has just receiy
ed commission as Second Lieutenant"
The winter wore away, and George, in hi
letters to his sister frequently spoke of Wal