Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-12-07
A Romance of the War.

A correspondent Of the Chicago Republican,
writing from Jacksonville, Ill, vOuches for the
truth of the following narrative. Stranger things
have happened, and arc happening every day
If this story be not all fact it Is good,-as attrac-
tive as the tales told by half the modern noyests,
and with n better moral TO back it than they often
give, Ii suggests 4 nice plot for domestic tears
and smiles drama:
A well to do farmer Of this county had daurh-
ter Who, besides being personally attractive was
well educated, and possessed OF more than the usu
al amount of good sense. As 4 consequence she
had many suitors. An but two of these she ireat-
cd with no favor; and between these two il was i'm
possible for her TO choose. She liked them both,
but which she loved. she could not tell. When
the first call was made for three years troops ia
1861, these men together with the Young laly's
brother enlisted in the same company. Thi, event
disclosed TO her the feelings OF her own heart
She accepted the man she loved, ana on the morn
ing he lett Tor the field they were married.
The husband was the posscssor Of no little prop
erty, and be lore he left he made viii in her IA
ror. While in the field, strange enough, strong
friendship bound these men to-cther,--thc reject
cd lover cherishing i'll feeling towards the hus
band OF his love, or her brother. At the battle Of
Stone River, on the 2i of Janu ,ry. 1863, the com
pany they in in the ferccst of the strife.
When that terrible conflict was over. the husband
was found with his head blown Off and was ONLY
recognized by a letter found in his pocket, from
his wife. The brother was missing, and the dis
appointed sutton was wounded so severely that his
life was dcspaired Of She was now maid and
widow, mourned with breaking heart for her
husband and brother. The wounded man recov-
ercd but was unfit for further service; was dis
charged and came home. His affection was still
true and firm, and the fact of his association with
the loved and lost, gave him strong hold upon
the sympatlics and regard Of her who had received
the love Of his life.
As month after month passed. away, the wounds
in her bleeding heart were PARTIAL, healed and
she at last consented to he the wife of him she
had once refused for another. She told him, how
ever, that she cond never love him as n wife
should love her husband, her heart buried
in the grave OF her first and only love. II was the
day before the wedding. aud the two were together
arranging their plans for the future. Suddenly
her father entered, and handed her letter. say
ing: "Read that quick, and tell me what il
means" The letter bore the New York post
mark. aud was directed in her husbands hand
She did not faint. but pale as death. thc tore of
the envelope and read:
New YorK, Jan. -, 1865.
Ny Dsar Wit-
am at last exchanged. Am vcrv feeble As
soon as ] can bear the journey, will he home.
The scene that followed cannot be described
The wretchedness of the twice disappointed ma, be
imagined; but he acted as a true should. and
sincerely congratulated her on the safety oil her
husband In few weeks the husband came, and
then the mystery was explained. On the morning
OF the BATTLE he had given letter from his wife to
her brother to read. They soon became separ-
ated. Ii was the brother that had been killed
He, himself, had been severely wounded and taken
prisoner. He had written often, but the letters
had failed to reach their destination. After two
years of suffering worse than death, he had been
exchanged, and now was at home. Sorrow for
al 81.
happiness of the reunited couple. Their noble
and devoted friend remained to see the one he
loved happy with her husband, and then left home
to be n wonderer in the world. He is now in the
far West, and seeks to forget the past in the cI-
element OF frontier life.