The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-03-22
A PAIR OF SLIPPERS.
A War Romance.
81 f s, - Z. ~r-EFa ~

nhn.i WCk hHA1lT2 W9H
: The history of the great rebellion
may some day be written fully ant
! timpartislly, and the great events o
: the war, as well as those which pre-
) ceded IT, and, caused its, outbreak
be traced in an able and clear man
J ner. But there are many singular
episodes connected Herewith com.
ing to light every day. which will
, never heE madesspnblics excepting
through the columns of the news
papers, and there are often incidents
disappearing in everyday life whose
details are as remarkable as those
which are made the groundwork of
thrilling novels or romances. Such
. case we will briefly relate. Every
zone rememhaEs !dnFin9 the dark
tdsys OF the late war, how the noble
ladies of the country formed them
selves into societies and labored I'M
remittingly to afford relief to, our
suffering and self.sacrIficing defend
ers.a There were church societies,
and general aid societies, ETC., ETC.,
and even In some cases the young
ladies dropped their school books
and their amusements, and devoted
their time and money to those laud-
able projects. How many eyes
have moistened and hearts softened
when their owners lying sick and
wounded at hospitals, or nearly
overcome by "ferced marches" or
contained exposure, hayeTreceived
some little delieacy or necessary
article of clothing from the fair
hands of their sympathizing sisters
at homel How many fervent "God
bless thens" have been uttered, and
how many grateful prayers have
been offered by the Gboys' in blue"
for the noble women who remem-
bered them so kindlyi
In Fort Wayne, during this peri
cd, four young ladies associated
themselves into relief society, and
met two or three times week to
prepare acceptable articles of cloth
ing, or choice edibles to tempt the
appetite, for the brave soldiers at
the front. These girls, not knowing
but some of their offerings might
reach q Fort Wayne boy, to whom
they would be doubly precious as
coming from home, attached a card
containing their compliments and
names to a few of the offerings
which'they sent. These gifts reach |
ed their destination, and served to |
cheer the heart and alleviate the |
suffering of many who were racked |
with disease or afflicted with |
wounds. One young man who en-
listed in an eastern regiment was |
taken seriously i'll, and put in the |
hospital at Bowling Green, KY,
where he lay for weeks, lowering |
between life and death, with no
mother or sister near to administer |
to his wants, to smooth his fevered |
brow, Or to whisper words of COM
fort or of love. Thanks to a vigor-
Gus and robust constitution, how
ever, he at length began to recover,
and when conYalescent, and hope
fully looking forward to a speedy
release from the hospital ward, he /
received q pair of slippers accom-
panied with card inscribed: ITO
a brave soldier. Compliments of
z ---, Fort Wayne, Indiana"
Nothing could have been received
with more gratitude In these days
Of slow but steady recovery, and the
card was carefully preserved among
his choicest treasures. He, no doubt,
cherished a secret hope that he
might some day meet the fair girl
whose Offering had been to him so
invaluable, and such a perfect as
surance that the boys were still re-
membered in the north.
After his complete restoration to
health he served CALAMITY until the
close of the war, behaving with so
much bravery that when he return
ed home he had been promoted to
the rank of Major, distinction he
richly earned. Returning to his
native place he engaged in active
business life for some years, and
had long since ceased to think of
the little episode of hospital life,
although he still kept the card.
Last summer, however, he conclud-
ed. to take a much needed respite |
from the cares of trade, and started
West for a tour of observation and
relaxation.
While on his travels he had. an
opportunity of assisting beautiful
young lady, who had become be-
wildered at the Union Depot, In
dianapolis, and as he was going
some distance in the same direction
as the LADY, he acted as her escort.
In the course of an animated con-
versation, he was induced to relate
his experiences in the rebellion,
which greatly interested his fair |
listener, who was charmed with his |
fine command of language, the mod
esty with which he referred to his |
own services, aud the beauty of his |
descriptions of places and events. |
When he arrived at his destination |
it was with reluctance that he part |
ed from his companion, whose name |
and address he obtained previous to |
the separation. For days after
wards, as he was rowing through the |
country, did his thoughts linger up
on his new acquaintance. Every |
word she said seemed to be deeply
engraven upon his memory, while |
her beautiful and intelligent lace,
her dark, expressive eyes, and art
less, fascinating expression, were
ever before him. Again and again
did he repeat her name, until the
idea gained control of his mind that
he had heard the name before. But
he was unable TO say when, and he
at last attempted to dismiss the
khOuUht ga an idle vaOarv Rnf HE