Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-12-12
A Love Story of the ncbolllon.

charming lady who had dropped in on Visit.
One Of our windows looked into that Of inoth-
er room so placed by the position OF the main
building that half Of its interior could be seen
We were locking aud admirne little ehuo-
by blue-eyed two-year OLD, white as snow
who was pullug boquet to pieces and toss
ing out the fragments, or clappins her little
hands with delight as the train went thunder
ing by.
"Thcse rooms" said our fair visitor, " have
some very tender associations FOX ne
"Why so ?" We asked.
"Well." she answered. during the war
the greater part of the hotel was siezed BY the
Government as hospital. and we were crowd
ed into few rooms. Ny sister and had
this. In that room where tha, little beauty
is were two Union officers, one sick OF the
fever and another of wound. 1t was hard
10 tell whether they were slowly dying or
slowly getting we'll never saw such ghost
ly skeletons 10 be alive. We were secesh
and not modest about it either, but still our
hearts achcl f1r the poor young men, so ILL.,
perhaps dying, FAR from friends aud rela-
tiyes"
at bothers one to know how this should
be hospital we said, ii. is 50 far removed
from active operations"
at was thought" she answered, that the
mountain air Of the glades would be more IA
vorablc to recovery than elsewhere, 50 this
was made hospital One day one Of these
oilicers dragged himself to the window, and
under the impulse Of the moment my sister
asked if we could do anything for them, and
he answered gasping for breath, that's little
chicken soup would save their lives. Chick
ems were rare in those dAys-an army Is hard
On poultry. The men will walk all night,
after marching through the day, TO secure a
few chickens so that when the hospital nurse
aud physicians had unlimited supply Of luxn-
ries in the way of wines, potted meats and
ca0ued vegetables, they were without any
thing fresh. We knew where few chickens
were hid in cellar, by neighbor. and we
coaxel one out of the owner, aud alter deal
of vexatious trouble--for at every turn We
were met by fxel bayonet aud an insult
we got the soup ready, aud as the guard in the
hall would not permit US to approach our pa
tients. my sister attempted to hand the bowl
TO the officer 10 the window. Just as he was
leebly reaching for it, and she stretching her
self half out 10 give il TO him, harsh, ugly
voice below cried aloud, " Look out, there
poison !" She nearly dropped herself soup
and all Drawing back she hesitatcd second,
and then she took the spoon and began eating
the broth. ooh botherV cried the officer,
don't waste i, that way; I'm no, afraid !;
and she gave him the soup. II seemed to re-
vive them, and they continued steadily TO i'm
prove; as day after day "e supplied them with
chicken broth until the cellar was empty.
During this time we sat at the window talk
ins. and we sang TO them-sang My Mary
land and all the Southern songs We knew,
until they were well enough to leave tie hos
pital aud return TO duty. They both seemed
sorry to 90, and forced on us quantity Of
hospital store and some coffee, which last we
needed sadly. Then one gave ring and the
other brooch, as tokens Of their kind feel
ing"
And did they ucyer return ?" we asked.
zone did not, for poor fellow, he was kill
ed in the very next battle in which he was
engaged. His companion wrote MS abou, it,
and the writer insisted upon opening a cores
pondence with my sister aud soon his letters
crew into love letters, aud after time they
were engaged Nearly a year subsequent to
this our patient got leave Of absence and came
on to be married. lie put up at hotel, aud
will you believe il, our own brother, who
was in the Confederate service, aud knew no.
thing of my sisters affair led band OF
euerillas at night into town and captured his
intended brother-in-law from bis bed. This
not only deferred the marriage, but deprived
the young West Pointer Of his promotion,
that bad been promised for gallant services IN
the field. 1t WAS really aggavating, for ex-
changes had almost ceased, and it looked as II
the lovers would have to wal: until this crue!
war was over before they could be unitel."
4. Y -i-.il la,. a,r,,fa1 10 L iraiarn
Lincoln to givs a married brigadieF for 40 IN
married Lieutenant"
ave did better Procuring passes, we
went through the lines and appealed 70 Jeii.
Davis. JEFF. said he would put my brothers
prisoner 10 his sisters keeping. They have
been happily married these many years. lie
is breyet- -brigadier general now. and 1t all
CANA If our nursing the enemy 10 that room