Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-05-16
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
Il Trcgtc Tale and as Singular
YtrmiR alton.


gentleman from Joplin who gave hin
the particulars of one Of the most
remarkably divorce eases Of whicl
we have ever heard. The following
is the story
\ lady sued for divorce In Jop
lin recently aud when it came VI
the startling developments of which
we write were brought to light, and
upon their strength a divorce was
granted. &c -~r.a ~ r-
In 1853, the lady, then a young
and handsome maiden, q resident OF
Stone county, Southwest Missouri,
married worthy young man to
whom she had long been engaged.
Their union was happy one. and,
rs both had been reared in the vicin-
ity. and were beloved and respected
by ull, they received the kindess ben
isons of all who knew them.
But the war was raging around
them, and, their locality was altern-
ately occupied hy each of the con-
tending armies, a draft was about
10 be made. and the young husband
month after his marriage, conclu-
ded To take advantage OF the govern
ment's liberal offers and enlist ratt =
tr than run the risk of being forced
into the ranks without any emolu-
lnent save the meagre pay Of a pri-
yate. 81 he voluntarily enlisted
and became a private in the ranks of
the Union Army.
Ills courage and intelligence soon
gained the respect Of his officers ard
fellow men, and in several hard
fnnght battles he distinguished him.
self to such an extent that his name
was forwarded to the Department
Headquarters in st. Louis, and in
short time returned emblazoned
in
A SECOND LIEUTENANT's CON-
MISSION.
The regiment was Thea stationed
IL Northern Arkansas, and at this
oppol tune moment, when he was so
near to all he held dear flor a son
was born to him during his absencel,
he could not resist the temptation
to obtain "a short leave of absence |
and visit his wife and child.
This, to him high-prized boon,
was easily obtained, and with his
commission in his pocket, he mount !
ed his horse and started for home.
With eager haste lie pursued his
journey, his mind being filled with |
bright visions of happy meeting
with his hearts idols. At length
The we'll remembered land marks
came to view. .EA -LE
lie was close to home.
A few hundred yards of the leafy |
forest, and he would be n the open
;ng where he could see the SIN oke
from the cot that contained his
treasures.
How lie would surprise them
How his wife would cry for JOY
How The bright-eyed baby would
HALT 70 CANE fierce order in
steltorian tones from the bush that
surrounded the road. Ere he could
rein his horse in obedience to the
dread summons, he was, as if by
magic, surrounded by twenty or
thirty fierce and heavily armed men,
whom his practiced eye told him
were the most unrelenting foes that
the uniform he wore ever had. His
heart sank within him, brave as he
was, for he knew there was no mer-
cy in the breast Of a bushwhacker,
for such they were.
A few q lestions were put to hi m
by the leader Of the band, but they
were more for FORMS sake than any
thing else. His uniform was
mate answer for all they wished to
kuow, while from his pockets,
which were rapidly turned inside
out. the commission was drawn
forth, which made them more eager |
for his blood.
The leader of the band WAS man |
near his own age, and to him he ap-
pealed and demanded that he be
treated as a prisoner of war. His
reonest was treated with derlsion,
and moment more his legs were
uinioned and an ominous rope with
il moose at it's end cangled from the
imo Of an adjacent tree. Again he
appealed to mis- inhuman captorS,
and lm plored them to let him see
his wife anu child but for a moment
before he died. But even as he
supplicated, the leader put the fatal
i,o1 around his neck, gave a signal
With his hand, aud the unfortunate
nan was swan2 off into eternity
With "a pra ;er for his widowed wife
..ll ocpha lel chill u2>n his lips