Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-15

She was intelligent, she was kind and lady
like in her kindness, she was good and vir-
tuous, and she loved him. He was sick and
weak, respondent, and inclined to think she
WAS not only his best but his only
friend. He imagined he was very grateful
to her, and he married her. She was as
good and as true wife as ever man had had.
He knew now that it was more than graft
tude he felt for her-he loved her; and he
loved their child. Would he leave them
only to support them comfortably in some
retired village-just enough to avoid talk
about him and them-so that his friends
could obtain his re-appolntment in the
army? No, be would not. 1t almost broke
his heart to give up the hope of recovering
his place and his good name among his
former army comrades; but he would not
abandon and deny his wife and child for
any reward. whatever. Nor would he give
them occasion to think he was ashamed OF
them, or that be belonged to social order
from which they were shut out. His
friends had come too late. He would take
all the chances of his life with his wife and
child and seek for nothing which could sep
arate him from them.
Then the conversation was turned from
varied with mention of names and places of
the past-with remembrances of the old
world, where more than one of the party
could claim kindred with families whose
records are almost as ancient as those of the
races which formed their nations; and with
many questions and answers about the men
whom all had known in their new world life
statesmen, soldiers, adventures, gamblers,
miners and stock raisers, heroes and despe-
radoes, of the plains and mountains of the
West. Won Blank forgot his condition; his
friends had no more thought of it. The wine
flowed freely. There was jest and song, wit
and sentiment, and memories joyous and
sad. And when the party separated at late
hour in the evening it was agreed that they
should have Ole more day together before
parting, perhaps never to be together again.
One IF the four friends was absent from
the excursion on which Won Blank was tak-
en- next day. A plea of important business
was accepted IS his excuse and the others,
with Won Blank, went out merrily for long
day of festivity. The one left behind called
early at Won Blanks cottage and had a pro-
longed, serious conversation with the negro
wife. He told her of Won Blank q rank and
connections in Hanover; of his enviable rep
utation in the army; of the error and misfor-
tunes which had lost him the place he hon
ored and which honored him; of the desire
and ability of his friends to give
him again that place; and, as in
Extensively as such a thing could
be told, of the one obstacle to his restoration
his faithful, loving, but black wife. "Does
he know that separate him from his friends?
that but for me he would be taken back into
the army?" ibid he know you were
coming to tell me this?"
"Does he want to leave me- and
his child, to go back to his old place and his
old friends?" Such were the questions she
asked. which we're answered with assurances
that Won Blank did not know of the visit to
her: that he had declared his love for her
and their child, and his preference of them
and their love to anything and all the world
could offer him; but-and this was dwelt up
ont was impossible that he should be re-
stored to the army, to his friends, or even to
his family in Europe, 50 long as the world
might know that he had married his washer
woman-a black woman-and had a mulatto
child. When her visitor lsft her Mrs. Won
Blank scarcely needed his departure. She
was weeping, but not boisterously, and en-
bracng her child.
When Won Blank returned to his home
that evening his wife and child were gone.
No one knew where they were gone, and no
one dared tell him why they had gone. He
searched diligently for them: detectives were
engaged in the search, and his friends en-.
abled him to offer large rewards for dis
covery of the lost ones whereabouts, while
jealousy guarding against it becoming
known that it was the black wife and mu-
latto child of Lieut.. Won Blank for whom
the search Was being made. But all search
was unavailing. The wife and child have
never been seen or heard of by Won Blank
or any Of his friends from that day to this.
Gen. Belknap was assured that the ex-
lieutenant did not have q black
wife, and gave important assistance
towards his restoration to the army. Gen.
Logan was warmly interested in the case,
and secured early action. Won Blank WAS
recommissioned, with former date and rank,
was assigned to his old regiment, and in six
days after joining it was again in action with
Indians, and bore himself most CALAMITY, as
of yore. The next that the ex-paymaster
heard of Won Blank, was that he had lost a
leg from wounds received IN fight with In
dams. The Army Register shows that be is
sulting from wounds. a letter from an &C
quaintapce at Washington mentions him as
q clerk in one of the government offices.
Does he still love and mourn the lost wife
and child? Yes. Does she live happy in
her self sacrifice? Does she long to return
to him? Is she living: Is she dead? Won
Blank knows nothing of her or their child
since the day he rode out with his three
friends and. coming back, found his house
deserted. His friends know no more than
he If this woman had been white, though
ever SO poor and lowly, how one might have
praised her self sacrificing heroissu, her I'M
selfish love! But would it not shock our
prejudices against the color Of her skin, to
try to honor her motives.
More Houses Needed.
To the Editor of The Globe.
Asyou are acquainted with the wants of