Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-31
THE SOLDIERS WIFE.
HER BRIDAL. TOUR or SIXTEEN HUNDRED
MILES ON root.
Detroit Free Press

DebIolt EVe lFgHH
Reading abont bridal tours, permit III,
to relate ~ strange experience. Some
months after tho close Of tho war yen,
tleluan residing ia Texas overlook on
Tho road one day It well dressed ex-sol.
dicr. The soldier was accompanied by
"prctty, neat looking girl Of apparently
nbout Is years ot age. She carried q
bundle in her hand. The soldier stopped
to ask directions about the road The
gentleman found tho stranger was a
Confederate soldier returning TO his home
10 Texas with his wife. He invited The
stranger home with him to dinner. The
soldier, fine looking Texan, told bis
story. His home, he said, was on the
Nneces. llo belonged TO Johnston's
army, and had gone tiiroagl, all tho W.
ried fortunes of u soltlier--been once
wounded and twice % prisoner. In ono
of his various wnnderings be had met
and fallen in love with tho daughter Of
a widow residing in tho northern part
Of South Carolina. The Widows hus-
band had fallen ut tho battle Of Manas-
sas. Tho widow, from competence,
found herself reduced almost TO want
When the war closed our soldier went TO
the house of his intended mother in law
and for month worked with nll his
might, mentling fences and putting the
farm in tho best order ho could; then,
thinking it time TO See about matters ut
home and his old mother in Southern
Texas, Of whom he had not heard Que
word for over two years, he prepared TO
return home, but il was hard to leave
his sweetheart, especially when he was
unable TO e,ceive whom no could make
money enough to return for her. She
settled tho matter by saying she was
going with him. So ono morning they
were married, and started for Texas on
foot, with knapsacks on their backs and
without single cent OF money.
"But," said the bride, 1--WE found peo-
ple very kind. We made friends all
along tho road; we were novor turn
cd off at night; we always got
plenty to cat, and the people would
often make us little presents Of money.
We would frequently overtake wag-
oner, who would give us q ride III far ~
no was going our way. When We came
through New Orleans We had to got
passes to cross tho river The Northern
General noticed that my shoes were
nearly worn out, whispered something
to one Of his aids, who went out and
came back with pair of shoes, and the
General asked II ! would oblige him by
accepting them. have them now.
"Wben We left he shook hands with
both Of us, and said we were 4 'plucky
couple When got to my husbands
home | shall have travelled over 1900 |
most of it Oh foot. would !
not take anything in the world for my
trip. | have found every ybody 80 kind
and good.'
Tho young husband looked into his
wifo's bright face and smiled, as though
he thought he saw there the reason why
every one was so kind.
"But were you not afraid to come 80
far with a wild Texan?' some ono
asked.
"Oh, no"' was the smiling reply. II
always liked the Texans-they make
such brave, good soldiers"
"You have indeed proved that you
liked ono of them"
After dinner the gentleman had his
carriage brought around, and carried
hem days journey homeward. As we
hook hands with the bride all wished
Ter pleasant journey.
''Oh, never fear that" she answered.
] am almost home-lOO miles or 200
sn't much. l am happy as a queen.'
They drove off, the happicst couple
Yer seen. Now, wasn't she a heroine9
do not think that many women would
ave unqertaken such bridal tour.