Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-23

him again. Then she disappeared
"The young man was dangerously
wounded in his first engagement and it
was several weeks before he could read
the letter. Then the shock caused a
relapse, and for months his life hung by
a thread When finally he was able to
travel he went TO New York and began
o search for his wife. Two days before
the expiration of his furlough he learned
that the body of young woman an
sweriDg her description had been found
in the river shortly after the date of her
first letter. His mother, appalled, at the
thought that she had driven the nntOr-
tunate girl to suicide, confessed what
she had done and begged forgiveness
He left her with curse and rejoined his
regiment, praying that the next rebel
bullet might find his heart.
''rhe war ended, and the soldier boy,
who had risen from the ranks to the
command of u regiment, was transferred
to the regular army and sent out west
where the Indians were becoming trou-
bIesome, He could not forgive his mother
and therefore he would not return to
New York. Five years later he received
an appeal from his father Your mother
is dead he wrote, and your sisters are
married and gone away from me. | am
an old man now, and you are all / have
left. Come back to me-
Gle returned, but the old man passed
away within two years. At his death
he left the bulk of his immense fortune
to his son,
"About seven years ago the Colonel
started west to look after some mining
interests On his way he stopped for II
day Or two in Chicago. One evening,
as he was standing on the steps of the
Sherman house, uncertain whether to
go to the theatre or to a club, no was
accosted by u little girl who carried q
small tray of button-hole boquets.
please buy b0quet, sir after he had
once refused, and the voice was so sweet
and pleading that he turned to look at
her, Something in her face and man
ner attracted him. she was so different
from the brazen-faced little wretches
who usually monopolizc the flower bu-
siness.
"What is your name he asked.
'Mara, sir, replied the little one.
Mary, you mean"
'No, sir, Mara"
"That is II strange name, little girl
who gave it to youm
"My mamma, sir; it's Bible name
Don't you know where it says, Call me
not Naomi call me Mara, for the Lord
hath dealt bitterly with me "
"My child" said the Colonel, kindly,
has the Lord dealt very bitterly with
your
ayes, sir, my mamma is very sick
and poor"
"Well, perhaps the Lord has sent me
to make up for His neglect" said the
Colonel, smiling at the idea. Suppose
you take me to your MOTHER
ooh, thank you, sir said the child,
and taking his hand she led him away
to rickety old tenement house and up
three or four flights ofstairs.
"T'his is our home, said she, opening
the door of room which was almost
entirely bare of furniture, and there is
mamma. Mamma, here is gentleman
come to see YOU
"The woman who was lying pale and
emaciated upon a bed in a corner of the
room, raised herself upon one elbow and
looked with startled eyes upon the visi
tor
II beg your pardon for this intrusion
madame said the Colonel, advancing
to the bedside. Your little daughter
told me you were i'll, and / thought
might be of some service. Will YOU
My God, what a resemblance"
"The Colonel was now staring at the
thin, worn face before him, and tremb-
ling in every limb.
ooh George, is it really you" cried
the woman, with streaming eyes and
outstretched hand"
"Naomi"
at was the Colonies wife, living,
but merely wreck of the pretty girl he
had left at the breaking out of the war.
She had not committed suicide, though
she was sorely tempted to do so, but had
come to Chicago and sought employ
ment. Less than two months after
her arrival her child was born. 1t had
been hard struggle for bread most of
the time, but they had never known
actual want until the mothers health