The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-10
LONG-LINGERING LOVE.
How Franklin BroIIiar Lost and Won
the Woman OF His Choice.

noon.
But this is the wrong end at which to
begin the story.
Twenty years ago Franklin Brolliar was
young man living in the town Of Han
cock, Washington county, Md. In the
same town and at the same time lived
maiden, young and fair, named Mary Rol-
Ter. Franklin and Mary became acquaint-
ed; their acquaintance ripened into love,
and 4 pledge OF devotion followed which
should endure as long rs life might
last. But before Franklin was pre-
pared to make Mary his wife the
civil war came on. Franklin loved Mary,
but be loved his country too, and the time
had come when he felt he must share his
devotion between them. When the call
was made for soldiers ne enlisted, and
bidding his sweetheart an 2fectiOnate good
bye, with promise that he would return
and make her his bride, he marched away
10 the music Of the fife and drum to join
the Army OF the Potomac.
After the second battle Of Bull Run re-
port reached his home that Franklin Brol-
liar had been struck by bullet and killed.
II is not necessary here TO describe the grief
OF his friends or the sorrow OF his sweet
heart when the distressing news came to
least. appreciate their feelings. Reports
from the army were not always truthful, but
if Mary Roller found any ground for hope
in this. such hope faded as month after
month passed by and no word was received
from Franklin Brolliar to contradict the
sad message. Doubt Of his death no longer
remained.
And now for the first time it dawned
uOon her mind that Franklin Brollisr was
not the only man who ever lived. There
were others, too, besides Franklin Brolliar
who thought that Mary Roller was erea-
ture to be loved. Among these was Mr..
Reeder. He WOoed and won, and Mary
became his wife.
The ball that struck Franklin Brolliar
nj the second battle OF Bull Run inflicted
severe wound, but did not bring with
II death. On the contrary, after many
dsvs of suffering, he recovered, and at
the close OF his term OF service ne re-
turned home, expecting TO make Mary
his bride. But Instead Of realizing his
baDpy authorizations, it was only for him
7 To learn that she was the wife Of another.
I His bright hopes were turned to dire
disanuojntment. and without exchanging
/ n word with her whom he had expected TO
/ greet so fondly, he again bade goodbye 10
/ his home and iOurneyed westward. hoping
/ m find 4 crave for his memories behind the
hills which hide the dimmed glory OF the
I declining sun. In his wandering Franklin
I RroIliar reached Carroll county, and
secured for himself farm near Bogart 5
/ Nound. There he lived these many days,
with no companion but crushed heart.
with Mary it was different. She became
the mother of three bright children, and
I lived happily with her husband in the East
until a wear ago last August, when he was
killed ON the railroad and she became
widow.
, FRANKLIN Brolliar knew nothing Of this.
Pint he had sister at his old home 10 whom
not long since he wrote q letter. Ihls SIS
ter informed the widow Of the whereabouts
~ her fthe widow's) old lover; also telling
her thai he was still unmarried. With this
information Mrs. Reeder felt a return OF
the flame which warmed her heart in days
~ old. and she posted a friendly message
m him. The love OF Franklin BrOlliar was
a9 ardent as ever, and he replied by send
inc draft for 800 and telling her to come
at once and be his wife.
last saturday evening she was expected
TO arrive in Carrollton. Franklin BrolllaI
came 10 town that day and procured
marriage-license granting himself and Mrs
Mary Reeder the privilege Of becoming
man and wife. In the evening he went q
the train 10 meet her, but was disappointed
She did not come. Next morning he wenl
tn tbe dep0t again. The train had passed
before he reached there, and he hoped tC
find the lady he loved at the station wait
ing for him. But in this he was again dls
appointed. His intended bride was no,
there 10 meet him. Sunday evening ano
Monday morning his experience was th'
I same. Hope deferred, we are told, naketL
the heart sick, and Franklin BrollIar be
c,ne n nearly a heart-sick man a. coul1
we'll he imagined. The reader viii no
then marvel il he lBrolliar) applied at VII
bite's popular spirit infirmary for some
thing n keep his soul from sinking within
him He subjected himself 10 the u'ua
course of treatment in bad cases, but stli
evidences OF unhappiness would appear
II was only in the evening when he Wa'
told that the object OF his affection was II
town. and a collation. OF salt herring an'
sour pickles was prescribed for him, ina
his dropping spirit revived ,hol
The train on which Mrs. Reeder reached
- louis saturday morning failed 10 con
meet with the Wabash train, and that 1
,ybv she failed 20 arrive in Carrollton sat
urday evening. the appointed time. Sh'
took The next train, however, ana win mel
tbrea children arrived at this station at al
carly hour Sunday morning, and nndine
no one M the depot 70 meet her. ana Deihe
=, total stranger. She went TO the Planters
House in South Carrollton. ms was tl'
morning that Brolliar was late IN reach
inc the depot. The train ne lalieu .
Not was the one on which she came, anc
he had zone TO the hotel before he ap
,,esred at the station. The course OF true
iove il said never 10 run smooth, ana j
would seem as IL BroIliar's path to happt
Ness was beset with disappointments. Al
80 beartbroken. he wandered aDoui,
waiting for his sweetheart TO come, Whil'
sov two days she anxiOusly awaiteu lh'
coming OF her prospective husband Ut th'
hotel In South Carrollton.
ON Monday the proprietor OF the rlaif
tors House came to town and told fost
,,aster Cuttings that at his house was
woman with three children who wanted 'I
80. o,,t to Bogart's Mound, and requested
| ,he nostmaster Il he saw any person IRON
lie nei0bborhood OF the Mound TO nave
them call at the Planters House. Ih'
,'o~f,naster had heard OF Broiiiar
| ,rouble. and the matter presented
itseIf quite plainly 20 HIM: Woie
,s-as sent 10 Mr.. Richard Miller, OF the ult
.in0s House. Mr.. Miller secured con
s'eysnce s,nr and started for South Carrolton U
ring tbe Iady and children up, while oanei
nsrties were assigned the task OF iookins
aster BroIIiar. lie was found and escorted 4;
n the Glttings House. About : o'clock ~
the evening Mr.. Miller returned Win MIS-
. Rseder and her children. Shortly a'ef'