The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-08-25
FICTION 0UTD0NE.
THE STORY OF A CHICAGO FLOWER Girl

n Yes; she is beauty, and good a
y she is beautiful =
4 The only daughter of the gentleman
e on whose arm she Is leaning
d 'What-the colonel? Why. I knew
him in the army, and | thought he wa.
childless widower."
$50 did many--so he himself SIM
posed until a few years ago. His dauob
ter Is as one risen from the dead
Q The above conversation took place
r between two gentlemen who occupied =
q settee at one of the lawn concerts at the
!, Union club. 1t was overheard by many
= but strange TO say. it seemed to excite
no curiosity A Herald writer however
took the liberty of asking an explana-
ton, and succeeded in learning won
E derful family history.
you will publish no names, stipu.
lated his informant.
Certainly not, replied the writer.
Then [ will tell you the whole story. =
And lighting fresh cigar he proceeded ::
''The Colonel was the only son Of an
: old knickerbocker family in New York.
In 1889, when he was about % wears of
age, he made the acquaintance of a
pretty working girl, fell deeply in love
, with her, and in spite of the remon-
strances of his relatives, he married
her. There was Il terrible row. Of
: course. The father, good easy
going old gentleman, would have for.
given the boy, but the mother and sis
tiers were implacable, and they ruled
the house. The young couple were
thrown upon their own resources, but
their wants were few and easily supplied
and they had no reason to complain of
their lot. The war broke out almost
before the honeymoon was over, and
the young husband, burning with pa
triotism, enlisted in one of the first
volunteer regiments that went to the
front. Before going, he exacted
promise from his father to provide for
his wife. The old gentleman meant to
keep his word and would have kept it
| had not circumstances beyond his CON
| troll prevented him.
Scarcely had the regiment left New
York when the boys mother went to
the young wife and told her that she
would never see her husband again. |
He had made fool of himself in mar
rying her and realizing his mistake had /
enlisted, prefering death on the battle I
field to life with her. The poor girl. /
completely deceived and quite heart /
broken, wrote to her husband that he /
might return to New York, as she would +
never trouble him again. Then she dis
appeared.
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 thread. When finally he was able
to travel he went to New York and be-
gan a search for his wife. Two days
before the expiration of his furlough
he learned that the body of a young
woman answering 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 unfortunate girl to suicide,
confessed what she had done and begg-
ed forgiveness. He left her with a
curse and rejoined his regiment, pray
ing that the next rebel bullet might find
his heart.
1.-The wal ended, and the soldier-boy,
who had risen from the ranks to the
command Of regiment, was transferred
W tHc IC9 uldI arm anu NtHt uut " SSt
where the indians were becoming
troublesome. He could not forgive his
mother, and therefore he would not re-
turn 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-
"He returned, but the old man pass j
ed away within two years. At his death
he left the bulk of his fortune to his
son.
"About seven years ago the colonel |
started West to look after some mining
interests. On his way he stopped for
day or two in Chicago. One evening as
he was standing on the steps of the
Sherman House, uncertain whether to
90 to a theater or 10 a club, he was &C 6
costed by a little girl who carried /, small 5
tray of hgItoI-hole boquets. Please
buy boquet, sir, after he had once re-
fused, and the voice was so sweet and {
that he turned to look at her. t
in her face and manner at
tracted him, she was SO different from
The brazen-faced little wretohes who !
usually monopolize the flower business. D"
''sWhat is your name,' he asked"
Mara, SIR replied the little one"
Mar pou mean?'
No, sir, Mara,
That il strange, little girl. Who
gave it to your
'.My mamma, sir; its Bible name
Don't you know where it says, Call me
not Naomi, call me Mara, for the Lord
hath dealt bitterly with me
NV child, said the colonel, kindly
has the Lord dealt very bitterly with
you?'"
Yes, sir, my mamma is very sick !
and poor.
well, perhaps the Lord has sent
me to make up for His neglect, SAID 5
the colonel, smiling at the idea. Sup 5
pose you take me to your mother.
"Oh, thank you, sir said the child, 5
and taking his hand she led him away I
to rickefy old tenenement house and 5
up three or four flights Of stairs.
This is our home, said she, open 5
ing the door of a room which was
almost entirely bare of furniture, and i
there is mamma. Mamma, here Is :.
gentleman come to see you. -
ssThe woman who was lying pale and !,
smaciated upon bed in corner of a :
room raised herself upon one elbow and t
ooked with startled eyes upon the visi- b
tor.
81 beg your pardon for this intru-
ion, madame said the Colonel, adj
7ancing to the bedside. Your little
laughter told you were i'll, and |
bought / might be of some service. }
Viii you Ny God, what resem !
,lance = :
ssThe Colonel was now staring at the 7 7
hin, worn face before him, and trem- I !
ling in every limb.
s.tOh, George, is it really you ? cried q