The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-10-06
Fiction Outdone.
"Whai q beautiful face ="

w udU d UCtutlull ldSCs
eyes: she is a beauty, and good
as she is beautifulp'
"The only daughter of the gen.
tleman on whose arm she is lean.
ing"
"What-the colonel? Why, ]
knew him In the army, and
thought he was a childless widow
er."
$50 did many-so he himself
supposed until a few years ago. His
daughter is as one risen from the
dead"
The above conversation took
place between two gentlemen who
occupied settee at one of the lawn
concerts at the Union club. 1t was
overheard by many; but, strange tc
say, it seemed to excite no curiosi
| ty. A Herald writer, however took
the liberty of asking an explana-
tion, and succeeded in learning q
wonderful family history.
"You will publish no names,
stipulated his informant.
"Certainly not" replied the wri-
ter.
"Then l 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 1859, when he was
about twenty-five he made the ac
quaintance of pretty working girl
fell deeply in love with her, and in
spite of the remonstrances of his
relatives, he married her. There
was terrible row, of course. The
father, good natured, easy going
old gentleman, would have forgiven
the boy, but the mother and sisters
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 wal
broke out almost before the honey
moon was oyer, and the young hus'
band, burning with patriotism en-
listed in one Of the first volunteer
regiments that went to the front
Before going he exacted promise
from his faSher to provide for his
wife. The old gentleman meant
to keep his word and would have
kept it had not circumstances be
yond his control prevented him.
Scarcely had the regiment left
New York when the boys mother
went to the young wife and told hel
that she would never see her hus-
band again. He had made foo
of himself in marrying her and
realizing his mistake had enlisted
preferring death on the battlefield
| to life with her. The poor girl, de
|ceived and quite heart-broken, wrote
Ito her husband that he might re
turn to New York, as she would
never trouble him again. Then sh'
lulSdPPcoiSN'
"The young man was dangerous
lly wounded in his first engagement
and it was several weeks before h
lcould read her letter. Then tn
lshock caused relapse, and TO
months his life hung by q thread
| When finally he was able to trave
lhe went to New York and began
search for his wife. Two days be
| fore the expiration of his furloug
lhe learned that the body OF a youn
woman answering her descrlptlo,
Hhad been found in the river shortl
after the date Of her first lettel
His mother, appalled, at the though
that she had driven the unfortunat
gia to suicide, confessed what sh
had done and begged forgiveness
| He left her with curse and re)oine
Ibis regiment, praying that the nea
lrebei bullet might find his heart:
aThe war ended and the soldie
Iboy had risen from the ranks to ia
command of a regiment, was tram
lferred to the regular army and wer
lout West where the Indians wei