Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-04-25
FIRST LOVE OF A WARRIOR.
The Beautiful Girl Who Captured Cen.
Hancock's Hoart. E5s.%

The Beautiful Girl Who Captured Con.
| Hancock's Heart. ~
The name of the gallantsoldier Gen
| Winfield Scott Hancock, is familiar to
millions of Americans. But few know
Of the many great hardships which he
labored under before attaining his pres
ent honorable position. He was born
| in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
Feb. IA, 1924. His father was the own
er of q well-paying farm there. Unlike
most farmers, Mr.. Hancock made up
his mind to give his son all the benefits
OF good education. At the age of
years he was sent to all academy for
young gentlemen in the neighbrhood,
He remained there until he was 16
years of age, when he was graduated
with high honors. His parents then
wished to place him at work in large
wholesale dry~goods house in Philadel-
phia. He had different views for HIM
self, however, and asked that he might
be permitted to go to West Point to
study for the army.
Mr. Hancock placed no obstacles in
the way of his son. He was admitted
to West Point in 1870. He devoted
himself entirely to his books and was
thus enabled to graduate after four
wears with Heutenant's commission.
He returned to his fathers home, but
he was of too active temperament to re-
main long inactive. With a party of
army men he started out to explore the
great west. Their first stopping place
was ST. Louis, where they remained
Gen. Hancock at the time made it a.
practice to take q ride on horseback
every morning.
While taking his daily constitutional
through the streets of St. Louis, early
one morning, his attention was attracted
by the sight of handsome young lady
standing in the window of one of the
most fashionable houses in the city4
Up to this time he had remained heart
whole, notwithstanding that numerous
society young ladies were only too eager
to become Mrs. Hancock. But the
lovely countenance at the window gave
him his first heart hutter. Almost in
voluntarily he stopped his charger and
dotted his hat. The young lady blushed
divinely, waved one fair hand to-
ward him in token Of farewell. and
then let the window-curtains fall. He
rode toward his hotel blushing like a
school boy, thrilled with new and
| sweet sensation. After returning to his
hotel he became so abstfacted as to ex-
cite the attention of his comrades. The
vision of a. fair young girl standing at
the window kept continually in his
mind. He could not resist the tempta-
ton to go again and take look at the
house where his divinity lived As he
reached the place she was just leaving
the house on the arm Of a TALL hand
some gray-whiskered gentlemen. The
young lady apparently recognized him,
for rosy bushes chased one another in
rapid succession over her fair counte-
nance. With her companion she entered
a handsome carriage standing in front
of the house, and was readily driven
away. The brilliant young officer de-
termined at all hazards not to let this
opportunity of finding out who she was
pass. He hailed a cab, and giving the
driver a handsome "tip" directed him
to keep the carriage in sight. Who can
describe his feelings when, after all
hours riding, he saw the carriage con
tanning his charmer draw up at the
door Of one of his old army comrades
In a moment his mind was made up
He dismissed his cab and walked slow
ly in the direction of the house. HI
knocked for admission, and was at once
ushered in by his friend in person.
With many bushes and hesitancy he
made known the whole affair to him
and begged to be introduced to the
young lady. His friend laughingly
complied with the request and led him
into the parlor, where the lady and gen.
tleman We're already seated. He was
introduced to Miss Mary Russell auC
the gentleman with her as her father
one of the merchant princes of st
Louis. Before leaving the house tina
afternoon he had received cordial in
vitation from Mr.. Russell to visit hi
house. He awaited himself Of the invita-
ton, and thereafter became q constap
caller.
The sweet-faced young lady appeared
to be as deeply in love with the young
soldier as he was with her, and 81:
months after their romantic acquaint
ance was formed they We're happily mar IN
ried. The lady has proved herseifa de
voted wife. They have had two chill
dren boy and girl. The boy, now
man 81 Years DID, is wealthy plante
in Mississippi, but the fondly love,
daughter died in 1875, in this CITY. q
the age of 20 years New York Journal