The National tribune., 1884-05-01

Gus heart from the loyal State of Massachu-
sets.
=" j have read your note thousand times
over, and wished it could rightfully have been
mine. III. g."
When had finished, without giving me time
for question, Gertrude volunteered an expla-
nation.
" was but fourteen years old when that note
came into my possession. 1t made an impress
sion which can never be effaced-one that has
inauenced my entire life. Naturally of ro-
mantle nature, this gave strange intensity to
It's development. With this note, and without
a word of comment, came a picture-a rude
tin-type TO be sure, but revealing handsome
boyish face and the uniform of a Confederate
officer. For ten years this has constituted the
sole romance of my life. have dreamed over
the note and the picture until the writer has
become a reality 10 me. The passing amuse-
ment 10 him, OF an hour of weary invalidism
has become TO me all there is of life worth
( living for Wherever have gone have looked
for my hero-in the car, on the street, III every
assemblage / have entered. To all others |
have been almost Tudely Indifferent, so greatly
was / absorbed in the idol my imagination had
SCI Up. rs years went DN iH6 idilSAh STSN anu
strengthened. l have Stunned society, living
with books and waiting for him who, l had
begun TO believe, had known always, absent
for time on long, long journey. When he
came, thought ] should welcome him, not as
q stranger, not as friend but as the one of all
the world to whom / had plighted my faith.
As soon as he came / should know him; L
should look into his eyes; | should clasp his
hand, with the full confidence of a great
a Tysaoo OH when
in Col. Garrett / recognized, in spite of the
changes of half score Of years, the author
of my letter, the original Of my picture, and
the man around whom | had been building
such foolish castles of straw"
Gertrude produced the picture from the
reccsses Of her letter-box. a glance satisfied
me she was right. The lonely boy at Gettys-
burg and our chiyalrous Southern friend were
one and the same
Your question is answered" said Gertrude
demurely. But before / left her she had ex-
torted from me the promise that would never
betray her secret to any one, much less TO Col.
Garnett. !, however, had resolved upon nay
plan.
In the evening there was a hop at the hotel.
and the Colonel asking me 20 promenade, /
contrived 10 seat MIN beside myself on the
piazza, while / questioned him OF his expert
eaces in the army. 1t was topic upon which
he, like true soldier, liked very we'll TO talk,
and he told me many Interesting stories OF the
camp and the march / then turned the topic
upon soldiers letters, saying had seen many
OF great interest from both the Union and rebel
sides,-some that were tenderly touching and
pathetic.
1t is but recently" / said, al have seen a
letter going the rounds Of the press, written by
a rebel prisoner after the battle of Gettysburg
10 little girl in Massachusetts. / was deeply
touched, as he said he was an orphan, without
brother, sister or friends"
watched the effect upon the Colonel closely.
He sat with eyes half closed, as if recalling
some pleasant memory long hidden by the busy
intervening days.
g 1t was ali about little comfort-bag," /
said, and the soldier wrote the little girl he
should keep it always. should like TO see
the man; ] should inquire at once for the COM
fort-bag. You see, j can help being incredu-
lous Of such promises"
You shall sec both, then, if your faith in
mans constancy is 10 be strengthened thereby"
Rising and strengthening himself up TO his
fullest height the Colonel added:
. Madame, behold the man! The comfort-bag,
which you shall see shortly, is locked up in my
/ trunk, the one precious memento of a lonely
f! life"
/ Now. il was not IN human naturel judge
I from woman sstandpoint-tokeepG Gertrude S
Wretched secret in the face of ali this And
I YET 1 felt the understanding must be brought
about in a perfectly natural way, else every
/ thing would be spoiled, as / knew Gertrude's
resolution to avoid the Colonel as much as
I possible, not knowing his true sentiments to-
ward her. Moreover, l felt sure that even had
she done SO, her Womanly modesty would have
induced her 10 fly from mis- presence the
moment she believed he was aware Of her
secret.
After many hours Of plots and plans, re-
solved to ask Gertrude TO let me make an en-
larged cTayon sketch of her picture, which,
when finished. proposed 10 present her. To
nay surprise she readily consented. The rest
was easy. When next the Colonel called upon
me asked him TO come for moment to my
room, as | wished to show him sketch III
cOiors l had just fnIshed-a bird's-eye view OF
W from a distant height. OF course /
c0ntriYed TO have the tin-type and the crayon
IN fair view. The Coiolels attention was riv-
eted, ia a moment, upon the former. He took
it up, regarded it with a puzzled look, and
speechless with surprise, turned his questioning
eyes full upon me.
"Oh, you must not look at that" / said
+" Gertrude Adams would never forgive me il
she knew you had seen that picture"
/ In less time than / can write it, Col. Garnet
I had dispatched card 10 Gertrude Adams aud in
one hour / saw the two, happier than | had
4 ever seen either Of them, walking slowly, side
/ by side, under the apple trees in the garden.
! And that is how Gertrude Adams found
/ husband.