Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-10-10
TRUE TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
A Genuine Romance OF the War In
Which a Gettysburg Woman is
Heroine.

Nearly twenty-five years ago Miss
Sarah Miller, a very handsome girl of
Is, lived with her parents on the out
skirts OF Gettysburg. She was tall and
finely formed, and her unusually at
tractive face was surmounted by lux
uriant head of let black hair. Her peo-
pie were farmers or the better class and
Sarah and her brothers and sisters re-
ceived an education of a more liberal
character than did the children OF the
neighbors- Two of her brothers
were at the time IN question In the
army and were taking part IN the
bloody struggle then in progress.
Finally the tide of war rose and
swelled In the direction of the quiet
homestead. The father, sturdy old
Pennsylvanian as he was, refused to
leave home in spite OF the gathering
thunder clouds around him. Finally
there came the tremendous three days
struggle. during which time tue Mil
ler's farmhouse was utilized by the
Union forces as hospital. Strangely
enough among the first batch or woun-
ded brought to the home was one of
the young MIllers who was a member
of the 149th Pennsylvania Regiment.
The other brother, who also took part
in the dght, was shot dead during the
second days battle.
Among the injured men on the third
days battle who were treated by the
| Union surgeons was a young Confed-
crate lieutenant in regiment in
| O'Neill's command. His name was
Henry G. Wlllett and ne came of a
well-known and wealthy family at
Memphis, Tenn. He was badly woun.
ded in the left arm; so badly, indeed,
that the surgeons found 1t necessary to
amputate the Injured member In order
to save his life. Although Mr.. Miller
was a staunch supporter of the Union,
the helplessness and pleasant nature of
the young rebel SO gon upon him that
he offered TO be responsible TO the au-
thorities for the safe keeping of the lat
ter during his convalescence. The offer
was accepted and Willett took his
place among the members of the Miller
! household.
The wounded man began to recover
rapidly. With recovered health came
an ardent affection for the daughter of
his host, Sarah, which increased as the
days went on. At length an exchange
! of prisoners took place and Willett
| found that he had to leave for home.
Before he left, however, he proposed in
due form to Sarah, but she, with rec
objection of her dead brother slain by
rebel bullets before her, could not find
it in her heart to give herself to a Con-
federate. There was a passionate
parting on the part of WIllett, who as
last favor asked for lock of Sarah IS
hair, which was given 10 him.
The years passed. the Miller home
was broken up and this family scat
tered to the four winds. Sarah went
to live with friends on Staten Island
Here she became engaged to William
b. Allen, a grandson of Commodore
/ Vanderbilt. After two years. EN-.
gagement the match was broken off
She married John Moore, a gentleman
who at one time was identified with
Brooklyn politicians. After her hus-
bands death. which took place cou-
pie OF years ago, Mrs. Moore lived a
very secluded life.
| Recently she received a letter from a
New Orleans lawyer, notifying her that
she had, by the provisions of the will
of Mr.. Henry g. Willett, deceased. fall
len heir to thousands of dollars. With
the letter came a small parcel, which
the lawyer explained had been sent TO
her In accordance with the wishes OF
the dying man. 1t contained the lock
of hair severed from the head of the
maiden of twenty-five years ago. How
Willet managed to keep tracE of his
! old love all these wears is a InVstery