Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-03-07
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
A PATHETIC MEETING.
Husband and Wife Reunited After yarie
Matrimonial Exno.iancos

Husband and Wife Reunited After Varied
Matrimonial Experiences.
Nelson Holden, of Troupe County,
Ca, Joined one of the first regiments
from that State when the war broke
out He left behind young wife, hav-
ing been married only a few months.
Holden was a good soldier, and only
once during the war did he obtain a
furlOugh and visit his wife. He was at
home for short time in the summer OF
1868, and soon after he returned to the
war he was taken prisoner Before
Holden had an opportunity of writing
to his wife after his capture he was
taken i'll with a slow malarial fever.
Vixen captured Holden had become
separated from his company, and his
comrades thought he had been killed
in the battle. Mrs. Holden's first no
tice of the supposed death of her hus-
band was contained in some resolutions
passed by his company, a copy OF which
were forwarded to the family. With
out making any investigation Mrs Hol-
den mourned her husband as dead,
while he was lingering between life and
death in a Northern prison. 1t was
many months before he fully recovered
from the effects of the terrible fever.
Holden was not released until after the
close of the war, and, weak from his
long illness and penniless, he started to
make his way to the little home in
Georgia. He was compelled to seek
employment several times to earn
money to continue his journey. and it
was late in the autumn of 1865 when
Holden came in sight of the little home.
He was a wreck of his former self, and
fully realized that it would be difficult
Cor his own wife to recognize him.
Arriving at the home he had left
more than two years before, Holden
found it occupied by strangers. With
out disclosing his identity he asked
where Mrs. Holden was. 'Oh, she
married Chris Jones and moved away
last spring." was the answer he re-
ceived.
of this startling intelligence, but with
out giving his name he turned and
walked slowly away from the little
F9me where the happiest hours of his
life had been passed. He made no eff
fort to find his wife, but continued his
journey to Clay County, Ala. Holden
worked awhile as farm laborer, and
finally saved enough money to pur-
chase a small farm of his own. In
time the old love was forgotten and he
married again. Holden prospered, and
after a few years owned one of the best
farms in the county. Several children
were born, and it was not long until his
first marriage seemed like a dream.
About four years ago Mrs. Holden No.
2 died, leaving five children.
About a year after the death of his
wife, Mr.. Holden sold a portion of his
farm to a man named Jones, from
Georgia Mr.. Jones built house and |
moved his family to Alabama. Soon |
the two farmers became good friends, |
but Mr.. Holden had never been to the
house of his neighbor and consequently |
had never seen his wife.
Less than a year ago Mr.. Jones died.
His neighbor, Mr.. Holden, of course at
tended the funeral, and caused no little
excitement by going off in dead faint
when introduced to the weeping widow
Of the dead man. That was not the
time or place for explanations, but the
next day after the funeral Mr.. Holden
called on his former wife, and this time |
the recognition was mutual.
Mrs. Jones period of mourning will |
expire in few days, and then she will |
be quietly married again to the hus-
band of her youth. She has three chill
dren living and Mr.. Holden has five.
Only a few of their most intimate |
friends know the secret of their former
Birmingham (Ala) Letter.