, 1889-10-10
AN ENOCH ARDEN OF THE LATE WAR
WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR rnE nnvrEw.l

regiment was cnclmpcu on uloNcly green
swell of meadow land just beyond thc
city to the west, and near the shore of
Lake Ontario.
There were young boys, just ready TO
return to school ailcr the summer vaca-
ton, whom the sounds of martial mus ic
and the daily talk of the necessity for
the call of 10000 more" had wrought
UP To all the enthusiasm of their boy ish
natures, and brought stern resolve into
action.
Proud mothers wept as they gave re-
luctant consent for their sons to enlist
and were on the camping ground witch
their young daughters to bid farewell TO
iavorites of tho home or social circle.
The days passed all too quickly the
recruiting officers had no need to seek
for men, as volunteers came in by scores
and the nucleus of n second regiment
was formed before the one Hundred and
Thirteenth was on the move,
Tho regiment was mustered in on n
bright day in August knapsacks and
haversacks were packed with home made
comforts, and toothsome daintics which
in many cases must be thrown aside
when on the tircsome march.
Tents were struck and the men
mHrclIcN to the train that was to con-
vcy them to the seat of war.
Hearts were breaking where mothers,
wives, sisters and sweothcarts were
shedding tears born OF sorrow and ter.
ror while striving to utter cheerful
words of encouragement which might
soften the agony in the hearts of those
going from them, perhaps forever.
The streets were filled with men,
women and children, Crowding To catch
one last glimpse of loved one as the
train moved slowly along, when o
briyht-iaCcd young man in the uniform
OF lieutenant sprang from cur to
clasp his young wife once more to his
heart !. then turning he caught the hand
rail and, swinging himself lightly up,
disappeared In the rear car.
Kind friends bore the unconscious
form into u house near by, where for
hours the young wife sank from one
sWOOn to another until the physician
began to fear for her life. Hut at last
she rallied and plead pitcously to be
permitted to go TO her husband, and
only grew quiet after being assured that
she could 20 TO him ns soon as the
troops reached their destination.
This promise did more than nostrums
to revive her, but as the weeks and
months passed she gave up her desire o
60 and devoted herself TO her little
daughter and her school.
Lieutenant Rank was but poor man
and his wife taught school to assist in
| providing the household expenses, dur
/ ing the carly months of their marriage,
and the hope ut securing n little home of
| their own had been the one ambition of
| their simple lives.
| While the One hundred and
| thirteenth were in camp in
| Baltimore letters were frequent and
[ interesting; the regiment was ont guard
| ing the Baltimore Il Ohio railroad, then
came the movement of troops to the
| gulf. After this was reached they might
/ look for trOublous times. From Camp
| CarIullton near the Father OF Waters y
| Lieutenant Rank wrote of camp life and
| its dullue,,, much illness among the
mon, vet he complained of nothing cX-
| Ccpt the mOnOtony, While thinking he
would give much for the excitement OF Il
| battle; while his wife at home as con
/ stantlv prayed it might be delayed.
There were delays in payment and
| much suffering among tho men in va.
| rluus regiments in consequence, but
| Fannie Rank, from her Earnings, sent to
htr hushind money toy purchase nee
his "a absence and irastG.An a t'V degree un, N
known to many, that he might be
| spared to return to her. She felt that
| She must continue to work and provide
| a home for herself aud child, as we'll ,Is
| her husband when he should return,
/ perhaps broken in health or manned
and helpless; of ms death she never
would suffer herself to think. Thus
/ cheerful letters reached him from month
/ to month, telling of the progress the
1 climbing rose hc had planted had made
/ In IL, attempt to cover the porch, and
| how the hpncysuyklc disputed place
| with tho clCmutis, aud when he wished
| she could taste the fruits OF the warmer
| region whcr, he saw them she would rc.
| ply by cNtollirg their own currant S
and grapes and thus two years had
| passed. The little girl, never strong,
/ WAS in the country ut the childhood
| home of Mrs Rank whose mother cared
for the little only granddaughter.
| There wero rdmors OF battles, and let d.
| tcrs from the tar south were more inlrc.
| qucnt. The Forty y-niuth brigade was
marching among the marshes and along
| the bayous Of Louisiana; the one Hun.
/ dred and Thirteenth, with other rcgi.
| mcnts, marched up the ToChe. Here
numbers -uCCumbCd To- the maMriGl in
/ tluencc Of the climate and the fatigue ol
| the long, tircsomc march, ana among
| them was Lieutenant Victor Rank.
| At Alexandria the accommodation )
| were inadequate for the care of the sick,
and several ladies offered to take mum.
| bcrs OF the suffering men into thci
| homes; thus it occurred that Liuutcnan
| Rank was he occupant of "a COOL pleas.
ant room in the elegant home of Mrs.
Mardcll, a lady of ample means and
| generous heart
Here he rayed continually of Fannie,
his bride, and his hostess listened with
| surprise To his rambling words of tai,
| lovely home where flowers always
| bloomed. Among his Vagarics were
qucrulous demands for roses and the
repeated assertion that u certain mag.
noliN had been cut down and destroyed
by Jupitcrw he would cxclaim, 81
will punish the vandal If | can find
| hiid."
Mrs. Mnrdell, in her kind, mothcrly
manner, grew much Interested in tn,
young officer, whose mind constantly
dwclt upon his young wife who waited
for him in their home, and his mother
who looked for his return, and she said
to her friends that ii she did not know
him to be u Union man from the North
she should say he was young man
whom sl,N once met in Texas and whC
had married into family she had for.
mcrly known, at least the resemblance
was the most striking one she had evei
met
The surgeon, as weeks passed, after
carefully noting symptoms with marked
interest and increasing gravity, secretly
decided the man to be insane; yet, u.
days passed and he appeared harmless
while urgent in his demand to be re
turned to duty, he accompanied the reg
imcnt TO New Orleans, where he was or