Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-04-05
\ WAR ROMANCE.

Nelson Holden, OF Troupe County,
Georgia, Joined one Of the first regimen Is
from the sia'e when the war broke oui.
He left behind a y uug wife, having been
married only lew months. Holden was
u good solder, aud only once during the
war did he obta II iurl lugh and visit
his wife. lie was at home for short
time during the summer OF 1868, and
soon after he r turned to the war he was
taken prisoner. Before Holden had an
opportunity OF wri ing to h s wife alter
his capture he was taken Ill with slow
malaral lever. When captured Holden
had become separate from his company,
aud his comrades thought he had been
killed In the battle. Mrs. Holden's first
notice OF the supposed dea OF her hus-
band was contained In some resolutions
pa-sed by his company, a copy Of which
was forwarded to the family.
Without making any investigation Mrs.
Holden mourned her husband rs dead
while he was lingering between life and
death In a Northern prison. IL WAS
many months before he fully recovered
from the effects OF the terrible fever.
Holden was not released untlI aft the
close OF the war, and, weak nom his long
illness and penniless, he sta ted TO make
his way 10 the little home In Georgia.
He was compelled TO seek employ ment
several times to earn money to continue
bis urney, and II was late In the autumn
of 1865 when Holden came Ii sight OF the
| little home. lie was wreck of his for
mer self, ald fully realized that 1t would
b. d lilio ult for his own wiic 10 recogn izp
him.
Arriving az the home he had left more
than two years before, Holden fund II
occupied by strangers. Without dis
e osing hls identity he asked where Mrs.
Holden was. 'Uh, she married Chris
Jones and moved away last spring." was
the answer he received.
Holden was Frustrated by the shock oil
this startling intelil encc, but, without
giving his name, he turned aud walked
| slowly away from the little home where
the happieet hours of his life had been
passed. tie made no effort TO lind his
wife, but continued his journey 10 Clay
County, Ala. Holden worked wnile as
farm laborer, and fua ly saved Ell ough
money to purchase small farm OF his
own. In time the old love was ioigott II
and he married ugRin. Holden pros
pred, and after few years owned one
OF the hest farms in the county. Several
children were born, and IL was not long
until the first marriage seemed like a
dream. About four years ago Mrs.
Holden No. 2 died, leaving five children.
About ay ar alter the death OF his vile
Mr. Ho den sold portion OF his farm to II
man named Jones from Georgia. Mr.
Jon built house aud moved his family
To Alabama SJOn the two farmers be-
came good friends, but Mr.. lIo.den had
never teen to the house of his neighbor,
and 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 nov the time
or place for explanat ons, and the II xt
day after the funeral MIR. Holden called
OH his former wife, and this time the re-
c1gnition was mutual.
MRS. Jones's period of mourning will
expire ia few days, and th,n she will
be quietly married again TO the husband
of her youth. She has three chlldr n
living and Mr.. Holden has live. Only IL
few OF their most intimate friends know
the secret OF their former marriage.