Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-02
A SOLDIERS KISS.

ward to be mustered into New England
cavalry regiment attached to the Army of
the Potomac in the spring of 1864 was
young man of fine appearance and ex-
cellent education, who, from the first,
slowed signs of having at some time been
under military drill. No recruit ever
fell into his place with less trouble, or so
rapidly adjusted himself to the roughness
and hardsnips of camp life. every
inch soldier" was Major Estes com
ment the first time that his glance rested
on Private Herbert Jauvrin, and neither
in camp nor in battle had he ever any
reason to modify mis- verdict.
The rank and file with whom Jauvrin
associated could never quite make him
out. They recognized instinctively that
he belonged to a higher social order
than their own; they said nothing
among themselves that he was foreigner,
and yet were puzzled to know Just where
TO place a man who spoke half dozen
languages, and yet they were never jeal-
GUS or i'll natured toward him. He per.
formed his duties with unfailing con-
scientiousness; was in his place at every
engagement; proved himself a hero in
the skirmish at st, Mary's Church and a
long and dangerous raid to Trevilian
Station, and endeared himself to every
man in his company by some little act
of kindness or cheeey word of conrad
ship.
That there was mystery about him
was evident. Not that he ever attem pied
to create such an impression-far from
it. But officers and men knew that there
must have been some strong cause that
had moved a man of his culture to enlist
as private in cavalry regiment in
he bod nj sincyIa
There were hints enough given him to
break through his reserve and talk about
himself, but he always brushed them
aside with laugh and the oft-quoted by
word of the camps, "Who wouldn't be
soldier?"
"By Jovem said the colonel one day, as
Private Jauvrin retired from his pres
ence with courtly salute, "tnat fellow
has broken more than one heart, and in
our set, too, Major, or I'm Rock Island
Goldfish. Put him in a swallaw tail and he
would make the most disting uished look
ing man in the reg iment, and would saun-
ter through the lancers like a lord. | wish
/ could do something for him, bat he
doesn't ask for promotion and doesn't
seem to want il, and know who his friends
are SO as TO push him. I'd bet whale to
a maokereI that there's woman in the
case, and a mighty pretty one, too"
It was in an INSIGNIFICANT little skirmish
on the edge of Chapins farms that Pri-
vate Jauvrin received desperate wound
which caused him to be sent TO the caval
~ hospital on the Appomattox. At first
he babe fair to recover, and the whole
regiment prepared to welcome him back,
and the colonel had made interest at
Washington to procure his promotion to
pTYkn r,n do
senger came from the corps hospital with
the news that Jaurin was worse, and with
an earnest request that Major Estes
would ride over to see him,
The major had always manifested a
sincere liking for the soldier, and had
more Than once TO gain his confidence,
with sincere desire to befriend him. He
had not been successful, yet there had
always been that sort of friendship be-
tween officer and men that led Major
Estes to sit down and talk with him of
other tim es and other scenes. It wSs a
shock to BIN to hear bad tidings of the
soldier whom in his own mind he had as
ISOLATED with q story of romance, and
whom he had honored as an example of
duty,
It was on chilly autumn afternoon
EnAb bu6 udJOI llIlCd bhC he VI b'AO mah
tent in which Jauyrin lay on rough cot
set on the bare ground. He was shocked
at the change in the wounded mans ap
pearance. The stalwart frame had be-
come rednced to skin and bone, and only
the eyes had retained the old fire of life.
He fairly started when the ghost of the
aforementioned and ringing voice vel
coined him and tears started to his eyes
as he grasped the thin and wasted hand
said: Poor fellow, why did you not
send for me beforep
The major stayed at the hospital that
night, and little by little, as the strength
of the speaker permitted, he learned the
story of Private Jauvr1n.
Born to an old and honorable name,
and the prospective inheritor of wealth,
Herman Jauvrsn, after a Wild and way
ward boyh had been commissioned a
lieutenant in the British army before he
had reached his ma GRITTY, and had fought
calamity before Seoastopol. Among his
papers would DE found, he said, his com
mission and his Crimean medal. On his
return to England he had gone the way
of all young men IL his position and had
hausted his income in round of plea
sures. At this his father and his family
had cast him off and he had wskened
from his dreams to find himself deprived
of all his resources until he succeeded to
the entaied estates of his family.
There was one pure spot, he said, in
the darkness of mis- life. He had loved
and his love had been returned. 81 did
not know there was such loyeliuess or
earth" said the dying soldier, until
met Helen Conyngham. 1 have her pic
turs here and you will judge for youself.'
Here, with painful effort, he drew eut 6
port. olio from under his pillow and gave
it to the major. Her letters are here
too do what you will with the picture
and the letters, and only write and tel
her that gave her my last thoughts snC
all my love-"
At intervals he filled in the rest of th,
story. The girl whom he had loved haC
forgiven him again and again for hi
nanderings, and had tried TO help builC
nm his shattered life. At last she haC
applied the heoris remedy, and sent hin
letter to say that she would not consen
to see him again until be could come Il
her ''clothed and in his right mind"
''She was right Major, and l say now
and will say with my last breath, GC'
bless her for her sweet faithfulness T.
duty"
In desperate mood Herbert Jauvril
had sold his commission, taken steame
for America, and for while had passes
life of gay dissipation in New Yorl
and other American cities. At the in
evitasle crisis came. His money he
gone and SO were the friends of hi