Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-03-08
1t was something like year after Ed
win had taken his departure, when John

|
win had taken his departure. when John
Russell put in an appearance at NJ.
He came to visit his sister. who was
Eva's most intimate friend. He in
mediately became very attentive to Evas
wants and wishes which noticed was in
no way disagreeablo to her. He was
large, well-built man (and very hand
some. Chester always reminds mo OF
HIM without any thing in particular to
do except entertain the ladies'. He had
stored in his mind, and it was not very
large mind either, a fund of small talk
and sentimental quotations, which. with
much gallantry, he bestowed on all who
came near---and as young men were at
a premium in those days, regret to say
he was quite favorite with not a few
of the girls. Eva forgot her troth-
forgot her truth--she was infatuated,
and married this man of leisure.
Away in the sunny South Edwin Barnes
had fought bravely in many battles
without receiving a scratch. Then one
very warm day after long and weary
march he was wounded by ball pass
ing through his right arm The wound
was not Of itself really dangerous
lying on the battlefield in the scorchiug
sun-added to the unquenchable thirst
brought on fever, and be was carried
to the hospital in dying condition -
Through all the long days of fever that
followed he talked necessarily Of Eva.
The whole burden of his thought was
for her. He must live--he would live
for her sake---the worry best woman in
the world was waiting for him. He gain
ed slowly but surely and had reached
that period where he could enjoy walk
around the grounds.
Those who knew of Eva's marriage
had not the heart to tell him, and he was
sure there was some good reason why he
did not hear directly from her, His
faith, under the circumstances, was pa
thetic in tho extreme.
One day there was a number Of new
arrivals ut the hospitals of the num-
Der CHANGED to be from M and joked
Edwin concerning Eva's marriage He
would not be convinced for some time.
Ho could and would not believe her false
But as the truth always must be nc.
cepted as such, sooner or later, he was
compelled to accept Eva's marriage as
fact. From that day he never arose
from his cot again, A man who was In
the hospital with him at the time said to
me, Laugh il you like, Edwin Barnes
died of a broken heart. He was doing
well and in u short time would have re-
gained his usual health but after the
wretched news came to his ears he seemed
to have no will, no desire TO live"
John Russell and Eva made fair
show for living for few months but it
was not lasting. Nature and habit were
contrary to any business, and he soon
fell into his old ways. He felt il his
duty to stay at the store, the tavern, the
shop-any place to loaf. He was not u
drinking man, consequently wasn't par
ticular where he held forth, only SO that
he could engineer the politics for the
United States and the gossip for NJ -
il the truth we're known think he felt
the weight Of the republic resting on bis
opinion, and Eva, home with the chill
dren, worked early and late. Many
night | have known her to sit up until
one and two o'clock in order TO finish
garments she made fol others that tho
children might not go huug.y, and then
probably the worthless husband would
eat the lions share Of her hard earnings
And Chester Atwater IL another John
Russell. | can never permit it, my dar-
linz Anv oood man xvto 10 l,onorahIa