Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-04-13
A War Romance,
St. Louis Democrat.

A'A' AAVNio NiN'N-DNNlbtIhNs
Nelson Holden of Troupe county,
Georgia, joined one of the first regi-
ments from that State when the war
broke out. He left behind young
wife, having been married only
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 a
short time during the summer of
1868, and soon after he returned to
the war he was taken prisoner Be-
fore Holden had an opportunity of
writing to his wife after his capture,
he was taken ill with slow malarial
fever. When captured, Holden had
become separated from his company,
and his comrades thought he had
been killed in the battle. Mrs.
Holden's first notice Of the supposed
death Of her husband was contained
in some resolutions passed by his
company copy of which was for
warded to the family. Without
making any investigation, Mrs.
Holden mourned her husband as
dead, while he was lingering between
life and death in Northern prison.
1t was many months before he fully
recovered from the effects of the
terrible fever. Holden was not re-
leased until after the close ofthe 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 con-
tinue 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 diff
cult for his own wife to recognize
him.
Arriving at the home he had left
more than two years before, Holden
found it occupied by strangers.
Without disclosing his identity he
asked where Mrs. Holden was. "Oh,
she married Chris Jones and moved
away last spring." was the answer he
received.
Holden was Frustrated by the
shock of this startling intelligence,
but, without giving his name, he
turned and walked slowly away from
the little home where the happiest
hours of his life had been passed.
He made no effort to find his wife,
but continued his journey to Clay
county, Ala. Holden worked a
while as Il farm laborer, and finally
saved enough money to purchase a
small farm of his own. In time the
old love was forgotten and he mar
ricd again. Holden prospered, and
after 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 dream. About four years ago
Mrs. Holden No. 2 died, leaving five
children.
About year after the death of his
wife Mr.. Holden sold portion Of his
farm toa 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 had never seen his wife.
Less than year ago Mr.. Jones
died. His neighbor, Mr.. Holden, OF
course attended the funeral, and
caused no little excitement by going
off in a dead faint when introduced to
the weeping widow Of the dead man.
That was not the time or place for
explanations, and the next day after
the funeral Mr., Holden called on his
former wife, and this time the re-
cognition was mutual.
Mrs. Jones' period OF mourning
will expire in a few days, and then
she will be quietly married again to
he husband of her youth. She has
three children living and Mr.. Holden
has five. Only few of their most
intimate friends know the secret OF
their former marriage.