Wichita eagle., 1889-02-14
A WAR STORY.

| BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Feb. 13-NelSon
Holden, of Troupe county, Ga, joined one
of the first regiments from that state
when the war broke out. He left be-
hind young wife, having been mar
ried only few months. Holden was
a good soldier, and only once during
the the war did he obtain a furlough
and visit his wife. He was at home for
short time III the summer of 1868, and
soon after he returned to the war he was
taken prisoner Before Holden had an op-
portunity of writing to his wife after his
capture he was taken i'll with slow mala-
riel 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, a copy of which was forwarded
to the family. Without making any in
vestigation Mrs. Holden mOurned her hus-
band as dead while he was lingering be-
tween life and death in Norwegian pris-
on. 1t was many months before he fully
recovered from the effects of the terrible
fever. Holden was not released until after
the close of the 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 en-
ployment several times to EARN money to
continue his Journey, and it was late in
the aurumn of 1865 when Holden came in
sight of the little home. He was a wreck
of his former self, and fully realized that
1t would be difficult for his own wife to
recognize him.
Arriving at the home he had left more
than two years before, Holden found it oc-
cupied by strangers. Without disclosing
his identity he asked where Mrs. Holden
cha cd
moved away last spring." was the answer
he received.
Holden was prostrated 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 awhile, as farm laborer, and fl
nally saved enough money TO purchase a
small farm of his own. In time the old
love was forgotten and he married again.
Holden prospered, and after few years
owned one of the best farms in the coun-
try 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 TO
man named Jones, from Georgia. Mr..
Jones built house and moved his family
to Alabama Soon the two farmers be-
came good friends, but Mr.. Holden had
never been to the house OF his neighbor
and consequently 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 not the time or
placs for explanations, but the next day
after the funeral Mr.. Holden called on his
former wife, and this time the recognition
was mutual.
Mrs. Jones' period of mourning will ex
pire in a few days. and then she will be
quietly married again TO the 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.