News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-03-28
A WAR ROMANCE.
ONE OF THE STRANGE THINGS
STRIFE MAKES POSSIBLE.
Supposed to be Dead, Holden Lin
gered in a Northern Prison Until
the Close of the War.

IuS SAOSe Oh Cne WAL.
Nelson Holden, of Troupe County,
Ca, joined one of the first regiments
from that State when the war broke out
He left behind a young wife, having
been married only few months.
Holden was good soldier, and only
once during the war did he obtain
furlough and visit his wife. He was at
home for short time in the summer of
1868, and soon after he returned to the
war he was taken prisoner. Before Hol
den had an opportunity of writing to
his wife after his capture he was taken
! III with slow plalafial 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 no
tice of the supposed death of her
husband was contained in some res
olutions passed by his company,
copy of which was forwarded to the
family. Without making any investi-
cation, Mrs. Holden mourned her hus-
band as dead, while he was lingering
between life and death in Northern
prison. It 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 illness aud 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 continue his journey,
and it was late in the autumn of 1865
when Holden came in sight of the little
uo Of IL
self, and fully realized that it 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
occupied by strangers. Without dis
closing 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 prostratred by the shock
of this startling intelligence, but, with
out 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, Alabama. Holden worked
while as farm laborer, and finally saved
enough money to purchase small farm
of his own. In time the old love was
forgotten and he married again. Holden
prospered and after a 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. died, leaving five
children.
About year after the death of his
wife Mr.. Holden sold a portion of his
| farm to q man named Jones, from Geor-
gia Mr.. Jones built a house and
moved his family to Alabama. Soon the
| two farmers became good friends, but
| Mr.. Holden had never been to the houst
OF his neighbor, and had never seen hi
wife.
Less than a year ago Mr.. Jones died
His neighbor, Mr.. Holden, of course
attended the funeral and caused no lit
tie 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.. Hol-
den called on his former wife, and this
time the recognition was mutual.
Mrs. Jones period of mourning will
expire in few days, and then she will
be quietly married again to the hus-
band of her youth. She has three chill
dren living and Mr.. Holden has five.
Only few of their most intimate friends
know the secret of their former marriage.
Globe Democrat.