St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-07-13

feR8luGQ 0I9 lOEm0r CO0QlttOu. AZ IL
was. while he soon recovered his phys
ical health In part. 1t left him in q
curious mental state The past had
At first been entirely blotted
out Little BY little he recovered
its experiences. but he could not for
. long time recall names. Months Of
Imprisonment followed. filed with suf-
fering. privation and starvation. until
there was little left Of him. mentally
or physically. At last he managed to
escape. and after incredible hardships
reached tho Union lines moro dead
than alive. And now another hospital
experience followed, lightened by no
correspondence. for he could not re-
member Lilies name or address-he
had. Of course. lost all letters-and the
more he tried to remember the moro
hopeless seemed tho attempt Finally.
he gave it up altogether. At last he
reached his regiment again. greatly to
the establishment Of his comrades. but
not to see much more service. Tho
three years for which the men had en-
listed were about to expire. and al
though the Government gave them the
inestimable privilege OF re-enlisting as
veterans. most Of the ''boys" decided
that they would first 60 to their homes.
Early one morning. therefore. in the
autumn Of 1864. the cars brought them
to the little town of H. They had
no rations. and were hungry. Arrange
ments had been made for their break
fast at larger place on the road
. little farther along. but for
some reason they were delayed
several hours before. Naturally
they began to spread about
the little village. and the citizens be-
stirred themselves 10 do the best they
could under the circumstances. With
out preparation or concert, their efforts
were not very systematic. but they
were hearty. The groceries. restaur-
ants and hotels were taxed to their ut
most Raymond was walking through
the little town. looking for the chance
of breakfast, but not seeing how he
could exactly press himself upon these
citizens, who already seemed much
Overcr0wded.
As no was passing a modest cottage
on . side street q middle-aged lady.
standing in the yard. and holding .
child by the hand. addressed him:
SOLDIER
He turned and brought his hand to
the visor OF his cap as though it was .
superior officer. instead Of . superior
being. he saluted.
Ibid you speak, ma'am?"
Have you had breakfast" she said.
He said that he had not yet had that
pleasure.
Come in. then" she returned.
''Ours is just ready"
He looked 1t his hands and his
clothes with some anxiety. 1t was
three years since he had eaten . really
civilized meal. and his ambition now
did not extend beyond a slice of bread
and meat Perceiving the kindness Of
the intention. however. he accepted
the invitation.
Opposite him at the table sat q
young lady dressed in black. whom the
hostess spoke OF. in a half-introduc-
ton, as her niece. His own name was
not asked. There was something in
the air and manner of this young lady.
even more than in her dress, sug-
costing some recent great sorrow.
She did not hold herself out IS .
wrctched being whose only refuge is
the grave. She was not gloomy or
woe-begone She listened politely to
the conversation, taking little part.
except now and then to ask question.
which finally brought the young man
% speak something Of his OK periences.
She was attentive. while she was some
what thoughtful and sad. As he went
on he noticed that her interest deep
cned. and once. as he looked up. he was
surprised and . little startled at the in
tenseness of her hook. When he spoke Of
Chickamanga her pallor deepened 80
visibly that her aunt asked suddenly II
she were i'll. She regained her COM
posure in a moment, and said she WAS
quite we'll. Still her voice vas very
low, with q slight trcmor in it. IS she
asked the number Of his regiment and
1t turned white as he gave it.
The next question came slowly. She
struggled hard TO control her voice.
Which vibratcd painfully. and sank al
most to a whisper:
did you know-Fred Raymond. Of
Company B:"
It was his turn now to be astonished.
Who was this who asked 50 unimport-
ant a question with such . tragic air.
and who waited the answer Is though
life or death might hinge upon it?
TIE aunt looked from the one to the
other in open-mouthed wonder.
Il am Fred Raymond" he faltcred.
But before he had said it she saw
tho answer in his face. and slipped TO
the floor.
He held her head while the aunt ran
fer tho smelling-salts. 1t was not the
right thing to do in a case OF fainting.
bit few people ever do treat such q
csse properly. He had never. in all
his life. had . young lady head on his
am, and was awkward and excited.
He thought rapidly, but could not UNI
derstaud the situation. He remem-
hered his correspondent and. curious
~ enough. 1t this moment the name
came like . fash. But this was not
the town where she lived. and this
was not the young girl he had pict-
ured.
..who q. mi. vounO lady ?" he asked.