Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-29

story Of heart lost at aglance, so hers
responded, and neither could ever after
tell just what did happen
That night the camp was all alive in
glorification of the victory. With
speech and song and many toast we
cheered our Nellie to the skies, and the
spurs he had so gallantly won we
buckled on for him with pride in his
prowess.
But the boy seemed somewhat indif-
ferent to it all. and when were alone and
sought further details of the combat,
1t was of a fair face, not.of fair fight he
would talk and had to force him to his
quarters to find relief from unceasing
raptures about "his Virginia"
For ''his" she was He had certainly
improved his hours and made love as q
trooper should.
-Four days after he thought her into
camp, a chaplain married them there, q
priest was sent for outside and did his
share of riveting the bond according to
the creed OF Virginia.
Poor little child-poor children both,
and yet both so brave. so innocent, so
utterly happy-each in the other. She.
just from a convent school; he, new to the
duties OF manhood-both acknowledged
only one ruler. Love, and they obeyed
| its promptings-
said l we'll noted May 80. It was be-
cause May 80 was the date Of that strange
marriage. Before the anniversary Of
that day little bud was lying upon
Virginia's breast. and her whole soul
seemed fred with desire to take her wee
one and place it in her mothers arms,
and let its sweet face add to her own
| plea for forgiveness.
For Ned procured leave of absence;
they started and arranged to reach
Washington on May 80. The mother OF
Virginia was there waiting the release
from Fortress Monroe of her husband,
who had been captured and confined.
The night of May 80 the happy pair,
with their little one, drove up to Viz
| gtnia's Washington home. She wished
to surprise her mother. and Ned sat in
the carriage as she mounted the high
steps OF her fathers house She was
about to ring the bell-the door opened
and the light streamed out upon her
face, the great, bearded man in the door
way recognized her-before her wonder
stricken tongue could utter the word
"fatherl' his hand few out and he
struck her. The spurning blow or the
surprise, threw the frail child-mother
down those hard marbles, and when her
husband reached her he took up her
insensible form still clasping the
crushed infant The man who made this
misery disappeared In the darkness.
Virginia regained consciousness only
long enough to hear her mothers tender,
loving words Of welcome and grief. to
turn to Ned and cling few moments to
his breast.
She and her little one were cofaned
that night
Another May 80. for my sad record.
Could Ned revenge himself on the
father Of his wife? No. the act was an
unpremiditated deed of hasty, dis
appointed, maddened man. No harder
| fighter had Uncle Sam while the war
lasted, and after it in the Indian cam
paigns. than Ned Douglas But he
lived with broken heart
Two years ago, on May S0-I received
| from a comrade at frontier post, this
dispatch: \
"Nellie" died last night. thank God"
He died the night of May so. With
tears l could not. would not check,
sobbed an echoing THANK GodI" that
our Nellie was at rest Happy with
those he loved. with the gentle spirits
who had SO long watched over and
waited for him
Thank Godl
There is one burial place In the Ma
TONS Capital where the hearts Of those
who are left of ''Oufs" ever turn on
May 80. Our comrad6. bis wife and his
babe are buried there, and continually
there comes an old. white-haired,
broken man who sits for hours in silent,
self-accusing misery. watching. but
never touching the pure white stone on
which is carved '.virginia-"
Is it any wonder that May 80 should
b Memorial Day to DUKE RAILIE-