The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-12-05

were from every branch Of the service
and mostly invalids, their manuvers
and department. upon dress parade
were so assimilated by careful drill
ing That they were pronounced by
oil who saw them Mt the Barracks to
be in appearance Us fine a body of
men as could I've found in the Regular
Army.
Many of these men had interesting
and romantic histories. During the
1S months that l served Us Surgeon
in Charge of the Barracks, I hap
pened upon much personal history
around some of which, it might be
sud. "lell the twilight which sur
rounds the bordcrland of romance
One of these men whose fortunes are
the subject Of this sketch, particu-
larly excited my interest.
/ first saw him in January, 1863,
shortly nfter his transfer to the Re-
serve Corps, when he was sent to me
by Col. Stevens, who saw his unfit
ness even for ordinary duty. / en-
tered INTO conversation with him,
md what pissed produced u favor;,-
ble impression upon me. He was
evidently well educated, and used to
good society, but tho expression on
his handsome fuce convinced me
that some great sorrow weighed up
on him. His name, lie said, WIS
Charlie s.. Igavehim some light
duty ut the hospital, where lie soon
lecalne n favorite with the men. To
Fatler Eddy, the post Chaplain and
myself lie became IN interesting
study; his pale face would SO often
rise before us that we felt an over
powering curiosity to learn some
thing %! his past life, wishing that
we might tighten the burden under
which we were sure no was suffering.
From u comrnde l found lie had
been badly wounded ut Pittsburg
Landing, where lie rushed forward
Rna aus erafn Cd 4s Haof sdd 5Fa@ H.
and was shot in turn. The wound
incapaciated him for further active
service, but he refused to go home
again. He said he had none. We
tried in vaious ways to find out
something about his past, but as all
questioning seemed to painfully af-
feet him, we forbore. But ut length
we learnt that lie received q good
many letters from town in Mas
sachusetts, and later discovered that
these came from hissister. Through
mutual friends in the same city we
managed to- open II correspondence
with Jennie, rs she was named, and
she acquainted us with Charities
history. 1t seems that the young
mans father had been seafaring
man, who lost his lie while on q
whaling expedition, and his loving
wife surviving him but n few months
on her death bed exncting a promise
from her son, then u lad of about II,
that lie would not adopt the life of a
sailor. Charlie and Jennie weregiven
good educntions; but their guardian
had proved untrustworthy. and had
lost most OF their money in rash
speculations. Now, before he reached
his majority, Charlie fell desperately
in love with KATE, the daughter of
his fathers lormer partner and dear
friend, an old seq Captain named
Rogers.
The two young people loved each
other with all the warmth OF their
deep sympathetic natures, and the
old man, having his own plans
about Charles future, did not op.
pose u possible marriage between the
two. When Charlie reached his ma
jority the Captnin one day expressed
to him the wish that he put himself
under his direction and follow the
sen for his livelihood. What was
his surprise when Charlie, after con-
siderable evasion, ut length emphat-
ically refused, and when pressed for
his reasons, told Capt. Rogers of his
mothers dying request. He pur-
posed, however, entering the Union
army to fight for his country.
The Captain was blunt, harsh
man, who seldom respected the feel
ings of others, and cared nothing
about Charities sacred promise. Be-
sides this, he was bitter opposer of
the abolition Of slavery, being in
strong sympathy with the slave
traders. and regarding slavery MS a
divine institution. When lie realized
that Charlie was firm in his derision
he became enraged at whit lie called
ingratitude. Hevowed Charlie should
not goto the war, only to come home
crippled and with his prospects ruin
ed, and to marry his daughter and
depend on him 10 support both. Hot
words followed, and the upshot of
thematter W as that the Captain, see
ing the wrecking OF his long-cherished
plans, drove the young man from his
house forever, and refused to let him
have further to do with Kit.
The lovers. with the MD of q faith.
nllservant, kept upa correspondence.
however, and one night Kit left the
house, met Charlie and they drove
away to clergyman's and were
married. just US the ceremony was
finished, steps were heard outside,
and the next instant in rushed the
Captain ond four burly sailors.
Taken by surprise, their escape cut of,
Charlie could do nothing but fight.
and while one of the men bore FL
from the room, the others ate.
ed to seize and bind him. Hei
ed furiously, and the Capt.
control of himself, pv
and fired ut him, :
missed his mark.
the cd man, by;