The Helena independent., 1892-06-26

seemed for time that ahs could never
emerge.
You AK Why shs never married. She ID
90 chsrn,inR IN person and manner. her
eyes light up with suoh sweet benevolenos
toward all mankind, and she 10 10 bounte-
ously supplied with natures and fortunes
choicest gifts, how comes il that she, par.
agon. yet livss without mate. and while
psrvading all about her with Z spirit Of
sunshine and peace, seems hedgsd about
BY barrier which none can passp
Y0u suppose II ID q love- story old one
of deception or inconstanoy. Well, II ID a
love-story. but not the old one, because
there Was NO voluntary wrong committed.
She lived hsre on "Ths Hill whore she
lives now. and was inst sixteen. She was
the only child, and her father became rich
after the war. 10 the great mansion OF
which she is NOW solo mistress il not tho
house In which Dick Harper won her heart
and got the promise Of her hand.
Dick and had bean ohums and school
mates from childhood, and in January. '63,
We both passed for active service, and were
sent 10 the army Of the Potomac with our
company. Wehad seen service in the guard,
and he Was hrst and second lieutenant Of
our company, II 10 thus that como to
know the story % If il were my own, and to
know Dick Harper about az we'll a. myself.
And Ae was, without exception, the noblest
boy ever knew. He had face like some
Of those ths great masters have dreamed Of
when they were trying to paint the Christ,
and q heart ~ pure and true 40 ever beat in
mans breast. He was 1.-the and active,
but By NO means an athlete, and always
thought hs was not At for the hardships OF
war. In fact tried to induce him not to
whom patriots were sorely needed, and he
said he felt he coaid not take shelter under
the stars and stripes unless he did his part
in saving the flag from its foes. He was
only boy. just twenty, but as full Of srdor
% an old Greek, and brimming with patri-
otism to his lips.
He was cheerful enough about IL all, sitter
his mother gave her reluctant consent
until it came TO the hour of parting from
the beautiful girl who loved him ~ NO man
better than he ever deserved to be loved.
, Then he completely broke down because
she clung to him and declared she would
not let him 20. was strong man myself,
five years his senior, and had been married
. year. Ny dear little wife said, "Go. and
may God watch over your And though
that back Of her grief was spirit which
would enable her to shoulder musket aud
fight by my side If need be.
"FiRhtinq Joe' Hooker has recently been
placed in command of the Army of the Po-
tomac, and q good many of the old reRi-
condition. Hooker's presence had begun
to restore confidence. bat the disasters of
December all along the line had cast q
gloom over the union army whicn il was
not easy to dispel. To check desertion,
aao;.;ona ~ cnr-t.l l.nee.;of .u5 *ha az sse
shots We heard were for the execution of q
couple Of poor fellows who were to serve az
examples to the rest of us if We tried to
desert.
After Chancellorsville we began to feel
like old soldiers, because we saw plenty Of.
scratch. Az it happened, our regiment was
not in aotion again until the second day at
Gettysburg. But how we wondered what
was the meaning OF our hurried flight
northward during the latter part of June!
We soon found out that Lee had started to
invade the north, and that We were after
him. Nobody needs telling about the first
three days in July, and least Of all that
lovely woman ON The Hill in whose dear
heart wound was made that only death
can heal.
good many of us received letters from
home while We were iting at the Poto-
mac. Among the locky ones was Dick
Harper. who seemed to get letter or two
whenever mail came into camp. and wrote
one whenever he got chance, no matter
how trying the circumstances.
On July We were marching all day, and
got into position in the union line late ut
night. We heard on all sides gloomy It'd
ings. Some said there was very fair
chance of the whole army being wiped out
next day. I was tired and Disguised. but
by the light of . cook fire at = gully in the
rear he wrote this letter to Miss H,
which, unknown to me, he slipped into the
pocket of my blouse while I was asleep:
my Darling-You probably know the
news of this day better than I can tell it.
We are face 10 face with the enemy, and at
daybreak tomorrow will begin battle on
which hangs the destiny of the country. I
believe We shall win, but the cost will be
heavy, and the struggle may last several
days. cannot tell you how my heart
yearns for you this solemn night. while all
on their guns, to be awakened at dawn by
the bugle call, only to be laid low by the
shot of the enemy. My soul seems TO draw
near to yon, and feel your breath on my
cheek. and know that we shall soon meet. If
not At home. Why then in paradise"
letter. just open the window, please, it's
getting close here. That's better.
Well, during that day the Second. our
regiment, suffered fearfully, and about noon
l mlSs0u LICK, WnOm Few minutes before
had seen fighting like a tiger. The day
passed, and neither saw nor heard any,
thing of him. The dead and wounded
we're too many to be numbered much less
to be identified. The line was driven back
and almost broken, but we rallied, and the
night came on, helping Us to hold our
ground. When the heat of battle ended
my thoughts reverted to my friend. l could
not hear of him either alive or dead, and
it was supposed that he must be with those
we left on the ground from which we were
driven. The field where we stood durinp
part Of the 6ght was furrowed with deep
gullies. Yes, the thick smoke had concealed
his fall, which had, perhaps, been scen
only by some Of those who went down with
him.
On the third my leg was broken by a
frnRment of one of Pickett's shells, and l |
ri fhe iher that SO great was my Joy on
b isnrS OF our victory that did not mind
u one in. A few days later was sent homo.
i h reports Dick was olassed among the !
frn,ng," as his body was not found and |
Y amt got homo Miss H---- was lying at
I onpint of death from the cruel blow. !
HIS H was taken abr oad by her pR-
"a for change Of air and scene. and did |
vhat the letter had for her until the fol- |
I ho,g summer. From that moment she |
| whi to look better. The fact that HIS last |
| hlnlhts were of her and OF heaven seemed |
nntrR ray OF sunshine into her heart,
! SnrLpugh Hhe continued to wear black,
not ! never broken TINT custom, she took |
| Whactiye interest IN the world and its /
! tashi visited among the poor aud un-