Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1893-05-25


low.
"I love to look at her." said little
May. Il have often seen her here. She
lives in a handsome residence over on
the avenue I'have been told that she
comes every day, and know there are
always bright flags and fresh white
flowers about the monument, almost
always white violets.''
''They were his favorite fower,'' said
the veteran. ''The casket was lined
with them when he was buried. Their
fragrance always had power to calm
the violence of her grief. She said they
seemed to bring him near, and she could
believe that he was beside her, though
INVISIBLE
"When did you meet her first, uncle?''
reminded Bertha, as the band rested at
the farthest gate, and the children fit
ted hither and thither with their flow
ers.
cit was in '61. I had just received
my commission as chaplain of the
Twenty third. I was full of Christian
enthusiasm and patriotic zeal, as left
home to join my regiment at the front.
''The railway train was crowded. 1t
seems to me now, as look back, that
trains were always crowded in war
time, and that there were always
bright faced young fellows in blue uni
forms, Of which they seemed very
proud. Often these boys in blue wore
or carried flowers, and, if there CHANGED
to be one not thus adorned, there was
always at hand a sweet young girl
| with a nosegay with which she was
| only too happy to favor him. That
day remember had my seat to my
self for some distance, and then at a
busting station the most beautiful
young girl had ever seen entered the
car, and as there was no vacant seat I
offered her the place by my side, which
she graciously accepted.
although she did not, as expected
she would, proffer me the bouquet of
white violets she carried, we were not
long about falling into conversation,
and soon she was duly informed re-
garding my rank, name, nativity and
destination.
''She listened with flattering atten-
ton, and said, as paused:
You are then a regularly ordained
minister of the gospel?'
81 am, and have been pastor for
several years
"'Have you ever married. she be-
gan, in hesitating manner, and I in
terrupted her hurriedly.
"'Oh, no, no, am single
II didn't mean that. Have you ever
performed the marriage ceremony?'
Some score or more of times
"'Well, then, am going to take you
into confidence. must trust some one.
l am engaged to young lieutenant
who will meet me at the next station.
Our parents disapprove the match. I
have run away to-day in order to meet
him at junction, and travel with
him for a short distance. You could
marry us as we were flying along
in the train. We shall be in another
state after we leave the junction, and
no license will be requisite.
Everything was one loose pulley in
war time, and things in general went
very fast. I gave a hurried glance at
the situation and assented. The juno
ton was soon reached.
The fragrance of the violets drew
me to you the moment I entered the
car said a deep voice, as a fne-looking
young officer bent over my companion
We both arose to our feet. She di-
vided the large bunch of white violets
she carried into three parts, handed me
one portion, fastened another to her
lovers coat, and secured the remainder
to her own corsage.
We will have a violet wedding, :
she said, gently. This man is minis
ter, just commissioned as chaplain,
with the rank of captain. have told
him our story and he will marry us here
and now
stood before them; everyone was
occupied about his own affairs, and the
ceremony was performed in low tones,
and without attracting attention. I
gave up my place to them, and, as the
car was crowded, sat on the arm of
their seat with my back to them and
screened thSm from observation.
At the next station we met the train
that was to take the sweet young wife
back to her home. There was no scene
at parting. The fretting, moaning and
bewailing had all been gone through
with weeks before. They felt now that
they had conquered fate and all adverse
circumstances. During those blissful
moments true love had triumphed in
spite OF claims Of country and tyranny
OF friends. He kissed her in dignifed,
manly fashion and looked at me, She
gave 9 canvulsiye sob, drew down h lI
veil and topk my arm & Il