The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-01-05


could I sayp Nothing. What could
we do? Only ride away and bemoan
the cruelties Of war.
My eyes were misty as / galloped
along going further aud further
away from one should have liked to
have stayed near and helped. My
heart beat wildly that night it had
thumped before many times to battle
tunes but that night it beat to very
different tune-One that is old yet al
ways new. It aroused strange emo
tions in my heart and body. and made
me care just a little more about life
than had since I'd been a soldier.
Il didn't intend to turn coward.
Oh. no. I fully intended to fight on
bravely and we'll. but at the same
time to take a little more care of
myself than had been doing. ]
had been a little reckless a trifle
headstrong, and l concluded to stop
it. If there was chance of my get
ting out whole and sound. I WANTED
to. that was much more preferable
than making my appearance minus
my limbs. There was some one
hoped to see again some time, and /
wanted to appear to the best possible
advantage.
Three weeks afte, mat night
while crossing the river going over to
Maryland. shot from somewhere.
| never knew where found
a resting place in my side.
I got over all right. but
once over had to be taken to the
nearest hospital and there I stayed
for number of weeks fighting with
a very mean fever brought on by the
ugly wound in my side. " ~
LAS l lay there suffering night and
day my thoughts travelled back to
Rich mond many times. and 1 won.
dered how Jared my little girl in
gray. had a tender. warm feeling
for that girl. and. with the exception
! of my mother. l thought of no one
else. -
She had a wonderfully sweet face.
and the vision OF her haunted me
night and day. and I determined to
once again some day visit Richmond
in quest Of her, though I thought it
rather improbable that should find
her. .
1t, was two years after the war
before could take the trip and
when did get there it seemed I'd
come only to be disappointed. l
searched for two days without hear
ing anything whatever of her. and
then J asked the postmaster if he
knew anything of the Banks. He
gave me some information and direc-
tions, which I gladly followed but
without finding her. But wouldn't
give up. I still searched for informa.
ton. inquiring of anyone and every
one Of her whereabouts.
Finally l net an old fellow who
informed me that she lived somewhere
out in the country. [ thanked him
for his information, for. while it
wasn't very clear, it was the best I
had been given, and I trudged on.
That evening l passed quite a number
Of houses, several stores and then ]
came to shop. a small. poor looking
affair with this sign in front:
:. Miss Banks Milliner: Old Hats
MADE NEW here. .-...... IT, 49, ..
Il had been pretty calm up to tn al
moment but after reading that sign,
and taking in at a glance the poverty
stricken appearance of her shop my
heart thumped with the deepest sym
pathy and love for her.
Il went in and found her busilv re.
dyeing an old straw hat but she
dropped her work hurriedly and. rec
ognizing me. came to meet me in
stantly. She closed her shop for tn,
time being in order to be with me
and escorted me to her best room
which was her bed room. parlor ant
kitchen. there being but two room;
! to the building.
She talked a long while of he
sister and grandfather. and told M
how and when they had died. and O
her many hardships but added tina
she was doing quite we'll with he
shop and had no fears for her future
Il lodged next door, but spent tn,
most of my time for two weeks will
her. I helped her mix the dye ant
reshape hats, learned to make RICH
nice ribbon bows. and believe woul,
in time have made a pretty good mil
liner ! wasn't very we'll off in tn
worlds goods myself and not wish
ing her to know any more Of povert
than she had already known | bad
her adieu after my two weeks visi
was out with the understanding tina
I'd return for her and bring her HON
with me when I'd home to bring he
to.
: Before I reached home / met
southerner who had plantation i
Louisiana for sale. visited tn
place. liked it. and we made a ba,
gain then and there knew some
thing about cane and in about thre
months everything looked bright as
new dollar and went once again t
, Richmond and brought back wit
me the little milliner as my wife
? the maker of my peace. the sunshin
7 of my life. and such she has beer
and ever will be-" ~" a.t-a . 's.,
t The old soldier slipped his arr