New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-01-04

could say? Nothing. What cou! d
we do? Only ride away and bemoau
the cruelties of war. ~.
My eyes were misty as galloped
along. going further and 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 a very
different tune-one that is old. vet al .
ways new. It aroused strange emo
lions in my heart and body. and made
me care just little more about life
than had since I'd been soldier.
Il didn't intend to turn coward.
Oh. no. l fully intended to fight on
bravely and we'll, but at the same
time to take a little more care of
myself than l had been doing. ]
had been little reckless. a triAe
headstrong. and l concluded to stop
it. Ii there was chance of my get
ting out whole and sound. wanted
to. that was much more preferable
than making my appearance minus
my limbs. There was some one l
hoped to see again some time. and I
wanted to appear to the best possible
advantage
Three weeks afte. mat night
while crossing the river going over to
| Maryland a shot from somewhere
| never knew where, found
resting place in my side
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
very mean fever brought on by the
ugly wound in my side.
las lay there suffering night and
day my thoughts travelled back to
Richmond many times. and I won.
dered how Jared my little girl in
gray. | had tender, warm feeling
for that girl. and. with the exception
Of my mother. | thought of no one
else.
She had a wonderfully sweet face.
night and day. and I determined to
once again some day visit Richmond
in quest of her though 1 thought it
rather improbable that should find
her.
1t was two years alter the war
before l could take the trip. and
when J. did get there it seemed I'd
come only to be disappointed.
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
lions which l gladly followed. but
without finding her. But l wouldn't
give up. I still searched for informa-
ton. inquiring of anyone and every
one of her whereabouts.
FINALLY l met 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
had been given, and I trudged on.
That evening passed quite number
Of houses. several stores and then
came to shop. small. poor looking
affair with this sign in front:
:. Miss Banks Milliner. Old Hats
Made New Here
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, nv
heart thumped with the deepest SYM
pathy and love for her
Il wentin 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 tho
time being in order to be with me-
and escorted me to her best room
which was her bed room. parlor and
kitchen. there being but two rooms
to the building
She talked long while of her
sister and grandfather. and told mo
how and when they had died. and of
her many hardships but added that
she was doing quite we'll with her
shop. and had no fears for her future.
Il lodged next door, but spent the
most of my time for two weeks with
her. helped her mix the dye and
reshaDe hats. learned to make right
nice ribbon bows. and I believe would
in time have made a pretty good mil
A1uot' WHO'LL VOIy WELL Oil III Lle
worlds goods myself. and not wish
ing her to know any more Of poverty
than she had already known. | babe
her adieu after my two weeks visit
was out with the understanding that
I'd return for her and bring her home
with me when I'd a home to bring her
to.
Before I reached home / met
southerner who had plantation in
Louisiana for sale. visited the
place. liked it and we made a bar
gain then and there l knew some
thing about cane and in about three
months everything looked bright as a
new dollar and l went once again to
Richmond and brought back with
me the little milliner as my wife
the maker of my peace, the sunshine
of my life and such she has been.
and ever will be-"
The old soldier slipped his arm
hi vrrse1