The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-05-25

ceremony that made her the brave colo
ncl's wife. lie was only lieutenant
then. poor fellow. The marriage was
one of the romances of the war"
''Oh, uncle, tell lis about IT, cried
May. and the request was repeated
with acclamation by all the party.
So. in the intervals of music and
speech-making and greeting passing
acquaintances, this story was told with
the beautiful heroine in full view, sit
ting in an iron armchair within the
shadow of the monument, and with n
look on her face as if she were holding
communion with the silent sleeper be-
low.
Il love to look at her." said little
May. Il have often seen her here. She
lives in handsome residence over on
the avenue. 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 ilower." 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.
ut was in 81 had just received
my commission as chaplain of the
Twenty-third. / 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 chanced
to be one not thus adorned, there was
always at hand n sweet young girl
with 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 n
bustling station the most beautiful
young girl had ever seen entered the
car, and as there was no vacant seat |
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,
| oh Irl inf ad ra.
garding my rank, name, nativity and
destination.
''She listened with flattering atten-
tion, and said, as ! paused
"'You are then regularly ordained
minister of the gospel?'
"'I am, and have been pastor for
several years.
"'Haye you ever married. she be
gan, in hesitating manner, and l in
terrupted her hurriedly.
"'Oh, no, no, i am single
81 didn't mean that. Have you ever
performed the marriage ceremony"
."'Some score or more of times.
We'll, then, am going TO take yor
into confidence. must trust some one
| am engaged to a young Lieutenant
who will meet me at the next station
Our parents disapprove the match,
have run away to-day in order to meet
him at - junction, and travel with
him for short distance. You coul6
marry us as we were flying along
in the train. We shall be in another
state after we leave the junction, anS
To license will be requisite
Everything was on a loose pulley il
war time, and things in general wen
very fast l gave hurried glance a
the situation and assented. The juno
tion was soon reached.
The fragrance Of the violets drew
me to you the moment ] entered tn
, car said deep voice, as fiue-lookin
young officer bent overny companion
~ "We both sresa,to oar feet She d