The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-10-05
and blindfolded j heard a +,

l.
throb Of this heart was an echo of my
love for them
Great God!' ] exclaimed aloud. II
didn't know it was you, Paul.
The next moment my mind had gone
back to little more than year be-
fore, when our army had been in Ten
nessee and Kentucky.
On that campaign l had met and
loved the most beautiful woman had
ever seen. She was perfect in every
way. A cultured min |, tender heart,
loving disposition, and form as
perfect as was ever given to woman.
She had soft, dreamy black eyes, and,
when excited. they were brighter than
the dewdrop on the rose.
visited her home often and was al
ways welcomed with sunny smile;
but time passed rapidly and soon orders
came for us to prepare to march-the
very thing dreaded.
! left camp and went to pay my last
visit to her with a heavy heart.
Sitting in the shadow Of a large ar
Dor vitB tree, with her hands in mine,
told her of my love. 1t was needless,
though, for me to have spoken one
word of that love, for she knew it long
before.
For moment she hesitated and
then told her of our orders to move
and possibly this would be our last
meeting until the strife was over.
That seemed to decide it, for, look
ing up into my face, she said: 1T Is
useless to tell you of my love for you,
for you must know that 1t is as true
and pure as ever woman gave to
man"
Reaching up to branch Of the tree
under which we were sitting, she
pulled tiny sprig and gave it to me,
saying: THAT tree is green as long as
God permits It to live. 1t is green for
ever, and SO shall my love for you be.
Only be as true TO me as shall be to
you, and when this cruel war is over
hasten back to me and then there shall
be no more parting. My prayers shall
be for you and my darling brother;
for, next to you, love him. Should
you ever meet him again and he should
in any way need assistance, be good to
him for the love / give you. Take this
sprig to remind you, If need be, of my
love. I shall wear one like it every
day until you return"
could not speak, but folded her to
my heart and gave the flrst golden kiss
of love.
While young Hammond belonged to
the same army as myself had never
seen him, except once, until the day of
the execution, when he sent the last
loving message to his sister-my in
tended bride.
When saw him standing before me
it was too late, for in moment the
command: Ready, aim, fire." was
given and Paul Hammond lay dead be-
fore me, by my command.
Who can picture my utter despair at
that moment? As saw the fire fash
from the muzzle of those muskets
babe farewell to all hope of happiness
In this life.
Some weeks after the execution re-
ceived letter and instantly recog-
nized Eugenia's writing.
Enclosed was clipping from Dali
ton newspaper, with my name and her
brothers marked, and long account
of the affair. There was also notice
of the death of her old father caused
by the shock of his sons death.
She wrote just a few lines l shall
never forget them: May God forgive
you as do. This gulf can never be
bridged-not even by an idolatrous
love"
never wrote to her, for / felt it was
useless. So time passed, and in the
summer of 1879 | went to the Green
Brier white sulphur springs.
The first evening there l saw a mag
acknowledgement woman whirling in
the waltz that somehow attracted my
attention. Nearer and nearer she
came and at last our eyes met.
Instantly she sank to the floor, and
Just as quickly was she surrounded by
her friends.
l saw pinned to her left breast by a
beautiful diamond heart piece Of ar
bor Vita. and l recognized Eugenia,
my lost love.
left the place that night and have
never seen her since. l sometimes
hear of her through friends, and never
has December passed since the war
that l did not get sprig of arbor
yita-the emblem of our love.
/ still have her letters in a little
casket. and some times when l am
vexed with the cares of this life read
them over and over. In one Of them
meet the lines:
81 have another life Ilong to meet,
without which life. this life is incomplete.
OH sweeter self. like me, art thou astray,
Trying with all thy mind to find the wayf
Striving with all thy might to find the breast