Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-27
THEIR SECOND HONEYMOON.

Nelson Holden, of Troup county,
Ga, joined the First regiment from that
State when the war broke out. He
left behind young and very beautiful
wife, having been married only a few
months. Holden was good soldier,
and only once during The war did he
obtain furlough and visit his wife.
He was at home for short time dur
ing the summer Of 1868, and soon after
he returned 10 the war he was taken
prisoner. Before Holden had an op
porlunily of writing to his wife after
he was captured he was taken i'll with
a slow malarial fever. When cap
rured Holden had become separated
from his company and his comrades
thought he had been killed.
Mrs. Holden's first notice of the sup
posed death of her husband was con-
tained in some resolutions passed by
his company, a copy of which was for
warded to the family. Without max
ing any investigation, Mrs. Holden
mourned her husband as dead, while
he was lingering between life and death
in northern prison. 1t was many
months before he iully recovered from
the effects OF the terrible fever.
Holden was not released until the
close of the war, and weak from his long
illness, and penniless, he started to
make his way to the little home III
Georgia. He was compelled to seek
employment several times to earn
money TO continue his journey, and 1t
was late in the autumn of 1865 when
Holden came in sight ofhis little home.
He was wreck OF his former self and
fully realized that it would be difficult
for his own wife to recognize him. Ar
irving at the home he had left more
than two years before Holden found it
occupied by strangers Without dis
closing his identity be asked where Mrs.
Holden was.
"0h, she married Chris Jones ard
moved away last spring." was the an
swer received.
Holden was Frustrated by the shock
OF the startling intelligence, but, with
out giving his name, he turned and
walked slowly away from the little
home where the happiest hours OF his
life had been passed. He made no eff
fort to find his wife but continued his
Journey to Clay county, Ala.
Holden worked while as farm Ia
borer and saved enough money to par
chase a small farm of his own. In time
the old love was forgotten, and he mar
ried again Holden prospered, and af-
ter Jew years owned one of the best
farms IN the county. Several children
were born. and it was not long urti
his first marriage appeared like a
dream. About four years ago Mrs.
Holden No. 3 died, leaving five chill
dren. About year ago after the
death of his wife MIR. Holden eold
portion of his farm to man named
Jores, from Georgia. Mr.. Jones built
house and moved his family to Ala.
bama. Soon the two became good
friends, hut Mr.. Holden had never
been TO the house of his neighbor and
had never seen his wife.
Less than year ago Mr.. Jones died.
His neighbor, Mr.. Holden, of course
attended the funeral. and caused no lit
tie excitement by going Off in a dead
faint when introduced to the weeping
widow of the dead man. That was not
the time or place for explanations, and
the next day after the funeral Mr.. Hol
den called on his wife and this time
the recognition was mutual.
Mrs. Jones's period OF mourning will
expire in few days, and then she will
be quietly married to the husband of
her youth. she is still beautiful
woman and has three children living,
and Mr., Holden has five. Only a few
of their intimate friends know the Sc
cret of their former marriage.-Grifn
uoraiRq Cali.