Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-01-31

Reading about bridal tours, per-
NIT me to relate a strange expert
ence. Some moths after the close
of the war a gentleman residing in
Texas overlook on the road one day
a well-dressed eX-soldier. The SOL
dier was accompanied by a pretty,
neat looking girl of apparently
about Is years of age. She carried
a bundle in her hand. The soldier
stopped to ask directions about the
road. The gentleman found the
stranger was a Confederate soldier
returning to his home in Texas with
his wife. He invited the stranger
home with him to dinner. The SOL
dier, a fine looking Texan. told his
story. His home, he said, was on
the Neueces. He belonged to John
ston's army, and had gone through
all the varied fortunes Of soldier
been once wounded and twice a
prisoner. In one of his various
wanderings he had met and fallen in
love with the daughter of widow
residing in the northern part of
South Carolina. The widows hus-
band had fallen at the battle of Ma
nassas. The widow, from compe-
tence, found herself reduced almost
to want. When the war closed our
soldier went to the house Of his in
tended mother-in-law and for a
month worked with all his might,
mending fences and putting the
farm in the best order he could !;
then, thinking it time to see about
matters at home and his old mother
in Southern Texas, of whom he had
not heard one word for over two
years, he prepared to return home,
hut it was hard to leave his sweet
heart, especially when he was una
bile to perceive when he could make
money enough to return for her.
She settled the matter by saying she
was going with him. So one morn
ing they Were married, and started
for Texas on foot, with knapsacks
on their backs and without a single
cent of money.
"But," said the bride, we found
people very kind. We made friends
all along the road; we were never
turned off at night; we always got
plenty to eat, and the people would
often make us little presents of
money. We would frequently over
take y WAGNER, who would give us
ride "a far as he was going our
way. When we came through New
Orleans we had to get passes to cross
the river. The Northern General
noticed that my shoes were nearly
worn out, whispered something to
one of his aids, who went out and
came back with pair of shoes, and
the General asked if 1 would oblige
him by accepting them. | have
them now.
When we left he shook hands
with both of us, and said we were a
splucky couple When get to my
husbands home l shall have trav'
eled over 500 miles-and most Of II
ON foot. would not take anything
in the world for my trip. l have
found everybody so kind and good
The young husband looked into
his wife's bright face and smiled, as
though he thought he saw there the
reason why every one was so kind.
But were you not afraid to come
40 far with "a wild TeXan?" some
one asked.
"Oh, not" was the smiling reply
81 always like the Texans-th
make such brave, good soldiers"
"You have indeed proved tha
YOU liked one of them"
After dinner the gentleman haC
his carriage brought around, anc
carried them days journey homo
ward. AS we shook hands with th'
bride all wished her pleasant jour
ney. , o,o -,
swered 81 am almost hGme-lO'
miles or 200 isn't much. L an
happy as a queen"
They drove off, the bappiest cou
ple ever seen. Now, wasn't she
heroine? ] do not think that man!
women would have undertaken suci
a bridal tour.