The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-02-05
Reads Like A Romance.

The following romatic story, pub
lished in the New York Press, will
prove interesting to Charleston read
ers because a portion Of the scene is
laid here. Perhaps some may recall
Mrs. Monk while she was in the city.
The story as it is given to the Press
comes from Raleigh, N. c., and is as
follows:
"Some time in 1862 Henry Monk,
a Confederate, came to this city
RaleibA) from Sampson County. He
was detailed as a nurse in one Of the
hospitals and remained here until the
war ended. While here he formed
the acquaintance of a Miss Julia
Seawell, and in 1864 they were mar
ried. One child, a boy, Hugh, was
born"
CATER the wal Monk was employed
by the Messrs. Adams, of this city,
who were large buyers and dealers in
cotton, to travel and buy cotton for
them. OF course he was absent from
his family from time to time during
the cotton season, but they heard
from him regularly, and he came home
as often as business would permit.
But from one of these trips, in 1863,
Monk did not return. His wife used
| all the means at the command of her
self and friends to ascertain his
whereabouts without finding any trace
of him. And so she and her son and
all who knew Monk settled down to the
belief that he had been killed for the
money he was supposed to have car
ried with him on his trips
"The widow Monk made a living
with her needle for herself and son
and succeeded in giving him a fair
education. The widow was a devout
member of the Baptist Church and
she brought up her boy in that faith,
| and he was a shining light in the
church and Sunday-school. Twenty
four years passed away. The boy
married and became a widower with
one child-a girl. She, her son and
grandchild went to live in Richmond,
Va, because the son had then a
lucrative position there with a former
business man Of Raleigh. For three
years there was peace, plenty and
happiness"
8Ihe son embezzled money of his
employer and ran away. His mother
was crushed by disgrace and remained
in Richmond, not having nerve to
face her old friends in this city. At
ter a short time the son was arrested
in Denver, Col, was tried, convicted
and sentenced to three years in the
penitentiary."
"One day an old gray-haired man
| called and asked to see Hugh Monk.
The young man prisoner vas brought
out with his cropped hair and striped
clothes, and the old man threw his
arms around him and cried as if his
heart would break, and then went
away without any explanation: These
visits were repeated several times, but
Hugh could not get any statement
| from his mysterious friend.
CATER Hugh had been in the penl-
Tertiary several months there came to
the humble abode of Mrs. Monk a
venerable old man. He refused to
give his name, Mrs. Monk thought
him a religious enthusiast and gave
him the full history of her life. At
ter this, at regular monthly intervals,
a remittance came to Mrs. Monk that
/ removed want and anxiety from her
mind, and there was nothing lacking
to restore peace and happiness to the
family but the liberation of Hugh
"By good behavior he earned COM
mutation, and it the end of twenty
seven months he stood on the streets
| of Richmond a free man, and his old
gray-headed friend stood by his side.
From the prison walls the pair went
to Mrs. Monk. The grandchild had
never been permitted to know of the
crime and punishment Of her father.
| The reunion Of the mother and son,