The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-01-20
-sx II

son was arrested in Del d.. was tried,
convicted and sentencean snrce years in
tho penltentiary.
One day an old, gray-haired man called
and asked to see Hugh Monk. The young
prisoner was brought out with his cropped
hair and striped clothes, and the old man
threw his arms around him and cried
il his heart would break. and then went
away without any explanation. These
visits We're repeated several times. but
Hugh could not sc: any statement from
his mysterious friend.
After Hugh had been in tho penitentiary
several months there came TO the humble
abode of Mrs. Monk venerable Old man.
He refused to give his name. Mrs. Monk
thought him religious enthusiast and gave
him the full history of her life. After this,
at regular monthly intervals. a remittance
came 70 Mrs. Monk that removed want
and anxiety from her mind, and there was
nothing lacking to restore peace and hap
piness to the family but the liberation of
Hugh.
A Happy Reunion.
by good behavior ne earned Communication.
and at tse end of twenty-scvcn months he
stood on the streets of Richmond free
man. and his old gray-haired friend stood
by his side From the prison walls the pair
went to Mrs. Monk. The grandchild had
never been permitted 10 know of the crime
and punishment Of her father. The reunion
of the mother and son and father and child
may be imagined.
After this was over they all knelt down
and the old man prayed. When they arose
Mrs. Monk turned to him and asked x ne
would not tell her who he was. The answer
was: Julia, have l changed so much that
YOU do not know your own husband-Hen-
ry Monk?'' Mrs. Monk replied: You are
not my husband unless you can sat.siacto-
rily explain the long deseTtion of your
wife and child
The explanation was that Monk had left
a wifo in Sampson county when he en-
tered the confederate army and that she
had been reported dead. re had married
the second time in this belief. In his traV-
els buying cotton, he had learned that his
first wife was not dead. Before the war
ended she had clipped with another soldier
into South Carolina. After much search
Monk found his first wife near Charleston,
ana believing that ne had been guilty of
bigamy and that his second wTfe and child
would be disSraced If he went back 10 Rat
cigh, he concluded not to return ana went
To Frederick, Md
a Second Marriage.
lie managed to earn money s4d saved the
greater portion Of it under anosher name.
lie kept track Of his family by reading
The Raleigh papers. lie followed their
movements in Richmond and was horriheG
1t the crime Of his son. Monk then found
that his first wife was dead. lie began
TO visit his son IL prison and went once TO
see has wife. The money she had received
each month was sent by him.
The wife then claspcd her lOEg-lost hus-
band 10 her bosom and wept 1hero was
a second marriage OF Monk and Jaiia. and
in q thriving town in Colorado VIII be
found the father and mother Ia CoGforta-
bic circumstances in their declining years,
the son, Hugh, employed in q responsible
position having told his employers of ms
downfall and punishment before they gave
him work, and the granddaughter a school
and budding into a good and beautiful
woman.