The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-01-27
A wuMAN'S CUNSTANCY.
Her Faith Held Fast to Her soldier
Lover, and She Was
Rewarded.

SprlBhtIy old lady from ONO, that l
have to my credit one of the most
unique Of war experiences. The man
who is now my husband was colonel of
an Iowa regiment, having gone from
the east to gain foothold in what
was then n comparatively new state.
IT is a matter OF record that he com
mandcd one of the finest bodies Of
sharpshootcrs that ever did service,
and that the gallant Gen. Lyon, under
whom they first fought, paid them the
compliment of saying that he regarded
them as inrinciblc against twice their
numbers. The colonel himself was
more than six feet and every man UNI
der him met the requirements of Fred
crick the Great when lac recruited his
famous grcnadicrs.
81 was bctrsthcd TO the colonel, and,
though back i'm Ohio. followed every
movement of the regiment as closely
as il were with It. One evening we re-
ccived the news of that terrific battle
at Pleasant Hin and two days later
came letter from the lieutenant
colonel telling me that the colonel
had been killed while making last
stand with revolver and sword against
overwhelming odds. There is consola-
tion in the thought that a man you
love has given his life for his country,
fighting 10 the death for vindtcatipn
Of his principles, but even that balm
cannot assuagc the sorrow Of a,heart
that has lost what was dearcr than
all else.
"And had 10 endure far more than
the loss of a promised husband who
was dcnrcr TO me than life itself.
Within Il month there was a woman
from Iowa at the home of the colonel's
parents claiming TO have been his
promised bride and showing will in
which she was made heir to every.
thing he possessed. For the property
I cared nothing, but there was the
bitterness of death i'm the thought that
suspicion should be cast upon his 10y
atty aud honor. Not for moment did
| entertain the Thought that he had
been untrue. for that would have been
to surrender the one joy left me.
When felt equal TO il ] went to see
her She was brilliantly beautiful,
and, in my preiudiced Judgment, had II
fascination that never goes with saint
Illness. could have carried through
the interview with patience and de-
corum had she not dared TO condolc
with me and attack the character of
the colonel as n man unworthy the
love of either Of MS. | flew to his de-
Tense in a way that at least attestcd
the sincerity Of my love, In my am
ger denounced her as an imposter,
designing, unprincipled and wicked.
"lIer answer was heartless laugh
and production Of the will. AS far
as | could Judge it was in his hand
writing and had been duly probated
and vet | was MS certain as of my own
existence that he had loved only me,
and that this creature was utterly un'
worthy of him.
"Nou remember Morgan's raid into
Ohio. II was n time of the widest eN-
element, bringing war TO our very
doors and giving us n conception
OF its horrors such as we could
never gain except by nctunl contact.
I stood by when the bold raider went
through that iaughable farce Of SUR
rendering to township constable aud
making terms that would have sent
nm pncK urEGrmeu 10 the south. =
even shook hands with the chivnlrous
leader, who told me pleasantly how de-
lighted he was that my lint and medi-
cines were noe required. | have yet n
button from bis coat, for young Wom-