The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-11

main Was'again in the active service of
the Federal army under his former
Colonel He had refrained from utter
ing the love within him partly because
he felt that he could not express the
great emotion if he would; and then
when he beheld the proud Virginian
father of the woman he loved his cour-
age failed him.
The little red book was his only con-
fessor, and there inscribed with the ac-
counts of battles was the record of his
love. Each day brought some new
phase of expression.
II am ready for death on the field
any day." he wrote. 1T will be the
only happiness I can ever know. My
hopeless love, on earth, is the worst tor
ture I can KNOW
/ Another battle. 1 saw man fall
by my own bullet. could not but think
IT he We're some friend or brother OF
hers. o, how l hate this war. But life
Is more hateful still. Even if it should
ever end there is the insuperable barrier
OF brotherly hatred that will keep me
forever from the girl l love. / daily
pray that I may meet death; and yet
the bullets seem to shun me, and IN
stead some fail by my side''
Page after page was filled with SINH
lar passages, often with the tenderest
comments on the nobility of the girl
he loved.
The months sped by, and Lieutenant
Pearmain, for numerous daring deeds
ION the field of battle, was rewarded by
being placed in command of a regi-
ment Accompanying his commission
was a characteristic letter from Presi-
dent Lincoln, referring feelingly to
some of his acts, notably when he had
rushed ahead as the Federal troops
We're wavering and had saved the day
by desperate charge.
He was assigned to Shermans com
mand, and his invincible regiment was
sent ahead in the advance on Atlanta.
In one of the most daring attacks ia
the civil war, when his regiments bat.
Itery Numbered in his rear, the clearing
smoke revealed him MORALLY wounded,
almost within the enemy's lines 1t
seemed as if he had courted death, as
he had in truth. Almost the entire
regiment was wiped out by the fierce
musketry fire and bursting shells of the
Confederate battery upon which they
had advanced. 1t was impossible to go
several rods ahead, among the wound
ed who wore the gray.
He crept weakly to the side of one of
the Confederates, also desperately
wounded.
I'm dying" he gasped ct is q
blessing, and 1 thank God for it. But
do me a favor, brother-for you are
brother-so are we all. Take this book
to Angelina Gordon, daughter of Gen
eral Gordon, at Maplecroft manor, AL
exandria. She will know what leaves
to tear acknowledgements Tell
her that I-loved-"
He died before the sentence was fin
ished.
Many years passed before the little
red book and its story of a hopeless
love reached Prescott.
Miss Gordon had fulfilled the dying
request of Colonel Pearmain. But the
rest of the contents of the little red
book were sacred to her. The news of
the gallant soldiers death struck a
blow from which she never recovered.
She hated the war, she hated the
North, she hated the family Of the man
she loved. But as the years passed the
wounds were healed, and she began to
think that the true story of Colonel
Pearmains love for her and his gallant
rescue would be a. source of happiness
to the mother.
So after two decades had passed, the
Memorial Day exercises in this little
New Hampshire village were softened
and made dearer by this tender story
of a brave mans love in the little red
book.-Cleveland Leader.