The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-04-13

"Mr. Eldredge himself did not know |
where he was going to settle, so all his |
daughter could say In the three letters |
which she managed to send TO Elime-
Iecll from as many points along her
journey was that she would send her
address as soon as she had one. But
by the time her abode was established
Pap Princes Confederate army held the
little Missouri town and the malta
could not pass in. The important let
ter which told her lover how to ad-
dress her was returned to her from the
dead letter Office.
"Then, in the following February. fell
the awful blow which wrecked her last
hope and nearly took her life. The
north was exulting over Grants great
victory at Fort Donelson. Bondres
blayed and bells rang OFT the wild Joy
OF the people. Newsboys scampered
everywhere aud eager men deyoured
the latest word of news that could be
read or heard Correspondents at the
front knew their harvest time and gar
nered every scrap of information. One
Of these scraps related to the finding OF
q young Confederate's body stiff in the
attitude Of prayer. After receiving his
death wound he had, according to the
correspondent, crawled to a bush,
seized 1t with a death grip and held
himself up on his knees. He wore the
uniform OF a Missouri regiment. In
his coat pocket were found three let
tiers which the enterprising correspond
ent had copied. Flora Eldredge rec
ognized them as the letters she had
written to Elimelech along her journey
from Missouri AS l have said, the
shock nearly killed her. To speak more
OF ber great grief would be only TO In
fict pain upon myself without adding
20 your interest In the story; for, az
you know, she is now my loved and
loving wife"
Mr.. Edwards stopped as II the better
TO enjoy the perpiexity on the faces Of
bis listeners.
I Remember, gentlemen" said he, II
am not seeking to entertain you. am
telling you a tale of truth because II
seems 70 me to shed light on the lues-
ton of why fact is stranger than fc-
ton"
Z I'm fiction she would not have be-
come your wife, would she, Mr.. Ed
wards?" ventured a young magazlnist.
"That is the point / am coming to-
the elder author answered, "and In or
der that you may see how logically It
came about must tell you that ! my
self was in that battle: that l saw the
young man fall; that we were OF the
same regiment, and knew him well
and loved him; that he did not crawl
TO the BUSH but that carried him
there and placed him upon his knees
because he asked me to; that had Just
taken last whispered message from
his lips when l was summarily ordered
back with what was left OF my regi'
ment 70 our intrenchments. Wen, the
upshot of II was, was one OF the l8,'
600 prisoners who were unconditional
ly surrendered 20 Grant.
"Of my long and varied experiences
In numerous military prisons Il Is es'
sentiaI 10 tell only OF what occurred
after was sent TO Chicago and con
fined in Camp Douglas. II was my
good fortune one day TO rescue a young
Federal officer from under his falleI
horse. He made more OF the service
than II deserved. and was treated
with some distinction during the res'
OF my stay there. In the following
spring was taken III and sent to the
hospital, where the young officer came
frequently 10 see me. II was a drearJ
place. but through his interest In me
received some attentions not ordinarily
bestowed on prisoners OF war. One o.
these formed part OF the most iy:.
portant event Of my life. On Easter
Sunday my officer friend brought in 1
: beautiful bouquet OF fresh, sweet, sim
pie flowers, saying they had been sen
by florist under the direction OF SONS
unknown lady. The florists card wa
/ attached 20 them. and the officer rea'
these words from the back OF Il. Al
Easter greeting to some poor soldier II
the prison hospital, from one who deep
! " sympathizcs.'
~ sate ~. gentlemen" continued Nj