The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-08
WAR PRISONER WINS.
American Found Another About tot
 Wed His Fiancee.


 Wed His Fiancee.
 p,,,aerce R. l.. Special to New York
 World. ,..n.
 The unexpected arrival Of Frahk yanntine Hicks from St. Helena, where ha had been a prisoner of war, will ma tsriaIlv change the program for the marriage of Miss Viola Porter anu Thomas D. Winsor of Rockiand' set down for August l2.
 The wedding will take place at the scheduled time, but owing to the mag nanimity of Lord Roberts and Lora Kitchener to a fallen foe the young soldier from South Africa. will be lne bridegroom instead of Winsor, who mas accepted the position Of pest man, will i'll the place of chief usher:
 This extraordinary change is the re suit of promise made by tne oriue ,s 6aughter if he would show himself able to undergo the hardships of war in the Transvaal.
 MT. Porter was very frank. He nao no objection to Hicks as a son-in-iaw except the supposed condition of ms health. The young man looked ike a consumptive, and MT. Porter would not have his daughter risk her future with a husband whose early death might pc looked for.
 The fathers refusal of his consent to their union made the young couple dis' consolate, and they were making ar- rangements for a clandestine marrlas: when their plans were discovered and the young woman was sent to St. Louis to live with her aunt. The Boer wa broke out and Hicks went once mors to MT. Porter.
 May I have Viola if go through . campaign in the Trarsvaal?' he asked.
 Yes" was the instant reply. "lf you can undergo the hardships or SOL diering out there you can stand any. thing. My promise shall hold good.
 Before the young man started Tar South Africa he was permitted to see his fiancee. At the old homestead i1 -1ockland they renewed their troth, an Hicks went away confident in hs strength to overcome all the obstacles that South Africa had in store for him, In the land of the burghers Hicks took part in several engagements and de- veloped into a fine, stalwart fellow.
 Finally he was taken prisoner and was sent to the island of St. Helena. It was supposed here that he had been killed, as month after month passed and no word was received from him. Miss Potter was wooed by Thomas D. Winsor, who had been the intimate friend of the sweetheart she believed dead When she finally gave him per- mission to speak to her father the lat ter was willing. but he would not con- sent to the marriage taking place until more time had been given for the fe- turn of Hicks.
 But no word came. and finally ar- engagements for the wedding were made Last Thursday evening Winsor and his prospective bride were sitting on the piazza of her home when the wanderer appeared. A dramatic scene followed. Mr. Porter summoned Win sor to him and called his attention to the agreement touching the return of Hicks, who, he said, had a prior right to his daughters hand. Winsor acted as a man of honor throughout
 Hicks explained that from St. Helena he had addressed a letter to Lord Roberts, telling him how much depend. ed upon his return to claim his brid', begging the victorious general to be generous to an American who came to fight him not out of .enmity but for love. Lord Roberts gave orders for the prisoner to be brought back to the cape. The order was sent, but for some reason it was not acted upon.
 Lord Roberts returned to England and Lord Kitchener took command in his stead. To him Hicks wrote a similar letter. The result was an order to the officer in command at St. Helena to release Hicks and send him to Eng land on his agreeing not to take up arms against the English during the war.