A ROMANTIC STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2352, 6 August 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A ROMANTIC STORY.

An army officer is quoted as telling a most romantic story of a brother officer, who graduated with him from West Point many years ago. Shortly afterward this friend married a pretty girl, and for a time things went smoothly, but John Barleycorn, who has killed more soldiers than have ever fallen in battle, got the best of him and he went to the dogs rapidly. Finally he threw up his position in the army, deserted his young wife, and for years nothing was heard of him. At last news came to the poor woman that the worthless wretcli was dead, and after a time she married another officer, and they moved out to his station at one of the far Western posts. In the meantime it seems that her first husband was not dead, but, after years of debauchery and wandering, reformed. He then began to make enquiries for the woman he had. deserted. Nothing was known of her, and after a long and fruitless search he was forced to the conclusion that she had given up the struggle. He cams to Washington, where, through the assistance of some influential friends, he procured an appointment in the army. Then believing himself free he married again, and took Ins wife to the frontier post to which he was ordered—tue same at which his first wife was living. The meeting, the shock of mutual recognition, the deep shame of the terrible situation, is something to which no pen can do justice. What were they to do ? The question has not reachedja satisfactory settlement.