A CONFEDERATE ROMANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 2656, Issue 2656, 20 July 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CONFEDERATE ROMANCE.

THE STRANGE STORY OF NELSON HOLDEN, WHO REMARRIED HIS WIFE.

Nelson HoLDEy, of Troop county, Ob., joined one of the first regiments from that State when the war broke out. He left behind a young wife, having been married only a few months. Holden was a good soldier, and only once during the war did he obtain a furlough and visit his wife. He was at home for a short time during the summer of 1863,. and soon after he returned to the war ho was taken prisoner. Before Holden had an opportunity of writing to his wife after his capture, ho was taken ill with a slow malarial fever. When captured Holden had become separated from his company, and his comrades thought ho had been killed in the battle. Mrs Holden's first notico of tiic supposed death of her husband was contained in some resolutions passed by his company, a copy of which was forwarded to the family. Without making any investigation Mrs Holden mourned her husband as dead, while he was lingering between life and death in a Northern prison. It was many months before lie fulty recovered from the effects of the terrible fover. Holden was not released until after the close of the war, and, weak from his loin; illness and penniless, he started to make his way to the littlo home in Georgia, lie was _ compelled to seek employment Roveral liuies to earn money to continue his journey, and it was late in the autumn of ISO-5 when Holden came in sight, ot the little homo. He was a wreck of his former self, and fully realized that it would be difficult for his own wife to recognise him. Arriving at the home he had left more than two years before, Holden foun'l it; occupied by two strangers. Without disclosing his identity, he asked where Mrs Iloldin was, " Oh, she married Chris Jones and moved away last spring, was the answer he received. Holden was prostrated by the shock of this startling intelligence, but, without giving his name, he turned and walked slowly away from tho littlo home where the happiest hours of his life had been passed. Ho made no effort to find his wife, but continued his journey to Clay county. Ala. Holden worked a while as a farm labouier, and finally saved enough money to purchase a email farm of his own. In time tho old lovo was forgotten and he married again. Holden prospered, and after a few years owned one of tho best farms in the county. Several children were born, and it was not long until his first marriage seemed like a dream. About four years ago Mrs Holden No. 2 died, leaving five children. About a year after tho death of his wife Mr Holden sold a portion of his farm to a man named .Tones, from Georgia. Mr Jones built a house and moved his family to Alabama. Soon the farmers became good friends, but Mr Holden had never been to the house of his neighbour, and had never seen his wife.

LeBS than a year ago Mr Jorins died. His neighbour, Mr Holdeu, of course, attended the funeral, and caused no little excitement by going off in a dead faint when introduced to the weeping widow of the dead man. That was not time or place for explanation and the next day after the funeral Mr Holdeu called on hi* former wife, and this time tbe recognition was mutual. Mrs Jones' period of mourning will expire in a few days, and then she will bo quietly married again to the hu<bindof her youth. She has three children living, and Mr Holdfn has fivn. Only a few of their most intimate friends know the secret of their former marriage.—Birmingham, Ala., letter to St. Louis GlobeDemocrat.