Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-05-03
LOIah Montana.
A PICTURE OF THE MEXICAN wAR---BY MRS.
II. MARION WARD.

A PICTURE OF THE MEXICAN WAR--BY MRS.
II. MARION WARD.
1t came at last--that dark cloud which
for months had hung like a death shroud
over the bosom Of great nation! 1t came
at last-and young faces grew pale and
haggard as fear drove them on to prema-
ture age; young hearts grew old and with
cred, as the voice of war CONCEALED their
pulses with dread of forboding ill., Still
on and on it came, sweeping over groves
and valleys, darkenng the hearth stones
of love and Frustrating the peaceful TEN.
pies of home, till at last, ii burst in all its
fury, and beautiful country was deluged
in brave blood; the mighty were strick-
en- down in their power; the intellectual in
their glory. Matter usurpe.l the empire of
mind, and strength Of soul became subser.
Went to bodily fear. Still on it came-that
fend of war, with its ocean of living forms,
rising wave after wave upon the hills, or
retreating into the llowery thickets, till the
echoes caught the sound, and ran with
their fearful tidings to the distant hills. II
was a fearful time for devoted wives whose
eyes were dim for watching for the return
of those dear beloved ones, whose hearts,
alas, with all their yearning impulses were
stilled forever. But there was another pair
of eyer deep, earnest, lustrous eyes, which
told of the Mexican origin, that watched
the enemies forces all day long, through the
smoke o: battle, too happy, but if too catcl
one glimpse of noble form that rode fear
lessly at the head of an American regiment
There was another pure warm heart witt
its buds of love Just bursting into bloom
whose yearnngs followed the brave Ameri
can through the thickest of the fight, muir
muring his dear name the while, as if sh
would protect him amid the shower of buI
lets that were dealing death around. Poo
Lolah Montana This officer, whose form
she singles out from the mass of soldiers
was tenant of her fathers cottage 70
weeks, when suffering from an almost fata
wound. The pure springs of her heart ha
been unlocked by sympathy for his aflic
lion, and now its bright waters were TO b
embittered in their first gushings She ha
sat by his couch all day, with her eyes cal
nestIy looking into his own; she had kne
by his side in the still hours of night, wit
prayers upon her lips for his recovery, ii
her heart had forgotten father, home, friend.
in its wild idolatry, and only remembers
the only one dear vision that had shone uI
on her secluded life Was it strange tn;
the soldiers heart should return the devc
tons of one who had scattered so man
blossoms around his path, who, when III
mists of an early death were gatherin
round, still bent her brilliant eyes lovingl
upon him, till their glances seemed to char
him back to a renewed sense of life An
yet, while both felt that they were beloved
no word of love had ever been uttercd.-
The soldier had watched every movemeI
of that sweet girl, as she glided like SUI
beam throgh the apartment, had listened t
the thrilling tones of her low voice, and fe
her beautiful hand futtering like whit
dove upon his throbbing temples, and "
feared by word to create hopes whic
might never be realised.
The morning came for his departure
when Lolah was summoned to bid hil
good bye. Her haggard brow and swole
eyes told of night of anguish and sufFe
ing. "You will remember me when al
gone, Lolah p said the soldier taking he
passive hands in his own, and for the fir
time pressing them to his lips with an ire
sistible impulse Slowly the beautiful gil
raised her eyes to his, as if only that me