Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-07-14
THE MAGNOLIA.
A Sketch ofMs Late b0r.
BY MuLLIE LAUREL.

"ConstaDce, do you believe IN chaTms,
or are yeu superstlIIeus sRxIousIy ask
ed Angelina Lyle OF her cousin and con-
fdsnre. Constance Vernon.
"Why DO you wish to know, Angy :
and The fair g.rI hesi!aed 10 reply.
because you are so much wiser than
[ am, and have grieved so over my
broken ring. | am afraid something has
happened TO Willie and The dark eyes
were lifted snxossly 10 rest upon the
broken lragmen of Tiny pearl ring
l.He gave me this the day he left, just
one month ago to-day. Answer Con
stance" impetuousy urged the sgiIaIed
girl. What slls you :"
"Nothing, dear" she quietly replied;
"ony / was thinking OF other days.
Your ring was broken ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
lessly, think. We will take II 10 the
jewelers., and | am confident he can soon
repair ii; but. Angy,l am angry al my
own foolishness. ! cannot lie pit. am
supersli,ious, and will tell you what made
me so.'
Angy's dark eyes grew bright as she
drew a foolslCol 10 her cousins feet and
sa, there. This IiIlle gay chst'erbOx low
ed dearly TO listen 10 story, and from
her beloved, reyered cousin Constance
above all.
Angelina LYLE was merry maiden OF
eighteen. Her father, d merchant in
New York, and when, after the war, he
went South, and orough. to their home
the orphan daughter Of his SISTER, who
had lost Ser sll-lhe warm heart oi the
girl soon attached itself To her gentle. re.
served, and sorrow ing relative.
-Four years ago, dearest Amy. was
Just our age, and more Joyous maiden
lived not. Plenty was around us. My
father, you know, owned large pIsBla'
non in Alabama; and there, without one
sorrow, ny brother and dwell in our
parents bone.
"Our next door neighbor was Col Car.
son. and his family like ours. numbered
but one son and daughter. Mary Car
son was a lovely girl OF eighteen, and she
wor,hpped my brother. and they were
soon to be msrrlrd Bat the war lrun-
pet sounded, and my father and brother
haslCned 10 the a,lle'titId.
A Abpu Carson WAS then in Europe. He
Iran he blockade, and one evening in Sep
Ilen,b Der he came home. wa, say ing
with Mary then. and, Angy. as woman
loves bot once, so loved him.
"My scul passed lrom my keeping to
his, and when he Ief lis plauiaIIon to
JOIN bis eommand-for he was captain
Il ned his sash on. handed him bis
sword, and bade hlm Gods speed on y
rpgreling could not dght by his side.
TIE evening before he leii, We walked TO
sylendtd Magnolia tree, that stood just
on ths boundary line of our estates.
There, Angv, We phghled our faith tor
ever, come veal o. woe. come peace or
war.
1--WE parted there under the branches
Of that grand old tree. The sky Uss
clear and cloudless the moon shonr
forth in lis hrghes, mood; The white
! blossoms looked whi'er and The leaves
greeDer than ever to ne then. Words oi
love, that Iinger yet, he said. A last We
promised 10 meet here, should el'her sur.
vlve the Other.
The battle of BulI Ron sent sorrow 10
many hearts. Nv only hro,htr fell, and
Mary Carson lost both father and oe;roie,
ed there. She became maniac, and IN
an syum she now lives. How | 5000
my trials, know not. was young
Ilhoughlless girl before. My fstbeF-my
noble, good, dcting fslher-wss appoint
ed 20 The slsi of General Johnston. lie
fell IN the discharge Of his duty, and my
mother and were slene. God eniy
knows how we existed. Our plantation
va. robbed. our servants we're gone, and
we wire desolse and destitute. Our
friends were nearly a. bad of aswe were.
0ne hope cheersd me- one IhoHeh ehI com
fored me yet had Albert he wai
then a Colonel and stationed near No
bile.
"One night. tired out aher day OF
grea, anxiety-s battle bflng then i"ueh'
Il dreamed wss standing under uoI
Magnolia tree. lie WAS there. AZ ar
preached he penlv rhided my delay
and handles zrs half bi"wn magnolia.
Aney. God temper, The Wind i" Ihe 'bofn
lamb I! My hero tell before RIshm"nd =
and slilI lived or. Duty 10 my mother
susraine ed me. vas the only he 10 .
once happy lone lef hsL My youth i'.
gone, my heart is des"lsie ) sad tht
Young girl placed her hssds UPsn Apsyr
head as she said. meskly. May God
spare this hrighi young head.
Il could not live. Constance, and suffer
as you bsye." said Angy "but only 's'I
Q -. L.. ~. -. IL ..nn EaX OF