Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-15
MEXICAN WAR ROMANCE.
An Arkansian Returns After an Absence
of Thirty-fOur Years.

Just about the time that war was
declared with Mexico, a young man,
named Henry Lauring, and young
neighboring lady, Miss Vena Waldron,
became engaged. When the trumpet
of war was sounded, young, fiery,
aimpetuous Lauring, conceiving it to
be a duty owed to his country, bade
his affianced good-by, and became a
soldier. They were devoted to each
other, and when the young man left
the young lady vowed that she would
never marry if he did not return.
After the fall of the City of Mexico,
a man named Ralf Mitchell approach
ed Lauring and stated that he had
left Pike county subsequent to Laur-
ing's departure, and that Miss Wal
dron had died a few days before his
departure. The young soldier was
desperate, and when the troops "came
marching home with glad and gallant
tread" he was not with them. Hav-
ing, in a moment, been transformed
from an ardent soldier to reckless
man, he left the army, and, embarking,
went to Cuba. From there he went to
Spain, to England, to Austria, Prus-
STA and to France. When the late
Franco-Prussian war broke out. he
entered the French ranks, and at
Metz was almost fatally wounded
When he recovered the war was over
and, remaining in France until the Rus
sian war with Turkey, he repaired to
Russia, and joined the army, though
an old man. With detachment of
troops, while attempting to cross the
Danube, he was shot through the
lungs For a long time he languished
in a hospital and finally recovered.
After the Mexican war and when
Ralf Mitchell returned to Pike county,
he called on Miss Waldron and sym
pathetically told her that her lover.
Lauring, was dead; that he strayed
from the camp one night and was
killed by band of scouts. The girl
fell speechless to the floor. When
she regained consciousness-when the
rush of recollection forced its way
over indistinct memory into the mind,
a high fever sprang up, and for
months she tossed on a bed, caring
nothing for her surroundings and
dreading recovery worse than death.
After a long illness she recovered
Mitchell, who was very attentive to
her in her illness, called frequently in
health. One night while the moon
was shining, while the pale moon
shone on the face of paler girl.
Mitchell told her of his devotion.
We have known each other from
children" " he said we have lived as
peighbors. You know me. my father
and mother. Iloye you with a deptb
only known to q burning soul. Will
you be my wife2n
Mr.. Mitchell" " the girl replied, "I
respect you highly, but | am engaged
to another
But he is dead" "
The engagement is not. 1t will be
consummated in heaven"
is there no appeal from your de.
cision?"
None"
tnen l will tantalize you the more.
Lauring is not dead. Mylove for YOU
caused me to deceive him. told him
that you were dead, and with yell of
despair he left the army. did this
through love-"
Another long illness followed this.
When strong constitution again came
to the rescue of life, Mitchell had
married a neighboring girl.
Years went on, as years inevitably
do. The girls father and mother sank
beneath the clay The girl lived with
her brother. The civil war came on.
The girls brothers children grew up
and married. Not the girl, for she
was advanced in years. In a small
house they lived. There were vines
In the yard, and among them the once
beautiful woman sat and mused. Sum-
mer and winter came and went. The
love-killed woman had read every book
in the neighborhood. The birds sang
and the rabbit sprang from his damp,
snow-sprinkled bed. But old songs
and old memories still swept the harp