Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-13
MEXICAN WAR ROMANCE.

<A~SVAAS~
Many Years.
Little Rock Gazette.
Mr.. JIM. Halsett, of Pike county, gives
US the facts of very interesting "Auld
Lang Syne'' affair, with sentimental ter
minus of recent date.
Just about the time that war was de-
clared with Mexico, young man named
Henry Lauring and young neighboring
lady, Miss Vcna Waldrom, became en-
gagged. When the trumpet of war sound
ed young Lauling. conceiving it to be
| duty owed to his country, bade his aft
anced 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,
man named Ralph Mitchell approached
Lauring and stated that he had left Pike
County subsequently to Laurings depart
ute, and that Miss Waldron had died a
few days pefore his departure. Tho
young soldier was desperate, and when
the troops "came marching home with
glad and gallant tread" be was not with
them. Having in moment, been trans
formed from an ardent soldier to reck-
less nan, he left the army, and embark
ing, went to Cuba. From there he went
to Spain, to England, to Austria, Prussia
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 Russian war with Tur-
l l,o,- he 80 80 so;V
the army, though an old man.
With detachment of troops he crossed
the Danube, he was shot through the
lungs. For long time he languished
in q hospital, and finally recovered.
After the Mexican war, and when
Ralph Mitchell returned to Pike County,
he called On Miss Waldron and sympa-
thetically told her that her lover, Laur-
ing was dead: that he strayed from the
camp one night and was killed by band
of scouts. The girl fell speeches. to the
floor. Wien she regaincd consciousness,
when the rush of recollection forced its
way over indistinct memory snags into
the mind, a high fever sprang up, and
for months she tossed on bed, caring
nothing for her surroundings, and dIead-
ing recovery worse then death. After a
long illness she recoy cred. Mitchell, who
was very attentive to her in her sickness,
called frequently in health. One night
when the moon was shining, while the
pale moon shone on the face of paler
girl, Mitchell told her of his devotion.
1--WE have known each other from chill
dren," he said, 1--WE have lived as neigh
bors. Yon know me; my father and
mother. love you with depth only
SHOWN to burning soul. Will you be
my wlfe2" .......~
\ "Mr. Mitchell" replied the girl, ~ re-
spect You highly; but am engaged to
another"
"But he is dead ...-.s.-
"The engagement is not. 1t will be
contaminated in heaven" =
as there no appeal from your decis-
ionf"
"None."
"Then l will tantalize you the more.
Lauring is not dead. Ny love for you
caused me to deceive him. I told him
that you were dead. and, with a yell of
despair, be left the army. I did this
through love"
Another long illness followed this
When strong constitution again came TO
the rescue of lie, Mitchell had married
a neighboring girl
Years went on, as years inevitably do.
The girls father and mother sank be-
) meath the clay. The girl lived with her
brother. The civil war came ON. The
girls brothers children grew up and
marred-not the girl, for she was far
advanced in years. In small house
they lived. There were vines in TIE yard,
and among them the once beautiful wo-
man sat and unused. Summer and WIN.
ter came and went. The love-killed wo-
man had read every book in the neigh
borhood. The birds sang, and the rabbit
sprang from his damp, snow-sprinhled
bed. But old songs and old memories
still swept the harp strings OF heart
| once young and still ardent.
One evening last week, Miss Waldron
sat among the vines in the yard. Her
brother was gone to the mill. Anold man,
with long beard and lettering walk,
stopped at the gate and asked if Mr..
Waldron lived there. Chris Waldron, In
vlted him in. He approached, and when
he had reached the vine covered porch,
sank down on a char, the one Miss Wal
, drnn had vacated, and buried his tace in
his wrinkled hands. EEn
| "Olu gentleman, bliss Waldron SAID,
can do nything for youa You hook so
weary"
THAT voicew the man exclaimed.
"Vcna, don't you know met Henry
has"
A shrek, and the old man stopped and
lifted the form of an old woman from the
floor.
When the brother had returned and
when the moon had risen,. couple of
! old lovers walked out into the beautiful
polished peace Of night. The party
walked along the road, each hand clasped
: within each other. Opening gate they.
,, turned into an lnclosurc. They stopped
at a mound. stF
"Bend over, Henry, and see If you can
: read the inscription ry.~Ff
Henry leaned over, and, Strengthening
up, said: .vz s-
ut is the grave of Ralph Mitchell"
Then, IN the pale moonlight; then,
while the soft air famed them, Henry
and Vena c;asped hands across the almost
time-leveled mound, and said:
'Great God, we forgive the man who
| destroyed so many years of happiness"
Ina little log church not far away,
pleased minister pronounced Henry and
Vena man and wife. Nature says their
lives will not continue but few years
longer; true sentiment says the few years
will be happy ones.