The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-11-19
AN ARKANSAS ROMANCE.
Whit is Passed Current as a
True Story and Reads More
Sweet than Fiction. tsH

Sweet than Fiction. 'e7
Mr.. j. H. Halsett, of Pike county,
gives us the facts of o very interest
ing "auld lang syne" affair, with a
sentimental terminus of recent date.
Just about the time that war was de-
clared with Mexico, a young man,
named Henry Lauring, and young
neighboring lady, Miss Vona Wald-
ron, became engaged. When the
trumpetof war sounded, young, fiery,
impetuous, Lauring, conceiving it to
be duty owed to his country, bade
his afiianced good bye, and became
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 re-
turn. After the fall of the City of
Mexico, a man named Ralph. Mitch
ell approached Lauring and stated
that he had left Pike Co., subsequent
to Lauring's departure, and that
Miss Waldon had died a few days be-
fore his departure. The young SOL
dier was desperate, and when the
troops "came marching home with
glad and gallant tred," he was not
with them. Having, in a moment,
been transformed from a gallant SOL
dler to reckless man, he left the
army, and, embarking, wentto Cuba.
From there he went to Spain, to Eng
land, to Austria, Prussia and France.
When the late Franco. Prussian war
broke out he entered the French
ranks, and at Metz was almost fatal
ly wounded. When he recovered the
war was over, and remaining in
France until the Russian war with
Turkey, he repaired to Russia, and
joined thearmy, though and old man.
With a detachment Of troops, he was
shot through the lungs. For a while
he languished in the hospital and f.
nally recovered. After the Mexican
war,and when Ralph Mitchell return
ed to Pike county, he called on Miss
Walden and sympathetically told her
that her lover, Lauring, was dead;
that he strayed from the camp one
night and was killed by band of
scouts. When she regain conscious
ness-when the rush of recollection
forced its way over indistinct memo
ry snags into the mind, a high fever
sprang up, and for months she toss
ed on bed, caring nothing for her
surroundings, and dreading recovery
worse than death. After long i'll
ness she recovered. Mitchell, who
was very attentive to her in her
sickness, called frequently in health.
One night Mitchell told her of his
devotion.
"We have known each other from
Children" he said; 1--WE have lived as
neighbors; you know me; my father
and mother. Hove you with depth
only known to burning soul. Will
you be my wife9" "Mr. Mitchell, !"
the girl replied, 81 respect you high
ly, but l am engaged to another
"But he is dead" "The engagement
is not. 1t will be consummated in
heaven" "Is there no appeal from
your decision?" "Nonel" "Then 1
will tantalize you no more. Laur.
ing is not dead. My love for you
caused me to deceive him. l told
him you were dead, and with despair
he left the army. 1 did this through
love-" Another long illness follow
ed this. When q strong constitu.
tion again came to the rescue of a
life, Mitchell had married a neigh
boring 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 broth