The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-01-23
NUMBEh
A MEXICAN WAR ROMANCE.

says the Little Rock ARK Gazetts
gives us the facts of very interesting
''Auld Lang Syne' affair. with a senti-
mental terminus of recent date.
Just about the time that war was de-
clared with Mexico, a young man named
Henry Lauring and a young neighbor-
ing lady, Miss Vena Waldron. became
engaged. When the trumpet of war
sounded young Lauring. conceiving'it to
be duty he owed to his country, bade
his affianced goodbye and became sol
dier. They were devoted to each other,
and when the young man left the 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
LauTing and stated that he had left
Pike county subsequent to Lauring's
departure. and that Miss WaldrOn had
died 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. Having, in a moment.
been transformed from an ardent soldier
to a reckless man, he left the army, and,
embarking, went to Cuba. From there
he went 20 Spain, to England, to Aus
tTia, to Prussia, and to France. When
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, lie 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 q
long time he languished in a hospital.
and finally recovered.
After the Mexican war, and when
Ralph Mitchell returned to Pike county,
he called on Miss Waldron and sympa-
theticaliy told her that her lover, Lau-
ring, was dead that he strayed from
the camp one night and was killed by a
band of scouts. The girl fell speechleSs
to the floor. When she Tegained con-
sciousness-when the rush Of recollec-
tiOn forced its way over indistinct MEM
Ory, a high fever sprang up, and for
months she tossed on a bed. caring
nothing for her surroundings. and
dreading recovery worse tEan DEATH
After a long illness she recovered. -
Mitchell. who was very attentive to her
in her sickness, called frequently in
health. One night while the moon was
shining, while the pale moon shone on
the face of a paler girl, Mitchell told
her Of his devotion.
I'VE have known each other from
childhood, - he SAID; I'VE have lived as
neighbOTs. on know me. my father
and mother. ] love you with a depth
only known 10 Il burning soul. " III
you be my wife -
Mr.. MITCHELL the girl replied, I
respect you highly; but l am engaged
ty another
.sPut he * dead
THE engagement is not. IL viii pe
cOnsummated in heaven.
Is there no appeal from your decf
sion p
None.
''Then l will tantalize you the more.
LaUring is not dead. Ny love for YOU
caused me to deceive him. told him
you were dead, and with a yell of des-
pair he left the army. | did this thrO'
love-
Another long illness followed this. .-
When a strong constitution again came
to the rescue of a lie. Mitchell had
married a neighboTing girl.
y ears went on. as years inevitably
do. The girls father and mother sank
beneath the clay. The girl lived with
her brother. The girls brothers chill
dren grew up and marTied-not the girl,
for she was advanced in years. In a
small house they live0. There were
vines in the yard, and among them the
once beautiful woman sat and unused.
Summer and Winter came and went
The poor. lonely 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 strings of a 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. An old
man with long beard and with totterine
walk stopped at the gate and asked if
Mr.. Waldron lived there. Miss Wal
dron invited him in. lie approached.
and when he had reached the vine-cOv-
cred porch, sank down on chair, the
one Miss Waidron had vacated, and
buried his face in his wrink!ed bands
''Old gentleman, Miss WaldTon said.
''can / do anything for you You look
so weary. =
That voice - the man exclaimed
'Vena, don't you know me Henry
has,
\ Shrek and the old man stopped and
lifted the form OF an old woman from
the floor
When tho brother had returned, and
when the moon had risen, a couple OF
old lovers walked out into the beautiful
polished peace of night. The party
walked along the road, each hand
clasped within the other. Opening :
gate they turned into an iuclosure.-
They stopped al a mound.
bend over, Henry, aud see if yoJ
can read the inscription.
Henry leaned over and straightenin.
up, said
1T is the grave 0f Ralph Mitchell. -
Then, in the moonlight then, Will,
the soft air famed them, Henry anC
Yena clasped hands across the almos
time-leveled mound, and said:
Great God. we forgive the man who
DESTROYED so many years of happiness. "
In little log church not far away. ;
pleased minister pronounced Henry ant
Nena man and wife. Nature says thei
lives viii nos continue but few year
longer true sentiment says the few
years viii be happy ones.
RULES roR ACQUIRING WEALTH
BE honest. Ii Satan tempts YOU TO de
fraud your neighbor, it is only that N
may rob your ill-gotten goods i'll the end
BE temperate. Liquor has made NOR
paupers than all other vices combined.
BE industrious. Incidence, debt an