Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1886-12-02
THEY STOOD FACE TO FACE.

fashioned, she really loved him as well as
ever. Once or twice she was tempted to
call him back ana tell him that she did not
mean what she had said, but calling her
pride to her assistance, she determined to
teach him wholesome lesson.
Z" Poor Vanl 1t is too bad, for / care more
for him, rough and awkward as he is, than
or this handsome stranger, with all his
gold and knowledge Of the ways of the
world" she said to herself, after trying in
vain to find an excuse for her harsh words.
"But will let him alone for few days,
for he must learn that he can not dictate TO
a Gilbert"
Van did not come back the next day as she
had anticipated, so for his special benefit
she attended the concert in company with
Henry Romans. Van was there, but away
back in a dark corner, where his white face
did not haunt the unfaithful girl, and 81
heart-sick did he become at the careless re-
marks of those around him, concerning the
turn things had taken, that before the en-"
tertainment was half over he slipped out,
unobserved, and, stealing softly in at the
cottage door, sought his own room; and
there he spent the rest OF the night in con-
triving plans for his mothers comfort, for
he had fully determined TO offer his serv-
sees TO the recruiting ofhcer before anothes
sun should set.
When, in the morning, he unfolded his
plans to his widowed mother, silent tears
rolled down her withered cheeks, but not
a word of complaint did she utter. Other
mothers were compelled 10 part with their
sons, and why should she be spared the
pain of separationi 1t was soon arranged
that her son Ben should take charge of the
farm and it's work, and, before the stars
came out that night, Van had taken the Last
kiss from the dear old mothers lips, and
had marched away with the boys in blue
He had not spoken word concerning
Ellen's unfaithfulness, but the mothers
intuition told her something was amiss be
tween them.
When Ellen heard Of her lovers enlist
ment she wept bitterly, but her pride
prompted her TO conceal her remorse by
seeming carelessness. After Van was gone
shs firted desperately with young Romans
and Ben's wife did not think her duty nc.
complished until she had repeated her
opinion of the girls conduct TO Van. So
thoroughly indignant was the young matron
that she even confded TO him Dame Hu.
mor's report concerning the wedding that
was 10 take place during tho holidays. II
might all have been different had not Van
at this juncture implored his sister-in-law
not 10 mention Ellen Gilbert's name at all
in the future. So he went on believing that
Ellen-his Ellen--belonged 10 another man,
and, feeling that he was alone in the world,
he became reckless Of his life.
It was ON Thanksgiving Day, '62. thai
| Ellen drove him from her presence, sne
when that festal-day came around again, he
lay wounded and bleeding on Lookout
| Mountains CORY field. Early on that mem.
| orabie day, the color bearer was shot
down, and il wss Van Bernard who saved
the tattercd flag from capture, carrying II
| with him right into the thiekest Of the tight
He was seen to fall amid the storm Of shos
and shell that darkened the air, and when
the smoke Of battle cleared away, hia COM
rsdss took up what they supposed TO be his
mutiiated body, and, wrapping IL In the nd
died flag he had borne, laid him tenderiy IN
the grsve their own hands had boiiowed-
But poor Van found far hsss ressfui bed
than the one they had prepared FOR hsln, for
wounded, III and IN o Southern prison, the
soorchkng sun beat down unrrsrcsfnily upon
him, while his friends In the North tbopeht
| him safe with GOD Having learned through
| a comral5e who had been brought into The
| hospital in dying condition that his moth
er was dead, and that the papers had he<u
| fun of eulogies cooceruing his own hanVtc
| end. he deterzninod not 70 unAecesye he
world, hut, whe1 the struggle was over, 70
| bury himself in some secluded spot In tho
Sunny South. and 10 lot bis old friends and
| neigbbors 20 on believing him asieep on
| the battlefield whore he had fallsn. Hs
was no. exchanged nntii the war closed,
| and then among strangers, he began his
/ new and solitary life.
! Though Ellen feigned indifrcrcncA shc
| would have sacrificed her Life 10 have saved
] the noble one Of her lost friend Even