Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-03-16
ROMANCE OF TIE WAR.

in the south ut the beginning Of the
rebellion. lie had been there about
Ave years, and had made many
friends; he liked the country and its
people, and did not wish To leave it,
in fact, was determined not to leave Il
unless hc took with him Miss Laura
Peyton. 10 whom no was engaged TO
be married. But he was a northern
mana Union man-and that fact
was certain. rs he knew, 10 make his
situation very unpleasant. His asso-
ciate engineer. Tom Baxter. who was
also from the north, said To him:
This movement means war-miser;l-
BILE. horrible. bloody civil war-and
you've got TO take your choice, our
side or the other; il you remain here
il must be the other" Bryant replied
that hc should stay, all the same-for
what reason his friend well under
stood. II wish you good luck. my
boy" Baxter rcjoincd; but she is a
southern girl and you n northern
man-God help you'll"
Miss l4ura's father, Judge Peyton,
doubted the wisdom Of secession, but
when il was once decided upon he
gave il his hearty support. His resi-
dence was near Columbia, s. e. AS
the days passed he saw regiment after
regiment march by. en- route to
Charleston. His son Arthur enlisted,
as did most of the other young men
Of the vicinity; and his house rang
with Confederate songs. Uudcr such
circumstances. sense Of duty con-
strained him 10 refuse his consent TO
the marriage Of his daughter aud law
renee Bryant. lilo said TO Bryant:
You have my highest personal cs-
TEEN. but until the political horizon
becomes clear, wish you TO forget
entirely that Laura has given you rea-
son to hope for her hand" AT laura's
instance he finally agreed TO let the
engagement stand. but insisted that il
must not he announced. and that the
marriage must not take place SO long
Us the pending troubles lasted. 1T will
DO all right in a month. Laura glee-
fully declared 10 her lover. and he,
made foolish by love. believed her
words.
The next month made things worse
instead Of better, however. II was
evident that tho struggle was going to
be hard and prolonged one. Bryant
was offered place upon the staff Of
Gen. Beauregard. which he promptly
declined. This was noted by the local
papers and commented upon in no
ilattering terms. Even Laura re-
marked. with sigh: What u pity,
Lawrence. that you are not ono Of us
one who loves the south" LAS much
rs love one Of its maitlens. hc re.
piled. laughingly; but the laugh was
forced and hollow. lie knew that the
time was near nj hand when he must
take some definite action. Tho Con.
federate government had dccrced that
all persons remaining under its pro
lection after the LIST day Of July, 1861,
should be regarded as its subjects and
not be permitted 10 leave its borders
without official pcrmission-an that
day would soon arrive. After night
spent in warning between love Of
county and love of Laura rcyton, he
decided 10 Niuyn 10 the north taking
her with him rs his wife, If possible.
When he made known this purpose TO
her, she not only declined 10 90 with
him. but forbade him 10 20 alone il lie
expected her 10 believe in his love.
Thus il happened that Bryant tarricd
in South Carolina until tho LIST Of
July had passed. and became subject
10 military laws as a citizen Of the
Confedcracy. lie was again Offered q
staff appointment and again refused
il; but no action was taken TO force
him into the service, probably because
his experience as railroad engineer
was OF great value just at that time.
Tho Confcdcracy driftcd along for two
years. Then Arthur Pcyion came
homo with an empty sleeve. accom-
panied by Maj. Harry Walton, n rival
OF Bryant's for the hand OF LAURA.
Miss Belle, laura's sister. said TO
Bryant with flashing eyes;
1T was your friends who did this TO
my brother. How can you expect me
ever 10 endure your sight againi"
Laura apologizcd for her sister as
well as shc could, but il was plain that
she, too. WAS inclined 10 hold Bryant
responsible for her brothers misfor-
tune.
Think. dear LAURA" hc said, "in
what cruel position ! am placed" ="
And she answered:
Il will try 10 rcmcmbcr--if can"
In the course Of the next two
months Arthur recovered sufficiently
To lounge on the vcranda, but his
empty sleeve was u constant reminder
TO his sisters Of what he had lost, and
a stimulus to their hatred Of the north,
which fell upon Bryant as its nearest
representative Ile was no longer re-
ceived with cordiality, and laura
seemed To grow colder and colder 70
him, and 10 show moro and moro rc-
gard for Maj. Walton. A crisis was
approaching nlanifestly. II came the
day Maj. Walton left for tho front
again. Ills parting with Laura was
of q kind that made Bryant decidedly
jealous. a quarrel cnsued. in which
Laura said: You have made mo at
last remember. Mr.. Bryant. what my
love for you made me forget that ]
am southern girl. God knows how
have loved you. and hoped 10 win
you to our cause-that my country
would DO your country-but you
never will become ans nf us; and Il il
not right that | should marry an
enemy OF my country" She took his
engagement ring from her finger and
dropped il at his feet Then she fell
fainting in the arms Of her sister
Belle, who shrieked, you've broken
my sisters heart I'll make you fight
ON one side or the other for this. you
Yankeei"
There was nothing left now 10 hold
Bryant in South Carolina, an alien.
surrounded by enemies. lie deter
mined 10 leave al once. lie remem-
bered Miss Bellies threat II he was
10 Eight he would tight for the cause
that he loved. He resolved 10 go
north through the Confederate lines
al that time very difficult undertak-
ing. His departure was hastened by
the receipt Of an order requiring him
70 report for active service In the Con-