The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.

Lawrence Bryant, was civil engineer
In the south at the beginning of the
rebellion. He 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 it
unless he took with him Miss Laura
Peyton, to whom he was engaged to
be married. But he was a northern
mana Union man-and that fact
was certain, as he knew, to make his
situation very unpleasant. His asso-
ciate engineer, Tom Baxter who was
also from the north. said to him:
''This movement means war-misera-
BILE, horrible, bloody civil war-and
you've got to take your choice, our
side or the other; if you remain here
it must be the other" Bryant replied
that he should stay, all the same-for
what reason his friend well under
stood. Il wish you good luck, my
boy" Baxter rejoined; 'but she is a
southern girl and you a northern
man-God help you'll"
Miss Laura's father, Judge Peyton,
doubted the wisdom of secession, but
when it was once decided upon he
gave it his hearty support. His resi-
dence was near Columbia, S. O. AS
the days passed he saw regiment after
regiment march by, en- route to
Charleston. Ills son Arthur enlisted,
as did most of the other young men
of the vicinity; and his house rang
with Confederate songs. Under such
circumstances, a sense of duty con-
strained him to refuse his consent to
the marriage of his daughter and Law
renee Bryant He said to Bryant:
"You have my highest personal es-
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 it
must not be announced, and that the
marriage must not take place so long
as the pending troubles lasted. 1T will
be all right in month" Laura glee-
fully declared to her lover, and he,
made foolish by love, believed her
words.
The next month made things worse
instead of better, however. It was
evident that the 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
fattering terms. Even Laura re-
marked, with sigh: What a pity,
|
one who loves the south" "As much
as | love one of it's maidens," he re-
piled, laughingly; but the laugh was
forced and hollow He knew that the
time was near at hand when he must
take some definite action. The Con-
federate government had decreed that
all persons remaining under it's pro-
lection after the LIST day of July, 1861,
should be regarded as its subjects and
not be permitted to leave it's borders
without official permissiop-and that
day would soon arrive. After night
spent in warning between love of
county and love of Laura Peyton, he
decided to return to the nOrth-taking
her with him as his wife, if possible.
When he made known this purpose to
her, she not only declined to 90 with
him, but forbade him to 60 alone if he
expected her to believe in his love.
Thus it happened that Bryant tarried
In South Carolina until the LIST of
July had passed, and became subject
to military laws as a citizen of the
Confederacy. He was again offered a
staff appointment and again refused
1t; but no action was taken to force
hmm into the service, probably because
his experience as railroad engineer
was of great value just at that time.
The Confederacy drifted along for two
years. Then Arthur Peyton came
home with an empty sleeve, accom-.
panied by Maj. Harry Walton, a 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 tc
my brother. How can you expect me
ever to endure your sight again9'
Laura apologized for her sister a:
well as she could, but it was plain thai
she, too, was inclined to hold BRYANT
responsible for her brothers misfor
tune.
Think, dear Laura" he said. cir
what a cruel position l am placed.
And she answered.:
II will try to remember@if can.
In the course of the next two
months Arthur recovered sufficiently
to lounge on the veranda, but hi:
empty sleeve was constant reminder
to his sisters of what he had lost, an(
a stimulus to their hatred of the north
which fell upon Bryant as it's neares
representative. He was no longer re
ceived with cordiality, and Laur:
seemed to grow colder and colder t.
him, and to show more and more re
gard for Maj. Walton. A crisis wa
approaching manifestly. 1t came thu
day Maj. Walton left for the from
again. His parting with Laura wa
OF kind that made Bryant decidedly
Jealous. A quarrel ensued, in which
Laura said: "You have made me a
last remember, Mr.. Bryant, what M
love for you made me forget-that
am a southern girl God knows how
! have loved you. and hoped to VIII
you to our cause-that my countr,
would be your country-but vol
never will become one of US; and It i
not right that | should marry al
enemy of my country" She took hi
engagement ring from her finger an,
dropped it at his feet. Then she fel
fainting in the arms of her siste
Belle, who shrieked, you've broker
my sisters hearth I'll make you fgh
on one side or the other for this, 70,
Yankeel"
There was nothing left now to hol,
Bryant in South Carolina, an alien
surrounded by enemies He deter
mined to leave at once. He remem
bered Miss Bellies threat IL ha m