Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-08-23
ROMANCE OF TIE WAR.

Affldilts was a GiNl GiiGitlttE
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 10 leave il
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 10 him
This movement means war-miserar
Bile. horrible, bloody civil war-and
you've got To take your choice, our
side or the other; II you remain here
il 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
southern girl and you northern
man-God help you'll"
Miss laura's father, Judge Peyton,
doubted the wisdom of secession, but
when il was once decided upon he
gave II 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. Lis 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 lie said To Bryant:
"Iou 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 il
must not be announced, and that the
marriage must not take place SO long
as the pending troubles lasted ut 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 II was
evident that the struggle was going to
be "a hard and prolonged one Bryant
was offered a place upon the staff OF
Gen Bcauregard, which he promptly
declined This was noted by the local
papers and commented upon in nc
hattering terms. Even Laura re.
marked with sigh: What pity,
Lawrence, that you are not one of us
one who loves the south. ''As much
as love one of its maidcns, he re-
piled, laughingly; but the laugh was
forced and hollow lie knew that the
time was near at hand when he musi
take some definite action. The Con
federate government had decreed 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 TO leave its borders
without Official permission--a thai
day would soon arrive. After night
spent in warning between love oil
county and love of Laura Peyton, he
decided 10 return 10 the north taking
her with him as his wife, if possible
When he made known this purpose &c
her, she not only declined TO go with
him, but forbade him To 60 alone If hs
expected her 10 believe in his love
Thus IL happened that Bryant tarried
in South Carolina until the LIST OIL
July had pu sed, and became subject
To military laws as "a citizen of tbs
Confederacy lie was again offered G
stall appointment and again rcfuseo
IL, but no action was taken 10 forcs
HIM into the service. probably because
his experience rs railroad engineer
was of great value just at that time
The Confedcracy driited along for two
years. Then Arthur Peyton came
home with an empty sleeve, accom-
panied by Maj Harry Walton. a riva
OF Bryant's for the hand of Laura
Miss Belle, l.anras sister, said te
Bryant with flashing eyes;
1t was your friends who did this te
my brother How can you expect IN.
ever 10 endure your sight againf"
Laura apologized for her sister a,
well as she could, but it was plain thai
she, toos was inclined to hold BRYAN
responsible for her brothers misfor
tune.
Think, dear Laura" no said, III
what a cruel position am placed
And she answered:
Il will try TO remember-if | can
In the course of the next two
months Arthur recovered sufficiently
10 lounge on the veranda, but his
empty sleeve was constant reminder
70 his sisters of what he had lost, anl
stimulus 10 their hatred OF the north
which fell upon Bryant as its nearest
representative. lie was no longer re
ceived with cordiality, and Laura
seemed 10 grow colder and colder &c
him, and to show more and more re
gard for Maj. Walton. A crisis was
approaching manifestly. II came the
day Maj. Walton left for the FROM
again. Ills parting with Laura was
Of kind that made Bryant decidedly
jealous. A quarrel ensued, in which
Laura said: You have made me al
last remember, Mr.. Bryant what my
love for you made me forget-that
am a southern girl. God knows how
] have loved you, and hoped to win
you 10 our cause-that my country
would be your country but YOU
never will become one of us; and it is
not right that | should marry an
enemy Of my country" She took his
engagement ring from her finger and
dropped il al 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 eight
on one side or the other for this, you
Yankeeln
There was nothing left now TO hold
Bryant in South Carolina, an alien,
surrounded by enemies He deter