Smyrna times., 1893-05-10
LENS MISTAKE.

away in the war and had Just receive
his discharge. He was going to Sc
her now, however, and as he wake
up across Judge Dagley's lawn hi
heart beat wildly with happy anticipa
tlOns, for in moment more he Woul,
hold to his breast the woman he loyeC
best
He had reached the house aud wa
in the act Ofsetting foot on the yerand
when he was arrested by a peal O
laughter. He knew well whose laugh
ter it was, for it had thrilled him a
hundred times before.
He glanced around and through al
open window he saw Laura. But sh,
was not alone. She stood clasped il
the arms of another man, her heaC
resting gently, lovingly, on his shoul
der.
Lem was astonished-ha able t,
credit his eyes-his blood frozen in his
veins. There was no room for doubt
ing the meaning of what he saw
Every gesture, every feature, told tot
plainly that she loved the man in whose
arms she rested.
For moment Lem remained there
looking at the two. then he turned anC
staggered away. He went down the
path to the road, reeling like a drunk
en- man, and then he sat down by the
roadside with his head in his hands
and tried to think But only one pjc-
ture came before him, that which he
had just seen. And try as he would
he could not Danish it from him. One
thought only occupied his mind. and
that was that Laura had proved false
she whom he loved with all the ardor
of his soul. and whom he had trusted
as he would one of the angels in the
! heavens.
An hour passed and then he arose
and walked toward the old mill. which
was his home.
As he walked his mind resumed it's
functions, and before he had reached
the end Of his journey he had matured
plan of action. He entered the mill
struck light, for it was quite dark
now, and then he wrote and tackled a
notice on the door, reading Closed
Forever" Then he went to mis- room
IN the loft and gathered together his
valuables, all of which he put carefully
away. After that he came out. closed
and locked the mill and started for the
cross roads.
lie was going to join Blakeley's
company of recruits, which was then
forming, glad Of the opportunity to
engage in the war, and hoping that
there would be hard fighting soon and
plenty Of it.
The recruits were gathering at the
cross roads when Lem arrived. Every
enc was surprised to see Lem there but
they were still more surprised by his
wonderfully altered appearance. His
lace was ha9gard, and he appeared to
nave aged several years within a few
hours. The men knew that there
was . cause for this change some
thing affecting Lem deepley had tran
splred, but they could not surmise
what, and the expression on his face
deferred them from asking anv uues.
tons. With wonder and SURPRISE
captain Blake welcomed him to his
company.
At midnight all the volunteers were
III, and the men prepared to march.
Lem took a position in front of the
column, and when Blakeley gave the
word to move he strobe away at such
a pace that his companions found it
diii1cult to keep up with him. He was
III fever excitement, and he wanted
action. He would have given the
world if there had been a battle raging
then and he could have plunged reck-
lessiy into the hottest part of it. He
longed to hear the booming of cannon,
the whizzing of shells and the rattle of
musketry. While the others talked
and laughed, Lem stalked steadily on.
grimly silent, save that now and then
he turned to urge his companions to
move faster.
Two days later the little band were
with the army, and Lem was soon can
tain of Blakeley's old company. Then
IN the days following there was march
ing, lighting and skirmishing until the
poor soldiers were worn ont with
fatigue and exposure, but though Lem
managed to share the heavist burdens !
he was impatient, and chafed for more
movement, more hardships and more
dangers Army life was lacking in ex-
citement for him.
The people at home soon learned in
time, through letters from the army.
where Lem was, but they were unable
TO account for his sudden and abrupt |
departure. They could not understand /
how young man, who had come into |
considerable wealth by the death of |
his father, should go away leaving his
lands and his mill unprotected and
uncared for. They wondered too, that
ne should go away leaving Laura Dag.
ley at that time, knowing, as they did.
the near approach of his Intended mar.
rage with her. But though people at
home knewthese things they could form
no satisfactory conjecture as to the
cause OF LENS actions, for he never
uttered a word to give them a clue.
Two years passed, and then there
came letters telling of the hard fighting
around Vicksburg. and one of them
-old of the fall of Lem Beckett. This
news spread rapidly through the neigh
Dorhood OF Beckett's mill, and reached
even to the inner walls of Judge Dag
ey's house. Was there no one in the
house to mourn Lem Beckett's fate
1ne to yearn for him and weep for his
oss?
But Lem was not lost. He fell but
ne rose again. After long weeks he
'ame forth from the hospital q manned
nan, the lines on his face telling the
tory of his great sufierings. His right
lrm was gone and he conld NO longer
cad in battle.
Since leaving home Lem had heard
nothing from the Dagleys, and be sup
'osed Laura had long since married
md gone away, so he resolved to 90
'ack. Accordingly he boarded a
teambOat and went to st. Louis. He
topped in that city and after dressing {
himself in better clothing, went to a
lotel
He was about to enter the office TO
ecure room when he saw man and
Voman alight from a carriage and pass
n to the building. |
he stopped, dumb with surprise and
ain. The woman was Laura, and the
nan was the same he had seen with I
er that night in Judge Dagley's par.
or.
He watched them as they passed Q
nto the house, and he saw her turn '
er eyes upon him. Yet she showed Z
o sign of recognition When they t
ad disappeared he turned away. all /
he old suffering strong upon him. and |
Dr. an hour he walked the streets of {
t. Louis. I
Can she have forgotten me so soonn c
e mused bitterly. "Am / so soon
anished from her memory. Ave. yes