The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-18
HIS LIff's MISTAKE
"why did 1 never marry? We'll. I'll

tSll yOu.
The little crowd Of listeners looked
interested as Colonel Wiley, the hand-
some white-haired bachelor settled back
in his chair, as if more comfortably to
relate the story Of his escape from mat
rimony.
II was very much In love, but you
would know that when I tell you that
she was as fair and ;cvely a girl as
these Virginia skies ever looked down
upon. A true southerner, she was loyal
to her state and was proud to say that
her ancestors were among the F. r. VS..
while slender little creature, she
was splendid horsewoman, and knew
every inch of our rugged mountain
roads. OF course that was just before
the war, and I was young chap then.
Her name was Lucy, a good, old
fashioned name that We southerners
still cherish, and do not change to this
more airy Lucille, as do our northern
neighbors. 1t doesn't matter about her
surname; you would all recognize it were
I to divulgc, so 1 shall be silent concern
ing it.
"She was the daughter of the house
and had two large brothers, who looked
upon Lucy as mere baby and guarded
her quite as zealously. 1 first had to
win their friendship before getting any
where near being even a mere acQuaint-
anoe with Lucy
when the war broke out both broth
ers were filled with the enthusiasm Of
the battlefield, and by constant illusions
to their bravery, and adroit, carefully
worded remarks concerning their excel
tnt, Of h,
Confederate gray. I soon won them com
pletely over. AS for Lucy she regarded
me with suspicion for some time, but
suffice to say that when 1 marched away
into the fire and thunder of Shiloh lit
tie golden curl locket inclosing the
photograph of pretty girl, and Bible.
her gifts, were snugly and carefully
tucked away into the lining of my coat.
"Lucy's brothers and / were enlisted in
the same regiment and in that way
frequently heard from her. Their father,
a strong minded, stubborn, aristocratic
old fellow, had positively forbidden an
engagement or even communication of
any sort. She was too young, he said,
to have her mind turned topsy- turvey
with love nonsense.
"She made no effort to disobey, but
when she gave me the curl and locket
and looked at me through tears that
were just falling from her great blue
eyes, felt that in the battle of hearts I
had not lost and that in due course of
time I'd claim the indemnity of war and
call little Lucy my own.
This bissful condition continued for
six months or year. Then came the
usual uncertainties; suspicious and jeal-
ous.cs that so frequently disturb loves
young dream and bring despair to youth
full lovers.
1T was this way: Our first lieutenant
was dashing young officer, as fearless
as young lion and so handsome
that the privates soon dubbed him
Master Prettyboy.' We were cleaning
our imuskets one day, preparatory to
the morrow's fight, when Master Pret-
tyboy came strolling along and paused
near us. saying to Jim, Lucy's brother.
I received charming letter from your
sister today. She sent her love to you
two boys and asked me to tell her how
far you both ran at the drst fight
THAT night 1 went to Jim and asked
him if the first lieutenant and his sitter
had long been friends.
LHCy pay Cu tOSCtHCl With DdDlts,
he answered. Sis thinks heap of him.
THAT was enough. From that hour
my visions of sweet Lucy were blurred
with the mist of insincerity and faith
lessness. To be sure, we were not en-
gagged, but we understood, and our eyes
had asked and answered the questions
which our lips were forbidden to- speak.
my love-life-as Ibsen calls it--died
one day when the first lieutenant, beam
ing and smiling hailed Lucy's brother
with: Congratulate me, old boy; she
says she'll have me-
"Well, the war ended-as you all have
perhaps heard ere this, although some
of our mossbacks here in the mountains
refuse to believe it. When Lee surren-
dered l was the superior officer of th,,
handsome first lieutenant, whom hated
and envied with equal passion. l came
out of the army with a cruel wound in
my shoulder, and it was months before
came back to this part of the country,
where / had found and loved and won
my pretty Lucy.
''The old-time scenes and associations
although the war had brought many
grievous changcs) seemed to open my
emotions anew, and one Sunday 1 decided
to go to her.
Il had gone perhaps half the way
when 1 came to a switch on which stood
a dilapidated locomotive. An engineer
and his assistant were endeavoring to
polish it's rusty wheels and boiler. They
were discussing the pros and cons of
matrimony.
There's no use in talking. said one;
fharr'S niOltV little SincaritV in
women
THAT'S true reiterated the other.
I went to the war engaged to the sweet
est girl you ever clapred eyes on, but
when l came back she was married to
cowardly cur that never saw the smoke
of a musket.'
$50 / was not the only one, I thought.
I retraced my steps, boarded train, and
month later was digging gold mine
in the Grand canon of Colorado
years later 1 was in the. depot at
Denver awaiting train to lake me
back east, and was much surprised to
find myself face to face with Lucy's
brother Jim.
THAT night we talked over old times
as we smoked our cigars and let memory
drift back to the exciting days of "a. l
thought of the dashing first lieutenant
and casually asked:
".And whatever became of Pretty
boy?"
why, didn't you know he replied.
He married my sister Katherine
Observation-Disclosures? 2 l gasped
II never knew you had any sister but
Lucy!'
sGba v-oc q half sister NV fa her