The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-11-20

vented the editor from going into sucl
. details as would interest the limited
, number of subscribers aud set the towl
10 talking.
So young Crawford welcomed the
announcement that war was on will
Spain. He was full of the battle fever
Visions of charging up hillsides against
the enemy, CALAMITY planting the stars
and stripes on tottering fort, or hav
ing heroic reports sent to Washington
bout bis personal Valor fire,l him
from head to foot. He must enlist
His country needed him right then,
and couldn't well get along without
him. Army life was pictured in his
vision, and the clashing of swords and
roaring Of artillery resounded in his
ears at night.
His engagement to the fairest wo-
man in Chester had already been an.
nounced. The parting would be hard.
But duty before love. He must go.
Their last night together was sad
one, and parting was indeed sIch
&C sweet sorrow" How many tears
were she'd, how many VOWS of loyalty
were made, how many times he swore
no b.twltchng Spanish maiden, Cuban
beauty or Filipino girl could rob her of
his thoughts for moment, is not re-
corded. But they parted, and he went
to the Philippines, vague locality 10
he lonely girl who thought of 1T only
as seven thousand miles away and full
of lagoons. Letters came back TO her.
They were soiled by many thu mbs and
seemed trife ancient. But they
were full of tenderness and loyalty,
and she read aud rc-read them, tucked
them away in her bosom temporarily,
and perhaps kissed them for his sake.
Meantime young Crawford distin-
gulshed himself for bravery, and his
fame came back to Washington. He
was recommended for promotion. The
late President Mckinley was prepar-
ing to push up number or two the
gallant Carolinian, who had come back
home some time before, when the
trouble began.
While here young Crawford obtained
leave of absence to go back to Chester
and claim as his bride the beautiful
Miss Douglass. She was radiantly
happy. All her wedding clothes had
UCC!l ups uuN oCNCldl VI lHOoU
+, intimate friends had been allowed a
peep at bewildering mesh of laces,
ribbons and other flimsy things sug-
gestive of q wedding. Many handsome
presents had been received, and all
was in readiness for the nuptials. The
groom-eleCt spent the evening before
the wedding.day with his fair BRIDE
elect, and the whole town was agog
over the marriage.
Exactly what passed between the
young lovers on their last night togeth-
er will probably never be known. Of
course, there were suspicious that there
was another woman in the case, and
all that, but the next morning Lieu
tenant Crawford sent polite but firm
note TO his bride.elect's mother, say
ing he did not love her daughter and
could not marry her. The ceremony
was called off. 1t was sad blow to
the fair Carolina girl, whose checks
were aglow With happiness the day be.
fore. The humiliation was keen and
painful. She was heart-broken. She
put away the wedding garments, re-
turned al! the presents and went to
Raleigh.
Young Crawford said he could not
bear the thought of making two lives
wretched by marrying woman whom
he found he did not love.
He left Chester, but the community
was aroused against him. 1t seems
that many took the heart-broken girls
part. Business men signed petition
to the President, urging him to with
hold the appointment of Crawford to
the position IN the army for which he
had been recommended. Then the
story of the sad little romance came
out, and even some of the former friends
of the dashing young army officer de-
clare that he acted in bad faith.
The heart of maiden who loves in
tensely is delicate, sensitive thing.
Miss Douglass scarcely ever appeared
in public after her lover Tilted her
Her face showed how she had suffered
but Crawford went back to his regi
ment and found diversion in tho rollick
ing army life. His name is on the
eligible list for appointment as lieuten
ant in the regular army, but he has Il
wait for this honor until the charges
preferred against him by the business
men of Chester, who are standing by
the fair would-be bride, are investi
gated by that slow and ponderou
organization known as the War ID,
partment. No less an impo ant pc
sonage than Adjutant- General Corbil
had few remarks to make about tn
romance the other day. Now, Genera
, Corbin is something of lover himself
He recently fell helpless victim t
the Love-God's shafts and took unit
3 himself sweet young wife. So he i
= in position to know what it means /
Y be allowed to follow the dictates of hi
8 own heart.
: General Corbin believes that youn
h peoples love affairs are purely privat
I, and personal matters aud neither til
= War Department nor any other kin
u of department has any business met
y ding with them. He admitted th,
n charges of the character referred 1
had been preferred against your
o Crawford, whose name is on the elig
a, BILE list. I" He called upon mo son
u days ago." said General Corbin, /" ar
"a made what seemed to me to be ma
ID ly, frank and complete statement
10 mis- side of the question. L was mus
d. impressed with his straiohtfor war