The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-22
Miss Lavalette
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tOriginall
A woman never forgets a lover: a
man may forget the woman he has
loved.
During the civil war Lieutenant Law
renee Nolan, aid-de-camp to a general
OF brigade. encamped in Virginia on
the grounds Of manor house belong
ing to family named Lavalette. The
owner of the plantation and his sons
were with the Confederate army, but
his wife and daughter. Rosalind, were
at home. The women, though their
hearts were with the southern cause
and especially with the father and his
sons at the front. had the good sense
to treat the Union officers who came to
the house courteously. By this means
they insured protection for themselves
and their property. The command to
which Nolan was attached remained in
camp on the Lavalette plantation for
several months, and. among other Of
fcers, he was frequent visitor at the
manor house. Love. which knows NO
barrier, ignored the fact that Rosalind
Lavalette was a rebel and Lawrence
Nolan an invader of the homes Of
herself and the southern people.
1t was in the sweet summer time,
and life had in it for the young people
far more Of zest than either had
known before. The ring of the bugle
and the beat of the drum were heard
in the land, uniformed men were COM
Ing and going, the air was laden with
strains from military bands. while &C.
casionally there came from distance
the booming Of cannon. Amid all this
the young officer, snatching occasional
moments, when off duty, pleaded his
cause. Nothing but principle stood in
the way Of favorable reply. The girl
could not bear to give herself to an
enemy of her country.
When the brigade moved, Nolan had
only time to ride to the manor house
and bid adieu to the girl he loved.
Cutting button from his sleeve, he
gave it to her as a souvenir and told
L..
when peace comes" he said. II will
come to ask again for the word
would be so glad to hear now. Till
then goodby."
He asked for a parting kiss, but she
refused him. "How could l look my
dear father in the face" she said.
when he returns If had been kissed
by a YankeeT Nolan sighed and.
mounting, rode away.
When the Union army left the Lava
lette plantation the place at once sank
into its accustomed quiescence. There
was nothing but the waving trees, the
hum of insects, the songs Of birds. Not
again did any part of either the Union
or Confederate armies visit it. Rosa
lind Lavalette spent her time comfort
ing her mother for a son and brother
who had been killed in a skirmish with
the brigade that had been encamped
on the plantation. Lawrence Nolan
gave the order in the name of his gen.
eral to send the body to the mother
and sister. and, though he believed that
his heart would remain forever where
he had bestowed it, he gave up all
hope that Rosalind would ever be his
wife.
When peace came several years lat
er the episode on the Lavalette plant5'
ton had become a pleasant dream to
Nolan. He was even then but twenty
two, and his impressions were the eva
nescent impressions of youth. He had
had several other later affairs during
the war, and these had tended to wear
upon the effect of the first. He left
the army and began the study Of a
profession. Occasionally he would be
seized with a desire to go south and
seek Miss Lavalette, but he feared that
If she would not listen to his suit
before his corps had killed her brother
she would not listen to him after that
distressing event. He had not the
nerve to ask the hand Of one whose
hospitality had been thus repaid. He
must study his profession for several
years and even after acquiring it must
wait patiently for an income. And SO
the matter of his first love gradually
slipped away from him.
Forty years passed. Nolan, who had
become prominent in his profession.
was elected to congress. One evening
soon after his arrival at the capital he
was introduced to white haired wom-
an of refined appearance and with a
southern accent.
eve have met before" she said.
"When? Where?'
During the civil war, in the SOUTH
bo, ri DIV