Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-13

renee Nolan, aid-de-camp to a'general
of brigade, encamped in Virginia on
the grounds of a manor house belong
Ing to a family nathed Lavalette.s The
owner OF the plantation and his sons
were with the Confederate army, but
his wife and daughter. Rosalind, were
Mt home. The women. though their
hearts were with the southern
and especially with the father ana MS
sons at the front, had The good
to treat the Union officers who came 10
the house c~ourteously. BY this means
they insured protection Tor themselves
and their property. The commano 10
which Nolan was attached remained In
camn ON the Lavaiette plantation for
several months. and, among other of
6ce,.s he was q frequent visitor at the
manor house. Love, which knows no
barrier, ignored the fact that Rosalind
Layalette 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 hands. while oc-
casionaIiy there came from a distance
the booming of n Amid all this
the young officer, snatehing occasional
moments, when off duty. pleaded his
cause. Nothing but principle stood in
the way Of a 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 a button from his sleeve, he
gave it to her as q souvenir and told
her to keep it till he should call for 1t.
when peace comes" he said, 81 will
com to ask again for the word l
would be so glad to hear now. Till
then goodby."
He asked for a parting kiss, but she
refused him. How could I look my
dear father in the face" she said,
when he returns il I had been kissed
by a Y~ankee?". Nolan sighed and,
mounting, rode away S
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 planta,
ton had become a pleasant dream to
Nolan. He was v 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 ut the capital he
was introduced to a white haired WON
an Of refined appearance and with a
southern accent.
"We have met before" she said.
when? Where?'
During the civil war, in the south"
Nolan looked at her inquiringly.
THAT was a long while ago." he said.
Indeed 1t was, but I have remem-
bered you, long though it is"
"You can't be the girl who nursed
me when / was wounded? %
mo. You were perfectly well when
I knew you"
"Nor the girl 1 met at Richmond at
the close Of the Wharf.-The one over
whose home I stood guard one night?'
'Nor that one either. You gave me
a keepsake DIT parting. / have 1t yet"
"Oh, I know you. I remember we'll
that evening in your garden at Charles
ton when l gave you a rose and you
said you would keep it as long as you
lived"
The lady smiled. 1t was a very sad
smile.
"Guess again.
II give it up" said Nolan, seeing that
he was continually getting deeper into
thp mire. NThe lady. movad couoo Iooa