Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-07-24
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A Triangular
: Love Difficulty
. A War Veterans
Story
. By CAPTAIN F. A. mitchell

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Half century has passed since we
pushed out from the Rappahannock
and the little village of Fredericksburg
and started up the incline, with scarce
ly house or tree on It, toward the
ridge. its base lined with Confederates
waiting for u.s. But Its picture Is as
sharply defined on my old brain as II
was then on my young eyes. What
Go over that tilted plain that at q
word from the Confederate commander
would be swept with hailstorm of
lead and iron? 1t was awful to think
of then, and many II night since In my
dreams I've been there again
There was deathly stiffness, broken
only by our monotOnous tramp. before
they opened on us. Jim Bdmonds was
marching next to me, and, turning,
saw that set look on his face which
men wear when going into battle, Jim
was as pale as II man walking to his
execution. AS | turned to look at him
he fnced me can never forget that
look
I'm not coming out of this" he said.
had no reply to make, and IL had
had there would not have been time to
make 1t, for Mt that moment the sing.
Ing and the screeching, mingled with
the rattle and the roar, began We
marched on, here and there man
dropping In his tracks, and the nearer
we drew to the Confederates the more
frequent the drops. Our regiment got
as near to the gray death line as any,
but the remnant at last broke like the
rest. Why men were called upon to
march up that open inclined plain, 30
admirably fitted for wholesale slaugh-
ter, is one Of the many unaccountable
blunders Of the war.
Jim fell shortly after we broke. We
were at the time, think, about mid.
way between the river and the ridge
He held out hand to me- on which
was a ring. He had lost the power Of
speech, but ! knew what he wished
me to do. l was to take the ring Off
his finger and put 1t on my own. In
stead OF doing so then and there.
took him up and carried him to the
rear. When | put him down he was
dead.
] must go back a bit. Jim had left
sweetheart at home. He had often
talked about her to me. We we're as
near to each other as youngsters can
be, and that is pretty near We were
very different, and believe that help.
ed to draw us together. Jim. was con.
hding. and was reticent. His face
was a mirror for his feelings; had
perfect command over my features.
He would talk to me by the hour
about his sweetheart had left one
Of my own at home, but never men.
toned her to any one. couldn't.
wasn't built that way. felt that It
was contemplate in me to accept my
friends condolences and not give nv
own. Nevertheless l permitted him TO
pour them into my ear without n re.
turn.
One night. shortly before the battle
In which Jim was killed, when he was
talking about his betrothed by a camp.
fire, he said TO me: "You know how
absorbed ! am In Edith. Well, I've
often thought that It Is selfish on my
part. | want her to make me happy.
! haven't thought much about her hap.
piness. Suppose get killed. She will
suffer the same rs | would II should
hear OF her death. I've been thinking
about this and how her life would be
spoiled. She wouldn't give her heart
to any one else. for she would think
that In doing 80 she would be untrue
to me- I've formed a plan in case
am killed to prevent her living tho
lonely life of an old maid There's
but one man whom can bear to think |
o, "a her husband"
And who may that beT
you"
Iv
Eyes. And, what's more, in case |
don't get back home wish you'd go |
to her and tell her So
Now was the time, IL ever, to con.
fess that ! had sweetheart OF my
own. ! was about to overcome my |
natural reticence when It occurred to |
me that there was as much chance OF |
my being knocked out by shell or a
bullet rs Jim. Why not let the matter
rest as 1t was? All said was:
Jim, you are very unselhsh. Let's
take a cheerful view OF It. A soldier
think OF getting killed. though
that's what we are here for. Let US,
rather. dwell on both getting back
home and my being best man at your
That's all right II we get home. My
plan is based on my getting killed
The day we left for Washington Edith
took this ring Off her finger and put II
on mine. jim she said, I'll never
marry unless l marry the man that
wears that ring
"She meant that she would marry
no man but you"
But don't you see how It works In
with my plan for herT
mo, don't"
"Well, you will when I've told you
the rest. II am killed take this ring
~ my finger and put It on yours. II
VIII overcome her scrnples."
Our conversation was interrupted nj
this point and was never resumed, fOI
we marched early the next morning
md WIRE soon laying pontOons In face
Df the enemy's 6re on the RRppnhan
mock and on getting across wp n0rch