The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-29
A Triangular
Love Difficulty
A War Veterans
Story
BY CAPTAIN F. A. mitchell

''ss''y',,p's''ss-'
Half century has passed since we
pushed out from the Rapmhannock
and the little village OF Fredericksburg
and started up the incline. with scarce
ly house or II tree on it. toward the
ridge. its base lined with COnfederates
waiting for us. 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
word fropn the Confederate commander
would be swept with n hailstorm of
lead and iron? 1t was awful to think
OF then. and many Il night since in my
dreams I've been there again.
There was Il deathly stiffness. broken
only by our monotonous tramp. before
they opened on us. jim Edmonds was
marching next TO me, and, turning.
saw that set look on his face which
men wear when going into battle. Jim
was MS pale rs Il man walking to his
execution. AS turned to look at him
he faced 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 it, 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. so
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 q hand to me. on which
was ring. He had lost the power Of
speech. but ! knew what he wished
me to do. l was to take the ring of
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 be was
dead.
l must so back a bit. Tim had left
q sweetheart ut home. He had often
talked about her to me. We were 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-
fiding. and was reticent. His face
was 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 I never men,
toned her to any one. l couldn't.
wasn't built that way. felt that II
was contemplate In me to accept my
friends condolences and not give my
own. Nevertheless permitted him to
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.
i haven't thought much about her hap.
piness. Suppose get killed. She will
suffer the same as | 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 so she would be untrue
to me. I've formed plan in case
am killed to prevent her living the
lonely life of an old maid. There's
but one man whom can bear to think
Of as her husband"
"And who may that be?'
"You."
'Tv
.'Yes. And. what's more, in case
don't get back home wish you'd 60
to her and tell her So
Now was the time. II 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 as Jim. Why not let the matter
rest as II was? All said was:
"Jim. You are very unselfish. Let's
take cheerful view Of it. A soldier
mustn't 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
wedding"
That's all right If we get home. My
plan is based ON my getting killed
The day we left for Washington Edit
took this ring off ner finger and put 1
on mine. Jim she said. I'll neve
marry unless | marry the man that
wears that ring.
..She meant that she would MARI!
no man but you."
"But don't you see how 1t works II
with my plan for her:
mo. don't"
"weIl. You will when I've told yo'
the rest. III am killed take this rims
Off my finger and put II on yours.
will overcome her scruples.'
Our conversation was Interrupted a
this point and was. never resumed. To-
we marched early the next mornin,