Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-10-28

IMAM the DraVe young DrOCnef. Inere is
no grave like that in which living
love is buried and such grave John
carried in his heart. Before the war he
had loved dark-eyed Southern girl,
who had promised some day to be his
wife but when, at the beginning of the
conflict, John declared himself on the
side of the North, Eleanor, whose SYM
pathies were all with the South, retract-
ed her promise. In the years that had
passed since that bitter parting they had
never met, though Gova had formerly
been the favorite summer resort of Ell
eanor and her friends but John, loyal
to his love as to his country, still cher
ished tenderly the memory of the past,
and, lying there to-day, with the birds
singing above him, and the sunlight
shimmering on the blue river, he forgot
the dead at his feet and dreamed only of
| Eleanor.
"Come, brother Jack, I'm all through
here. Now let's go to the Confederates
graves. - said Kittie at last. John had
forgotten that there were any Confeder-
ates buried there, and was not just then
in a mood to be reminded of it, much
less to be asked to decorate their graves.
Cant you find room for your flowers
here % he asked
"Why, Jack, these are Fays flowers,
and promised to do it for her. S'pose
they are Confederates, Jack! Mamma
says the North and the South are all
brothers,
Major John looked down at the ear
nest little face with half smile. ..Mam-
ma is right, there, child" he said and
taking Fay's basket from ner, he let her
lead the way to the Confederates' shady
corner. At the time the two were laid
there he was absent from Cova, and Lad
never CHANGED to learn their names
STOPPING now to examine the head
boards, he was startled at finding on one
of them the inscription "Arthur Down
ing, aged % p for Arthur was Eleanor 5
brother, whom he had known and loved
from boyhood, and in a softened spirit
he knelt with Kittie, and helped arrange
Fay's offerings. After that they visited
other parts of the cemetery, and listened
to the music and speeches and it was
not until they were outside the gate and
fairly on their homeward way, that the
a;0o2unru was m2dn that thew had loft
Fay's pretty basket behind them.
"Oh dear It's too bad I'm so tired
!; now p sighed Kittie.
"You can walk on, and I'll 90 back
for it." said John. AS he neared the
!, enclosure, he saw, in the shadow of the
; cedars, lady STOPPING over Arthur's
, grave A broad-brimmed hat concealed
her face but something in the bending
/ figure made him forget his errand and
sent thrill through his heart.
"Whom have to thank for remember
; ing these two lonely graves % she asked
lifting her head, and seeing strange
before her.
7 Eleanor, EleanorP' he cried will
outstretched arms She had failed t.
a recognize in the bronzed and beardet
! man the boyish lover of her other dayi
but she knew that strong clear voice, an,
e for an instant the fierce battle between
: her love and her pride took away he
: breath, and forced her to catch at th
nearest headboard for support. The tw
t mounds lay between them. John spran
4 over the near one, in the excitement Q
the first recognition but here he stop
v ped. Would she clasp his hand abov
s her brothers grave ? He could almes
r hear his heart beat while he waited
h The very birds, and the green leaves
II and the still river seemed to wait an
le listen with him. Again he spoke he
d name so softly that it seemed like
IS whisper in the air. For moment mol
y she wavered. Then love conquered; an
n across that grass grown grave the Sout
D. clasped hands with the North II
E. birds took up their song again-a ne
If song, softer and sweeter than the old
t. while the sun sent through the ced;
boughs a golden benediction, and belo
d, the shining river sped on its way as
S in haste to tell the glad tidings.
II 81 don't see why it takes John so lor
s to find the basket" said Kittie, wi
after vainly waiting by the way, had f
e. over an hour been watching by the wi
dow for Major Johns return. But Il
lie sun went down, and the twilight wane
'l- and still the lovers fingered. Of cours
to it was very imprudent thing to d
'h considering what damp places gray
he yards always are after dew begins to ia
but lovers are not supposed to be pc
er sessed of the pru ence of common me
er tails. At last, however, Kittie, to b
st great delight, saw Major John comil
Ill up the walk.
lst why. where's Fay's basket?'' S
ne asked, running to meet him.
as ..Basket?'' repeated John slowly. g
never mind, dear! Well go for 1t /
Its morrow"
I'm Kittie couldn't understand it at a
he | nor rbv Tahp oava her cuoh an ,lnuSlI.