The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1878-01-18

friend ? Is it daily prayer loI
the departed ones? Or, was il
another vision in reality? This
question went home 10 the heart
1t was Irresistible TO leave. | opened
the gate and entered without dis
turbing the kneeling figure.
seated myself in the rustic seat
around tie trunk Of the tree and
there watched the motionless object
before me. The little feathered
songsters with their requiems solemn
alone broke The silence. Theselittle
warblers telling to their God in
their own notes OF harmony the
deeds Of the dead lent sacred ap-
pearance 10 the tree-a tree under
whose shelter sleeps the clay Of two
mortals; it keeps vigils over the
graves when all nature takes its
rest. In this dumb.ike thought l
moved and twig beneath my feet
gave way, and iis cracking noise
aroused my devout companion, and
turning upon me-oL, pen! why
again disturb my mind with the
picture of that woman's face! Oh, |
woman ! why does your face always
betoken a broken hearth 1t is
weakness of your sex and a care
worn face is always a lroof-a
mercy crying appeal-against man.
That face will haunt me TO the
grave and even now in fancy that.
sorrow broken face brings a shudder
uncomfortable over me; and what
was it in there in reality? Too
great for pen to write.
Stranger" says that woman.
"why trespass you upon this sacred
spot-the graves of a broken. heart.
ed daughter and mother :"
Men of proud hearts, mock the
invalid if you will when he says he
tnelt before woman-aye, even
bended the knee, pleading
"Woman, if this sacred spot is
intruded upon by my presence, |
beg of you that over the dead keep .
watch to forgive it; and give to this
mind comfort it seeks. Tell me the
history of this farm, beginning by .
the history Of the dead-those who
now sleep beneath those graves. l i
implore itin the name Of mother,
one that fifteen years ago sought
comfort for broken heart beyond
that snow like cloudlet."
That face changed into a gentle>
ness; | could read sympathy in those
et-black eyes; and she said:
"Molherlcss boy, you ere the first
)ne who ever asked that history
and | am prepared to give it. Here
IS the vile and daughter of your
lost-the daughter the mother of {
hose children you saw Iast night. !
And yonder (pointing to a grave {
lnobserved betore) sleeps the mur, s
ierer Of these-Charles Dcvis." q
At that name l fell. Now forty I
ears aftervard 1 weep at the c
ound of that name. Charles Devils 8
vas the assumed name of Ronold J
lewis my brotller-my loved and t
devoted companion of childhood. p
lis youthful mind was corrupted \
" the fancilnl stories Of the "won> u
Iefli West" The last | heard of 6
iln was from Sacramento; he wrote 81
ne short note saying: II am 10
Charles Devils. Bound for Ken
ucky.' That was all be said about OF
t. His name was printed, and the IN
'ther words written by his own ct
old hand. Why did he change la
bat name, the sacred gift Of dead re
mother? That question caused me p'
lany wretched days hard study. tr
'ould he be fugitive from justice? &C
ly prayers for him were daily si
increased. These words that told er
ie | was brothertess was sufficient &C
D stun any heart, and bear down 1t
he strongest body. Reader, that til
wing man in my dream'vision re- I'll
embed my brother. Yes, it was th
i'm in whose heart glittered the cl
EEL blade of Another. For three pl
ays remained in state Of uncon- p'
,iousnes; and in that stupor one OF
asses through in gaining reason / bt
lw that same vision, and this time ht
10 dying man spoke, lifting be
is hands towards me, saying: IN
3rotberi brother ! my life my tn
Ie 'twss only love that be cx- 70