Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-08-11


deep in the details of her last lines.
when the train stopped so suddenly as
10 startle every body, and the men with
one accord FASTENED out of the car and
rushed forward to see what had hap.
penci. A freight train hld run OIL the
track. wrccking one ear completely; but
n gang of labOrors had already arr we'd
from New Haven, aud the conductor
told us that the way would b. cleared
in an hour or SO. Leaving my now
friend TO watch the progress OF tn,
work, | sauntered slowly down shall
road that wound through lonely fields.
Presently | came on little school
house, painted white, and through the
open windows and door saw few
children seated ut their desks, while Il
few Others stood up before the spinslor
teacher. reciting lesson. l ielt 4
thrill OF pity for the lint-lockcd urrhn
who WAS saying the multiplication table,
stumbling over the mines, Just us had
in my bo.hood. Opposite was grave
yard. running UP steep to the east and
aud incloscd by low stone wall that
was almost hidden beneath tangled
vines and sprawling bushes. Thcrc
were no paths. and the grave stones
pee ed out from Il dense growth of tall
grasses, purple asters and vivid golden
rod. One stone marked the grave of a
certain Appollos Wolthey, who had fall
on in the battle of Seven Mountains |
made my way about the graves slowly,
but found no quaint cpitaphs, although
some OF the names struck me us extra
ordinary-such a Noahdiah. anl Par
thenl, and Minerva Far up ON the
brow OF the hill was simple marble
slab, marking tn! place where Parma
Shelby was buried, who had died in
1916. aged eighteen. Set back in the
headstone, AMI protected BY marble
flap that hung on hing, | d scovercd
daguerrtypc of the d 'ad girl. and !
lookel long and earnestly on tn, pic
tured face. The expression was gentle
and winning. Her thick hair xas drawn
back from b.oad intelligent brow,
and the shadow of smile lurked in the
corners OF her mouth. Her large eyes
met mine with Il sort Of entreaty, max
ing an appeal for sympathy and re-
spcct. At her throat an old-fashioned
brooch fastened pretty embroidered
collar, and the auSterely simple dress
fitted smoothly over her sloping shoul.
ders and girlish breast She had died
in September: perhaps she had been
buried on just such n day as this. whom
the golden-rod llameI along the fences
Nhaa 90 l.
where. She must have had friends TO
mourn her, mother to weep bitter
tears in the darkness. Even the sea-
som, with their storms o! rain and snow,
had dealt tcnderly with this portrait OF
her. hidden away in tn. stone.
"You hercp"
| started. Behind me stood the gar
rulous old man, my companion in the
cars. looking down at me ,e-ious'y, aud
without word he seated him OF 10
side me on the sunken stone near
Parnas grave. For awhile we were
silent AMI the children in tho school
house across the way began to recite
something in n chorus. their voices
rising and falling in a monotonous chant.
Poor Parna!" said the old man,
softly
You knew her?"
He mold d, and. taking hold OF my
arm. pointed to church-spire that
showed itself on n hill to the west
That's where I'm going" he said 1T
amt three miles away. and. rs we have
10 stay thtre till the track is Gear for
the train, thought I'd just walk down
and see the graveyard. My folks are
buried yondcr. under that pine tree.
and suppose I'll lay alongside of en-
some dav. | told the girls to bring me.
I'd rather be hero than anywhere else,
| guess"
After u minutes pause he stretched
out his hand, raised the marble Nap,
and 'ookel at the portrait Of Parma with
wavcring smile.
at 5 good likeness" he continued
Her old father had 1t put In. She was
oil he had left and he didn't stay long
after she was gone. He used to come
here ard sit and look at the picture by
the hour. Many'S the time have 81
him sitting here all alone, sort o talk
ing, AS though she could hear lie was
childish, and | guess he thought The
knew that he had come to keep her
company. Perhaps she did" And the
old man let the flap fall over the por
trait and turned his blue eyes to me in
solemn wonder. "Shc u ed to teach
school across the way," he went on.
land all the children came 10 her
funeral. 1t don't seem but yesterday
that we stood here listening to tho
c!umps of earth falling on her collin.
Poor Parma! She was q good girl.
Everybody loved her."
His voice broke. but an absent smile
fingered on his face. "She was en-
gagged to be married." he said, with ).
certain hesitation. land her swcethear.
was most brokcn.hcarted. He wasn't |
OF much account, but she thought
good deal of him, and.he was going II
study for the ministry. though his folks
were awful set against it, for, you see
he wasn't so young, being-lemme see
oh, he was nigh onto ten years older
than her."
And after she ded?" asked.
He drew down his mouth: "Well, he
give up all thoughts of studying for the
ministry. You see, he never felt he had
a real call for it; but he would have
studio to please her. After she was
gone he did as his folks wanted him TO-
and went 10 a village where an uncle OF
his kept store. And he kept store
made some money at it. too; and when
his uncc died he got the business"
And did he ever marry?"
"Ycs," SAID the old man, slowly,
and with an odd, deprccatory smile. |
e" Yes, he married a woman no moro
like Parma thnn Martha in the Bible was
like Mary. Not but what she was
gooi woman" he added. hastily, land
an uncommon smart woman, regular
go-ahcuI, all energy, always driving,
always saving. up before daylight |
Still, don't believe Parnas sweetheart
ever forgot her, though he did marry
and have ch ldrcn. Those were nv
daughters that brought me to the depot:
you may have seen EN-. They are both
married now, and they are both !
like Their mother They arc their
nNntbnr piarhf nun. a~nt.