The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-31


fraternity for sh;eld-e beautiful thought
said the isdy President as she turned to the
gfntltmanly little fellow who s0od waiting.
Tell your gran dmoth she has my SYM
pethy In her bereavement aud chat will see
that her wishes are carried out in regard
10 these memorial offerings to her dead
sons"
'sThey were not both her sons ma'am"
mo. no, they were not boff her boys"
said the lovely little girl who now slowly re-
turned from q quiet survey of the Iu1ch
tables near at hand. at one in particular
she bad stood long tine ana looked with
sorrowfui eyes 81 the empty sleeve worn d.
q Gentleman, and now she was study for
an artist as she stood looking up with her
soft grey eyes from bensaEh their long lashes,
vhile pointing Der delicate finger she said:
One wss Aunt Betties boy. aud two was
my granmuvyers boys. Iss, Is roses for ROT
ert, my iunkle who was shot wiv er Unior
en- iss is lilies for lunkle Jack what was
allied wiz e. rebels Hs wa berry good
rebel; my granmuvTer says So aud my Aunt
Petite che aid ssy SO too and my ueppy
FSys he believes them-ion't he l. e?' aud
frightened At her own long Speach sue nov
GOD swinging her hands back aod forth in
very embarrassed manner
Yes, darling whispered her brother SIS
he patted her teDoeriy on the should r
''our grand ether had two sons in the late
war" ssid he, zone in the Union army and
one in the Confederate. Our Aunt Battle
lost one son on the Confederate size, and
that Is why they always decorate for the
Biue end the Gray"
While this low toned conference was being
Carried on at the desk, three distinguished
looking men sitting at one OF the tables not
far away. suddenly ceased their lively nat
at u IS IL with one accord watched this pecu-
liar ecepe, although not near enough 10
cstcb the drift of conversation. The signifi-
can't combination OF lilies with gray ana
roses and blue evidently struck them and
told their own story, for each face showed
traces OF deep en- otioD as they turned their
gapces from the group and looked cues
tioningly into each others eyes. 0ne of the
number in particular showed signs of beng
deeply touched. he was the hands,mest
one CT the three-a man Of magnl cent form
with tlus patrician face possessing great
dignity and gentleness of expression. One
empty sleeve and his hating step told the
sad tale OF battle field experiences, while by
his accent and pronunciation we very surely
knew him to be from the Sunny South il we
had not already heard that General B. was
entertaining two friends from Louisiana,
both lawyers OF distinction his classmate
in college Gays-ard both ex confederate
officers, with whom he now clasped hands in
peace and COCO WILL"
"Well, WE'LL" exclaimed General B
IL do declare that lad locks enouph like you,
Colonel, to be vnUr own flesh and blood; the
wy image of what you used to be when we
n &c nodded our sleepy heads overVirgu, or
played shinney on the college campus. Hey.
ain't right, Msjor 0-?"
true I'd say, General" answered the Ma
with hearty laugh. How ia 1t Jacks
1t Your treat or oufs?"
The Colonel smiled, but it was sad smle
aI d far awsy absent look that lit up his
fine Il CO as he answered: Well, boys, I'm
lot go sure but they are my flesh and blood,
tn lse little ones you may have hit q truth
which | can not trace out. Perhaps you are
not aware of the fact. but the one anxiety of
my life for years has been to find my surviv.
log relatives, or 10 hear OF them il dead.
would give years of my life to bs able to solve
the great mystery. NV brother Robert, as
you will remember, General fell on the
most vindictiyely contested point of
conflict. All Bob was brave
AID true, but You know the story, Gen
eral-he was among you hoys IN blue while
YVES on the other side under Hosd.
Away down in Tennessee l got my dose
alter the battle at franklin when we run
Thomas in and held Nashville in siege for a
spell, until he fnslly led his army out
of the trenches and drove rs south into Ala
bama. 1t vas when on this wild retreat that
/ as one OF the rear guard fell badly
shattered up. aud lay long time at death 3
door. In fact was reported dead, and be-
yond doubt would have been so but for the
tender care bestowed ubon me by your Yam.
kee nurses General. It's all right now. all
right boys" and the only hama left him
brushed away mist from before his eyes
which were looking across the bridge OF
years, long years. When finally, after
many of The vicissituaes of those times,
wandered back to the old home places it
vas TO find all changed. My widbw we'd moth
er and only sister. feeling unsafe. applied
for aud recsived kind aud careful escort
across the lines. and had gone away u D n orsh
somewhere, but 10 one Gould tell Just where.
You STE they thought me dead as they knew
Bob to be. The old plantation
ned charged owners, the sale having been
etie cted through an agent. thus leaving no
trace No doubt they mourned for ne stu
CO ely as among the dead while have never
ceased to grieve for them, nor 10 anxiously
watch and wait for some trace by which to
Ebd them, living or dead"
But" laid General B., have You tried
advertising? have you resorted to every
means in your efforts? Tell me, what have
You done, Jack?"
We'll Tom. think have done about all
there is to do in such 3 case. You naust re
u ember that advertising for member OF
Il 9 Smith family is about like hunting for 8
rs edle In haysfaok. Besides, my mother
msy have died years ago, and nv sister. by
ma r<ying and changing her name, would
r,nder the chances even less hopeful"
'True," said Major O.. "Yet don't despair
Colonel. You know the old sdsgs OF the
ler G lane which soon or late has turn; I'd
y, u may have come to the turn even now
And, then, the darkest hour Just before d4y
always melts at sunlight. A good Providence
may have guided your footsteps here for .
lurpose."
''Sse here, now" said the General as hs
sjyly wips d tears away; don't you 60 tC
givlng up old boy; why come this'll neve
do. Come on, let's do something Well
find out Who those little kids are, anyway
and then who knows? who knows?" and
spliDg'ng to his feet General B. led of a.
double quick. followed slowly by Major O.
and Colonel Smith.