Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-06-06
LaureIs and Lilies.
~ will call around and settle to

"Can't," was the prompt reply:
"ofllcc will be closed. To morrow's
Decoration Day."
The words hoated up through the
lace draped windows luto the room
where Marion Van Alstyne SAT at
her EN- broidery in the golden light
of the afternoon, and the debtor and
his evidently importunate creditor
passed on up the street. 1t was
dainty boudoir, full Of nnmberless
little tokens that told of the refined
taste of it's owner; tall blue and pink
vases, their slender Threats filled
with spring blossoms, were on table
and mantle, suruy bits OF landscape,
with the initials an. 4. Van A" in
the corners, souvenirs Of summer
sojourns, adorned the walls, inter,
spersed with laughing faces OF
school girl Friends, graceful little
bronze Statuettes posed OH carved
brackets in the corners, and Il sun-
beam, like a long bright stiletto OF
gold, struck sharp on the white
breast OF a marble Flora and
CLEANED off into the crimson folds
that drapcd tile archway between
bedroom and boudoir. But the
loveliest object IN that pretty room
was its fair mistress, as she sat in
her low easy chair, her pale gray
draperies falling gracefully around
her and her beautiful eyes looking
apparently at the little bronze Gu
pid opposite, but actually into
space. The Cupid, gazing at her
satin-brown hair and rose.tinted
check, must have thought what a
tempting mark she would be for
one Of his arrows, of which q whole
quiverful was slung at his back, be-
tween his tiny wings. The slim
yellow canary in his gilded cage by
the window burst into a variety of
trills, and calls, and MARBLES, and
Marion's gaze came back out of
space TO the Jangle of floss silks in
her lap. During the last few min
utes she had been following a train
Of thought started by the fragment
of conversation in the street below
and ending in resolve that TO-
morrow being the day set apart by
"a beautiful custom for decorating
the graves of the nations dead,
she, having no dead of her own to
cover with flowers (for death had
never visited tho happy household
of which she was Il daughter, )would
60 at early morning and lay a
wreath upon the grave Of some sol
dier who would otherwise be for
gotten.
Having decided that the wreath
should be Of lilies and laurel, she
put her embroidery away in the
dainty satin-lined workbox, and
shading her face with coquettish
hat with long white plumes went
out for her usual afternoon drive,
stopping at the florists ere the
horses heads were turned homeward
and leaving her order for the wreath,
the wreath which was to change
her whole life.
The first sunbeam of morning,
CHANGING upward from the rosy
east, crowned with gold the marble
brow of the Faith that surmounted
the Huted column at the cemetery
gate, and leaning on her anchor
with face turned eastward, ever
awaited the dawn Of the resurrec-
ton morn. The hushed expression
of expectancy upon those carven
features, the calm majesty OF that
stately figure, filed Marion's soul
with sense Of awe, mingled with
exalted admiration as she entered
the gate and passed before that
1passionless, peaceful face, divine III
its pallid beauty, the realization in
marble of the sculptor's dream of
faith.
A few people had come thus early
to deck the resting places of loved
ones, and as Marion walked along
the graveled drive to the soldiers
plot many admiring glances were
sent, sometimes through fearful
lashes, aftel the trim and graceful
figure in its faultlcssly fitting dark
blue dress and coquettish flower
crowned bonnet with the exquisite
wreath depending from her daint
lily gloved fingers. Some one had
drapld the base of the central
monument in the soldiers plot with
the "starry flag Of liberty aud
Marion's eyes sparkled and her
checks flushed with PATRIOTIC fervor
as she saw it, for this place OF dead
heroes, sentineled by the marble
Faith and decked with the flag
whose crimson bars were brighten
ed by their blood, was Il fitting spot
for high thoughts and noble emo
tions. The single sunbeam broad
ened, enveloped the figure OF Faith
with halo Of light, slid down the
column, touched the greensward
and gildcd the tips of the outspread