Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-04-17
MY LOST "LOYS."
BY ROSE b. KANE.

ly warm and bright, not a cloud in
the sky. was coming out Of the
little old-fashioned Roman cemetery
where l had laid my little boy when
the first flowers of spring were open
ing. was about starting for Ameri-
ca and had come to pay a farewell
visit to little Harry's grave. There
was one grave in sunny spot that |
had often noticed during my visits.
1t was never neglected. There were
fresh flowers laid there every time l
came. Impelled by desire to see
the grave l went over to it. On the
maidstone was simply inscribed
Clogs, Died June sixth, 1870, Aged
10 years" Had she lived, Thought,
she would now be twenty-nine years
old. That she must have been loved
dearly, could tell by the lovely
bunch Of flowers that were now with
ering in the afternoon sun. Rever-
emily | knelt down, and hardly had l
done so when heard step beside
me-lOoking up | saw tall soldierly
looking man, about sixty years old.
He wore long cloak and carried in
his hand large box, which was filled
with white flowers.
"Do not rise madam, it gives me
much pleasure to have anyone visit
my Loys-little Logs" He stopped
and gathered the whitening flowers,
and laid his offering in their place.
"Have you ever been here before
madam? Pardon me, but you are
stranger here, that is why l ask"
had kept my recumbent position,
with my hand on the marble.
every often, l replied. 81 am an
American, and am going home. 1
came here to my little boys grave.
He has been dead six months. 1t will
be very hard for me to 60 and leave
my little Harry here among stran-
gers"
$50 | thought of my Loys-I could
not leave here without her, and for
a few moments he was silent.
"Will you tell me about her?" said
rising.
eyes" said heslowly. at is years
since told anyone. lam an Ameri-
can too madam. When my daughter
was ten years old my wife died. Logs
was away at school but came home
and remained with me. She was ed
uCated at home as | could not spare
her again. 1t seems but yesterday
that she came to me in the library at
home, my bright little girl, and said
to me-"
"Now papa WILDE eighteen years
old tomorrow. You know of your
old promise to take me to Europe.
Are you going to fulfil t?'
"Why Logs, | can hardly believe
you eighteen. Yes we will co." /
said to her.
We started in September and came
here to Rome. Logs was very happy
wandering about among the old
churches and pictures. There was an
English family in the hotel where we
were; consisting of a Mr.. Rice, his
wife and daughter Kate, who was
about thirty years old. She was a
very beautiful woman. We became
quite intimate, but Logs could not be
persuaded to be more than friendly
to Kate. 81 cannot help it, papa"
she would say. "There is some
thing about Miss Riceth repels me-"
I would laugh and call her a silly
child. cannot tell how it all came
about, but in the spring Katewas my
promised wife. Logs would not be
reconciled to it. She pleaded so hard
for me to go home and give up Kate
my little Loys-I distress you
madam, pardon me" as wiped away
my tears.
Logs wasveryself-willed, for which
blamed myself as / always gave in
to her. "Papa," said she coming to
me one night. 81 came once more to
ask you. Oh papa | cannot like Miss
Rice. Home will not be home with
her in it. DO listen to me, you
have Logs and''-
81 was very angry madam laid
down my paper and said to her:
Nothing you will say will alter my
decision nOw. | shall marry Kate.
She will accompany us to America in
May. Logs if you do not caretomalle
a home with my wife, you can find
one elsewhere "