The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-07-13

waiting for hlm to Gomez s
For whom do you wait" l ask
ed, in surprise.
His name is written there" he
Sald, pointing 10 the shaft. and
mournfully shaking his head "I'm
AFRAID he'll meyer see it, never.n
Sacred TO the Memory
att# of
Private James Duncan,
Aged q years,
ran the inscription. A mound at
its base showed great care, but no
flowers lay upon it-no covering
but its beautiful garment of green.
"Prlvate James Duncan" I said
aloud, why was not his grave
decorated I"
Grave, . echoed the old man6
dusting the short grass with his
handkerchief, "whose grave 2"
"Why, this young MANS"
''IIe is not here, he answered
calmly, seating himself upon it.
James is my son for whom | wait.
This is only room in the palace
in which we will both sleep togelh-
Ell when he comes. | cursed him
once" he added sadly, "and told
him to never show his face here
again. He must have forgiven his
old father by this time, | think,
and now the war is over, he'll be
coming home. | heard the drums
beat to-day and the music, as the
soldiers came marching home, but
James wasn't with them; he has |
Jagged behind. | wish he would |
come" resting his head YEARLY
against the shaft, 81 am SO tired,
SO tired"
Poor old man," l murmured.
gazing upon his wasted figure and
sorrow. scanned face, poor old de-
mented father"
Not a sound disturbed the holy
quiet of The place but the low hum
Of insects, and an occasional happy
song of wandering bird.
"He sleeps" | said as the heavy
eye-lids dropped over those wistful
blue eyes, and quietly turned and
the adjoining churehyard.
Good morning, sir" politely
aid the sexton who was about to !
lose the gate; "a stranger, pre-. 6
ume," I
In the course of the conversa- n
ion which followed, inquired the U
istory Of The old man whom had g
1T sleeping upon his sons grave. II
"Ah that was a sad case sir.' a
g feelingly replied, "a sad case. VI
on see, James Duncan was a wild Sc
by, but loving and good hearted u
r all that he fairly idolized his ~
other, but his father was of a
iick temper and sometimes harsh. De IDgeS
ne day in a fit OF anger he flogged y, w
g boy, who was nigh man now, "
I'd without a word to anybody ia
mes ran off and joined the army De
onths passed and no word came
I'm him. His mother pined away, 80
q before the year was out she Law ~
'eplng under the sod over yon-
r. The old man went around G pl
after that, saying pre- Isr T
,us little to anybody. ,- noe
Very late, one night, James Dun pe pe
\ opens the door and quickly -
lts 1T behind him. ooi
Where's mothers" he saws the m ou
It thing to the old man who was 20, y"
ling there alone. S1 soi
Out there in the cemetery,"l ~ ~,
Is his father, cody. sG' sg,
In the cemetery this time of ,,o, ro
,ht," cries James, surprised. | So ~
lst go and fetch her home" .,'o 1"'
Take spade with you,' says or
old man, "and a pick" -.
For whatp says James, un- -
nking-like, but all OF tremble. nt, l'C
10 dig her out of her grave.n "a
s the old man; the grave you ia. =.
herin.o ihs
he young man reeled, and his uo' e'',
lie lips uttered no sound. a.,' .n
Curse Sou," cries the father all ~
a sudden. "eurse you. Let me Iae Ine
'er see your face again." -, 80,
o theears of The horror or-slIicken pu'
came Hhe sound as of the ~ ~,
rching ol troops. ~ ~
,rampl trampl trampl ,r;9 ,on
IheY are after me.p he said. ~
ed Ike, "Ihey'ye tracked me.n
Who :" said his father IndifEer- +,
~. I
The soldiersl hide me, falher, MA
e me-" nj
Hide ye,s cried the old man,
king wicked, "for what r. II
l We deserted. - whs