The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-05-31

| UtucuittlVu VI Ills lGlutT. anu WlIu IHN
echo of his parting words In his efri "Lich
'em, boy. Thrash om out OF their boots fol
me, since l can not go myself.n A much
more characteristics devastating than 9
moro sentimental one would have been.
The young man rode away with share
Of his fathers vindictive spirit infused
into his own gentler nature, but as the war
progressed he saw so many touches of a
kindred nature among tho people he had
como TO conquer that he came 10 pity us
well as blame, and eliminated his soft
heartednoss by falling desperately in love
with the fair and gentle girl who afterwar,i
became his wife and the mother OF his
children.
He had found her in an old mansion
which the Union forces had taken posses
sion OF, caring for an invalid mother, and
covering and trembling with fear, with no
one beside 10 protect her but an old negro
nanny and her decrepit husband, and his
chivalric heart went out 10 her at once rs
he treasured and claimed hor fears, and
made the invasion rs pleasant rs possible
under the circumstances. The troops were
quartercd in the vicinity for fortnight,
and, when they were ordered on, Holroyd
Graham carried the heart OF the fair
Southern girl away with him and left his
own in her keeping
The fathers wrath may be imagined
when, upon his sons return from the war,
SCARED from honorable service, he learned
that he was determined TO make the penni-
less Southern girl his wife; but the son had
his share of his father's firmness, and, after
fierce quarrel, they parted, the sou leav-
ing wealth and home for the sake Of her
whom he loved
The breach had never been healed, and
Hclroyd Graham, after ten years of happy
married life, died n lingering and painful
death, iP consequence of injuries received
during his army life, leaving his heart
broken wife with Grace, mere child, and
the twins, helpless infants, upon her hands
10 rear and educate.
The widows pension, which fortunately
was a liberal one sufiicod with the little
which they had accumulated TO keep actual
want from the door, and the delicate hands,
which bad never been brought up 10 labor,
performed many an unwonted task for pay,
and she had managed to struggle along un-
til the children were able to assist her in
small ways; but the memory of her soldier
husband was ever kept green in her loyal
heart, and, though she had received advan-
tageous offers, she had refused them all
for his sake
She had only written once to the grand
father OF her children, telling him when
and where his son was buried, and opening
the way for a reconciliation If he wished it,
but he did not reply, and Grace, too, under
the pressure of actual need when she saw
her beloved mother failing under her bur
dens, had ventured a little pleading letter,
which also went out upon its way, but
brought no response
4
twas evening, and the lamps cast soft
glow over the elegant room which was
fitted up for a library in a luxurious home
many miles from the widow and her chill
dren. One side was filled with valuable
collection of choice books, the other was
devoted To rare specimens of art in paint
ing and sculpture, while in corner niche
stood grand piano, bearing mute testi-
mony 10 the fact that the room had echoed
to music in other days.
The owner Of all this luxury sat by cen
ter table, his face buried in his hands, and
his eyes fixed upon letter which lay be-
fore him, accompanied by a picture upon
which he looked with moistened eyes, II
was the widows letter, and Holroyd Ora
ham looked upon II rs one in dream. "All
alone. All alone,n he said aloud, at last
"and he whom relied upon as staff for
my declining years is buried far away from
me, and l have never ever seen the spot
where he lies, or the faces of those whom
he loved mostn
He looked sadly about him. "All this
wealth and luxury is as empty husks TO
me in my loneliness, and would give it all
for one look into the honest blue eyes of
my boy, one grasp of his warm hand, but
have nothing but his distant grave which
other hands than mine will decorate on
Memorial Day; others will honor the brave
boy whom j sent out from my heart and
home for his country's sake"
An indcscribable longing came into his
heart TO see for himself the spot where his |
son lay, if no more, and tonight, in his |
softcned mood, there was no hardness in |
his heart toward the widow and the father |
less children Of his son. It was not a large |
town where the widow Graham lived, so 1t /
was not large or imposing procession |
which filed away to the cemetery ON Ne /
mortal Day. 1t had been a patriotic town, l
as the number of little flags flying above
the graves testified.
II was always sad day for the widow.
and to day she shed bitter tears as the mar
tial music announced that the procession
had started for the cemetery.
These sounds always smote upon her ear
like lSnell reminding her of the dreadful
war times, when father, brother and loved
ones We're every day adding their names to
the roll call Of regiment and companies at
the recruiting Offices. True, she had been
more fortunate than many, being more
nearly alone in the world. but even she had
seen beloved father brought home
to die, and an invalid mother fade away
like shadow under the affection, and the
fife and drum had a weird, dark memory in
its notes for her which time could never
efface
The flowers were lzTishIy scattered. the
salutes were fred and the main body Of the
procession slowly fled cut Of the cemetery
gates, but still the twins fingered By the
grave which they especially loved to honor
in memory Of the father whnse form aud
face had long since passed frou their re-
membrance- 1t wzs pleasant place to
them, shaded By many trees and Hatered By
a purling brock. from which the ground
took its name, ''Brooksider
Loving hands kept it in neat repair, and
rustic seats and jetting fountains made il a
pleasant spot in which to spend medita-
tive hour.
They were picking away a few stray
weeds and polishing the white marble Of
when n stranger appeared he was tall and
erect, with snowy hair and keen eyes, and
as he drew near he fixed his gaze on Holly
with an eager look which drank in every
feature of the boyish face as the thirsty
wayfarer drinks from cooling spring.
There was no need to establish the child's
identity for every feature proclaimed it,
and the old mans eyes filled with tears as
he drew near and laid his trembling hand
on the sunny head, asking, gently: what is
your name my sonl'
'Holroyd Graham, sir,r was the boys
reply, looking up in the still handsome and
aristocratic face of the stranger in sur
prise.
and who is this little maid.r lifting
Frcda's chin and looking earnestly into the
brown eyes so like those of the mother.
"This is Freda, sir, and we are twins"