The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-05-25

ot the mead OF MS company, 1Oll0W00 Oy the
benediction OF his father, and with ths
echo Of his parting words In his ear: "Licl
'em, boy. Thrash 'em out Of their boots fol
me, since I can not go myself" A much
more characteristic leave-taking than q
more 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 wal
progressed he saw 50 many touches of q
kindred nature among tho people he had
come to conquer that he came to pity as
well Is blame, and eliminated his soft
heartedncss by falling desperately In love
with the fair and gentle girl who afterward
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 to protect her but an old negro
nanny and her decrepit husband, and his
chivalric heart went out to her at once as
he treasured and Gained her fears, and
made the invasion as pleasant as possible
under the circumstances. ,he troops were
quartered in the vicinity for fortnight,
and, WHOM 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 fathers firmness, and, after
fierce quarrel, they parted, the son leav-
ing wealth and home for the sake Of her
whom he loved
The breach had never been healed, and
Holroyd Graham, after ten years of happy
married life, died lingering and painful
death, in 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
to rear and educate.
The widows pension, which fortunately
was liberal one, sufficed with the little
which they had accumulated to keep actual
want from the door, and the delicate hands,
which had never been brought up to 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 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 little pleading letter,
which also went out upon its way, but
brought no response.
=
1t was evening, and the lamps cast a soft
glow over the elegant room which was
fitted up for library in luxurious home
many miles from the widow and her chill
dren. One side was filed with a valuable
collection of choice books, the other was
devoted to rare specimens of art in paint
ing and sculpture, while in a corner niche
stood grand piano, bearing mute testi-
mony to the fact that the room had echoed
to music in other days.
The owner of all this luxury sat by q CEN
ter table, his face buried in his hands, and
his eyes fixed upon a letter which lay be-
fore him. accompanied by a picture upon
which he looked with moistened eyes. 1t
was the widows letter, and Holroyd Ora
ham looked upon it as one in dream. "All
alone. All Alone" he said aloud, at last,
land he whom relied upon as staff for
my declinins. 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 most
He looked sadly about him "All this
wealth and luxury is as empty husks to
me in my loneliness, and would give it all
Coo l-~1l~ s..A- ~ l.
my boy, one gyasp of his warm hand, but l
have nothing but his distant grave which
other hands than mine will decorate on
Memorial Day; others will honor the brave
boy whom l sent out frori my heart and
home for his cOuntry's sake.''
An indescribable longing came into his
heart to see for himself the spot where his
son lay, if no more, and tonight. in his
softened mood, there was no hardness in
his heart toward the widow and the father
less children of his son. 1t was not large
town where the widow Graham lived. so it
was not large or imposing procession
which filed away to the cemetery on Me-
mortal Day. 1t had been patriotic town,
as tho number of little flags flying above
the graves testified.
1t 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 Snell, reminding her of the dreadful
war times, when father, brother and loved
ones were 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 lavishly scattered. the
salutes Were fired and the main body of the
procession slowly filed out of the cemetery
gates, but still the twins fingered by the
grave which they especially loved to honor
in memory of the father whose form and
face had long since passed from their re-
1t was a pleasant place to
them, shaded by many trees and watered by
n pUrling brook. from which the ground
took its name, ''Brooksidc."
Loving hands kept it in neat repair, and
rustic seats and letting fountains made it
tive hour.
They were picking away q few stray
weeds and polishing the white marble of
the neat stone which marked the grave, |
when a 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 Ease as the thirsty |
f-y> 5,~ix