St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-26

dulgent parent when his prejudice
were not disturbed, but he was ma
of violent and unreasonable preiudices
and when the war broke out, his wrat
against the Southern people was so vindit
tive and harsh that he could see no good i
them collectively or individually, and h
was eagerly ready to give up his only an
ll-beloved son to go and fight the hate
rebels, since he himself was physicall
incapacitated from doing so at the time
and the son went out from his native tow
at the head of his company, followed by tn
benediction of his father, and with tn
echo OF his parting words in his ear: "Licl
'em, boy Thrash 'em out of their boots fo
me, since l can not go myselfn mucl
more characteristic leave taking than
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,wa,
progressed he saw so many touches of q
| kindred nature among the people he had
come to conquer that he came to pity as
well as blame, and eliminated his soft
heartedness 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
'chlvalric 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. The troops were
quartered 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 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 I'M
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 it's way, but
brought no response.
1t was evening" and the lamps cast soft
glow over the elegant room which was
lifted up for library in luxurious home
many miles from the widow and her chill
1ren. One side was filled with valuable
o~~o>SAoAA ~
devoted to rare specimens of art in paint
ng and sculpture, while in corner niche
stood grand piano, bearing mute testi-
nony to the fact that the room had echoed
o music in other days.
The owner of all this luxury sat by a CEN
er table, his face buried in his hands, and
lis eyes fixed upon letter which lay be-
ore him, accompanied by picture upon
which he looked with moistened ewes. 1t
vas the widows letter, and Holroyd Ora
am looked upon it as one in dream ssAll
lone. All alone,' he said aloud. at last.
and he whom relied upon as staff for j
ny declining years is buried far away from
he, and l have never ever seen the spot ,
7here he lies, or the faces of those whom !
e loved mostn ,
He looked sadly about him. "All this I
vealth and luxury is as empty husks to ,
le in my loneliness, and would give it all ,
Or one look into the honest blue eyes of
~ boy, one grasp of his warm hand, but q
ave nothing but his distant grave which $
Their hands than mine will decorate on
[emorial Day; others will honor the brave r
oy whom | sent out from my heart and t
ONE for his country's sake" O
An indescribable longing came into his a
cart to see for himself the spot where his
IN Lay, if no more, and tonight, in his f
'ftened mood, there was no hardness in D
IS heart toward the widow and the father Il
So children of his son. 1t was not large Il
wn where the widow Graham lived, so it V
as not large or imposing procession h
hich filed away to the cemetery on Me- h
orial Day. 1t had been patriotic town, t
the number Of little flags fying above v
e graves testified u
1t was always sad day for the widow,
I'd to-day she shed bitter tears as the mar i,
Il music announced that the procession "
ID started for the cemetery. n
These sounds always smote upon her ear Il
re knell, reminding her of the dreadful a.
If times, when father, brother and loved &
es were every day adding their names to I
e roll-call of regiment and companies at m
recruiting hces. True, she had been e,
IRE fortun,9h than many, being more
arly alone b the world, but even she had Of
die, and an -esgalid hothi = asade away te
e shadow undf the afl3A,on, and the re
and drum hadcb weiR5see da7k memory in nj
a eetes for herssh tae could never 10
The flowers were lavis51y scattered, the nj
utes were fired and main body of the II II
'cession slowly filed out of the cemetery -
les, but still the twins fingered by the ~
I'VE which they especially loved to honor hi
memory Of the father whose form and be
e had long since passed from their re- Of
mbrance 1t was pleasant place to in