Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-05-25

rise now and to walk n little, and passed
much of the pleasant morning upon the
cool shady veranda upon which her Win
dows opened. There, among the climbing
roses, the color came back to her checks
and the brightness to her eyes. She began
to talk of the time of her return to the
North, From the edge of the veranda the
large garden stretched away, as yet uncX-
plored for her, save only when she had taken
a brief tour among the flowers leaning
on the Coloners arm. "Do you know what
day this is!n said the Colonel one day,
when Kate was beginning to feel that no
excuse was left her for the Incidence of
invaldism. at is the thirtieth, isn't it!n
she said. A flush came to her face. twas
Memorial Day and she had forgotten. The
grave in the village graveyard in the North
rose up before her; land ]" she thought,
"sit in the house of the enemy.n Yet she
felt the thought was foolish; there was no
enemy. "Come with me, said the Colonel,
presently, "you have never been to tho end
of the laurel walk, and l have some thing
there to show you. There was n certain
seriousness in his manner, and lie was un-
usually silent as they walked slowly down
between the laurels. They paused at
the end of the walk, where was an
open space bordered about with low shrubs.
In the center of this inclosure two graves
lay close together the narrow path that led
between alone dividing them She looked
at them in surprise, and then glanced ques-
tioningly at her companion.
"You wonder" he said, "what these
graves are and why l brought you here:
Sit down moment on this bench and l
will tell you. / had brother, an only
brother, who fell at my side at Petersburg.
There was no time to halt or help, fop we
were driven back by an impetuous rush of
the soldiers of the Union. AT night we
sought him, | and faithful negro servant.
| When we found him he was dead, and by
his side, hand clasped in hand, was n fair
haired soldier of the North. What passed
between them none may know, but
they went out into new life smiling, and,
hand in hand, as little children
might wander into the strange world of the
meadow beyond the pasture bars. And
we brought them here and laid them side
by side, the unknown stranger and the
loved son; the boy in blue and the boy in
gray. Never an anniversary of their death
day has passed but we have covered the
graves with flowers. But, since the Gus
tom of Memorial Day has obtained, we have
always remembered to deck this soldiers
tomb for those who mourn him as sleeping
in an unknown grave. brought you here,
thinking that it might seem sweet to you
that Northern hands should deck the
graves that holds Northern soldiers
dust" Tears came to her eyes; mot
alone" she said; let me but share this
task, or if you would show me favor, pray
you let me lay my flowers on the grave
of the soldier of the South.n And So
together, they laid their flowers on the
two graves. That evening when all the
garden was bathed in moonlight, they sat
together on the veranda; mother, son and
guest. Presently Mrs. Gardiner with
drew and the two sat some moments in si-
lence. Come" said the Colonel, at length,
"let us take turn in the garden before we
say goodnight" She rose, and, bare
headed, they walked slowly down the laurel
bordered path. They came to the end and
stood gazing in silence upon the graves.
Some of the flowers had become disar-
ranged and Kate moved to the path between
the graves and stopped to rearrango them.
When she rose, Colonel Gardiner was
standing facing her. She saw his face
working with the strong emotion he felt as
he said, slowly, solemnly: "Dear, there is
that drawing us together that is stronger
than death and the grave VIII you trust
me with your life, as | would gladly lay
mine down TO pave your way TO happiness"
ard for answer she clasped the hand that
was stretched to her across the grave.
l.. G. CHEvERToN.