Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-24

me, since / can not go myself" A mucn
more characteristic leave-taking than a
more sentimental one would have been.
The young man rode away with a 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 the people ne 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 al old negro
nanny and her decrepit husband, and his
! chivalric heart went out to her at once as
| he reassurcd and calmed her fears, and
made the invasion as plea~snt as possible
! under the circumstances. 4he troops were
| ouartered III the vicinity for a 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
a fierce quarrel, they parted the son leav-
ing wealth and home for the sake of her
whom ne loved.
The breach had never been healed, and
HOlrOyd Graham, after ten years OF happy
married life, died q 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
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.
1t was evening, and the lamps cast 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 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 cen
ter table, his face buried in his hands, and
his eyes fixed upon a letter which lay be-
fore him. accompanied by picture upon
which he looked with mOistened eyes. 1t
was the widows letter, and Holroyd Gra-
ham looked upon it as one in a dream. ''All
alone. All alone" he said aloud, at last,
and he whom l relied upon as staff for
my declinin 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 husl1s 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 l sent out from my heart and
home for his country's Sal1e.''
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 a large or imposing procession
which fled away TO the cemetery on Ne
mortal Day. 1t had been patriotic town,
as the 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 knell, reminding her of the dreadful
war times, when father, brother and loved
ones were every day adding their names to
the roll-can 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 affiiction. and the
fife and drum had q 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 fled 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-
membrance. 1t was a pleasant place to |
them, shaded by many trees and watered by |
a purling brook. from which the ground !
took its name. 'BroOkside."
Loving hands kept it in neat repair. and |
rustic seats and jetting fountains made It |
pleasant spot III which to spend medita- |
tive hour.
They were picking away a 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 faee as the thirsty
drinks from cooling spring
There was no need to establish the child's
identity for every feature proclaimed it,
and the old mans eyes filed with tears as
ne drew near and laid his trembling hand
on the sunny head, asking, gently: Nv hat is
your name, my son!'
'Eolroyd Graham, SIR" was the boys