River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-05-31

chartered in the vicinity for a fortnight,
and, when they were ordered on, HOlroyd
Graham carried the heart Of .he 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 frmness, 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 a 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
10 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 10 struggle along IN
I I'll 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-
taceous offers, she had refused them all
/ for his sake.
She had only written once 70 the grand
/ father Of her children, telling him when
and where his son was buried, and opening
| the way for reconciliation If he wished il,
! but he did not reply, and Grace, too, under
| the pressure Of actual need when she saw
4 her beloved mother falling under her bur-
dens, had ventured a little pleading letter,
which also went out upon its way, but
/ brought no response
It was 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
I 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 70 the fact that the room had echoed
10 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 moisteHed eyes. II
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 a staff for
my declining years is buried far away from
me, and / 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
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 viii honor the brave
boy whom | sent out from 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 a large
town where the widow Graham lived, so il
WAS not a large or imposing procession
which filed away to the cemetery on Ne
mortal Day. 1t had been a patriotic town,
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 knell, reminding her of the dreadful
war times, when father, brother and loved
ones were every day adding their names to