St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-08-01

Mona Dur received no reply. no" idI
she might have INDUCED her grief is a
mere matter ofspeculation, but grave
fears were entertained concerning her.
When Fred was dangerously wounded
Mr.. GRAVITY went to him and Grace
had all she could do to comfort his
wife, who was in very poor health;
then there we're the two little ones to
care for.
Mrs. Fred was one who INDUCED in
hysteria and kept halfa dozen persons
running with bottles OF hot water and
cold cloths. Grace was very patient
with her until baby Lutte came down
with measles; then she turned her at
tentlon chiefly to him. In due time
Mr.. GRAVITY brought Fred home a
mere wreck OF his former robust self.
There was plenty to occupy Grace
now, she never taltered though the
color fled from her face and her step
lost it's elasticity.
Before the war was formally ended,
poor Mrs. Fred and her two little
ones were sleeping under the green
grass, and Grace found herselfth sole
comfort OF father and brother.
Bravelv she put her own grief aside,
smiling oft times when the heart was
sore and heavy.
Nine years pass, and Grace Grantly
is Grace GRAVITY still, little graver,
q little more stately than when first
we knew her, but that is all. Nalnly
have suitors in all conditions OF life
sued for favor; she cares for none.
Now, too, her father has joined those
on the other side, and Fred being re-
married, she is quite alone. A rest
less longing possesses her to visit X
and to look once more on ground
hallowed by past associations. She
wants to visit Rollins grave, II so be
they have brought him home. Il w4l
arrange to be there on Memorial Day,
she told herself.
Arriving at K. late in the evening OF
May 20, she repaired at once to a no.
tel. The one where they had boarded
years before, had fallen victim to
the ravages OF war and was no more.
In the morning she wandered alone
toward the Richie plantation. The
shaded roadway, at least, seemed IA
miliar and she loitered on, dreading
to come in sight OF the ruined home
where Rollin had hoped to see her mis-
tress.
Rounding q curve in the roaG, she
stopped with cry OF surprise and
delight: the old mansion doomed up
as majestic as ever. What could 1t
mean? But after the first gush ofsur-
prise she considered that it might have
been but partially destroyed and had
been rebuilt. Slowly she wended her
way up the serpentine drive, longing
vet dreading to reach the house. A
moment she paused with her foot on
the lowest step OF the vinewreathed
porch, to break off a climbingrosebud
she had often worn them from this
very vine-when startling exclama-
ton above caused her to turn her
face in it's direction.
"Rollin!'
"Gracen'
A face, almost fiendish in its bat
fled despair and terror, watched the
meeting of the long-estranged lovers,
then before their explanations were
half made, Mona Gleason had quilted,
by O. side entrance, the Richie man.
sion forever.
She it was who had forged a letter,
purporting to be from Grace, telling of
her marriage with Union officer, and
forwarded it to Rollin at the same
time that she had written to Grace.
Hers had been a desperate game and
almost successful one, for Rollin had
about decided to marry her for his
mothers sake. The latter was a help
less invalid now and it had been part
OF Nona's plan to make herself neces-
sary to her aunt. OF late, however,
she had threatened leaving.
The happily reunited pair did not
give her much thought; they were too
thankful for the sunshine, after all
the tempest, to court clouds on the
horizon.
"Few spend such happy Memorial
Days as this" Grace said, as they
stood together on the vinewreathed
porch late that evening, watching the
man of God, who had just united them,
ride away.
sour wedding day will ever he a
sweet memorial" answered Rollln.-
The Housekeeper.