The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-05-26

She forgot maidenly modesty in the
intensity of her feelings and remem-
bered only the personality of the one
before her.
When she spoke it was hoarsely:
You lived in Virginia-and your name
is-what?"
Harold Brooks, was the calm reply.
A twinge of pain prevented his looking
directly at her.
"And you do not know me7"
''Why, you are the woman who found
me in the ravine You have been my very
kind and" Then as his eyes sought
the face so close before his own: 81
know you-yes, Lois! Dotard, that
did not realize your presence before"
1t was perhaps little embarrassing
to the roomful of men to see Lois hide
her face on the shoulder of the patient
while two strong arms embodied her
waist. They were not used to witness
ing reunions of lovers.
Brooks realized it, and, putting the
woman from him, remarked: Gentle
men, we two were boy and girl lovers
back among the hills of Virginia. !
went into the union army, her father
sided with the other forces, and l have
not seen her for sixteen years"
"Why didn't you come back?" asked
Lois. This first question that came to
her mind opened the whole story.
Come back? l did, but it was after
many years. Wounded and left on the
field of battle, 1 lay there until the
armies had passed on. Then some kind
hand lifted me, and for weeks / was
looked after by thoughtful family of
the neighborhood. When / had re-
covered. reentered the service, went
on south, my strength gave out and
again l was dependent on the bounty
of the warm-hearted people for life.
When long after the close of the war
was myself again | made my way north
and searched for you, but you had gone
west-nobody knew where. / became
prospector and wanderer, and here l
am"
He reached out his arm and drew
Lois down beside him. These flowers
first told me had found friend" he
went on, huskily. Gentlemen, hope
l have not wearied you by this story"
No, not exactly" spoke up cool,
hard, sarcastic voice. which Lois re-
membered having heard over on the
mountain, ''only we came to give You a
horsewhippin' or something, and as it's
getting rather late we'd ought to be
about it
He looked at Ferril, who blushed and
sheepishly remarked something about
mot maxim fools of themselves"
In the meantime Brooks had been
consulting with the doctor and Lois.
Boys" he spoke up, ''before l left
home | was engaged to this lady. This
is the first time have had a chance to
see her and do not want to lose her
again. The doctor here is justice of
the peace and is going to marry us. You
can stay to the wedding-that will Off
set your disappointment in not being
able to punish me just now"
There was surprised laugh at this,
but hats came off and heads were
bowed. Soon the magic words were
said.
Harold" whispered Lois, as she
knelt beside the sufferer when the
party had filed out into the night, do
you know what was doing with those
fiowerS?'
No. Carrying them for lucli?"
Giving them to you. To-day is
Memorial day, and l intended putting
them on a grave of the unknown dead
in recollection of you. But" she added,
resting her w1manly head against the
faded blue coat, I'D rather give them
to you in person"
Time must have softened the feelings
of Lois father, for he was heard to say
a few weeks after, when his son-in-law
had been ensconced in the best room of
the Brake residence to complete his re-
covery: Brooks is mighty good fell
Ter after all. an bygones might as well
be bygones. Besides. 1 reckon Lois
earned him an had right ter him if
she felt that way"
CHARLES MoREAU HARGER.