The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-05-25
CAPTAIN JIM.

Tomorrow is Decoration Day, COM
rades. Report for marching orders as
early as nine.
well all be here, Major. I wonder
II Captain Jim will?"
A group of grand army men were
furnishing their accoutrements in the
village hall. A curious bystander
made the query.
Captain Jim Pre- colt, replied the
second speaker, lis an old soldier-none
drawer In the war. He came back
minus an arm, got married, and lel a
happy and pro perou, life till two years
ago. Then drink got hold OF him.
You know what that means. He went
down. Last year his b oken-hearted
wife left him. Only his daughter,
Edna, a beautiful girl of seventeen,
clung to his broken fortunes"
do they live here?"
"In the old cottage he once kept 50
trim she is sacrificing her life for him,
for Norman Bea'e, one OF the finest
young fellows in town, wants to marry
her, but Edna believes il her duty to
care for the sad wreck rum has made
Of Captain Jim. About three months
ago an old comrade took him South, on
the chance of refol ming him. Edna
has great hopes, so has our Colonel.
He told me Jim would be here tonight
to join in the cerem MES tomorrow,
but / fear he has fallen by the way
side"
Edna Prescott, sorrowful rartici-
pator in this bit OF family history,
thought so, too, as, watching from the
window of her lonely home, the hours
nd hAr foth h
She had received encouraging letters
from his comrade, but her hopes nov
misgave her and seemed to predict
failure for her many pans for reunit-
ing husband and wife.
Her mother, who was living with
sister in an adjoining place, would cer-
tainly visit the village cemetery where
her brothers were buried on the NOR
row, yet when morning broke after a
sleepless night, Edna had scarcely the
heart to engage In the days ceremo-
MES.
She was arranging some flowers when
the sound OF muffled drums told her
that the procession had started. She
gazed from the window, sadly thinking
Of other days like this when Captain
Jim had looked the hero he was at the
head of his old company. She recalled,
too, the last Decoration Day, when his
fatal habit had made him an object of
pity to all his friends. Would that
humiliation be repeated on this SOL
elmnly sweet May morning?
"Oh, what is this? Father on earth,
my joy is complete; Father in heaven,
thank theew
Down upon her knees In prayer, the
happy tears dimming her sight, Edna
Of
were marching by, and at their head,
clothed in new, neat uniform, clothed,
as well, in his right mind again, the
bleared eyes gone, the noble face seri-
GUS with earnest dignity, washer
fatherl
One glance told Edna that he was
reclaimed. That moment Of JOY atoned
for all the dark fears OF the lonely
night
When she gained the cemetery the
ceremonies of the day had begun. On
everybody's lips the name OF Captain
Jim lowered, coupled with words that
showed how lovingly he was esteemed,
how welcome in this new guise of man
hood
It was just after the final address
that Edna went to the soldiers monu-
ment. A yelled form was kneeling at
Its railing. Edna recognized her
mother.
About to speak, she paused. Her
father and the Colonel were approach
ing. Captain Jim saw the kneeling
form. His lips trembled. He glanced
appealingly at Edna. She took his hand
In silence and led him forward.
Mother" she murmured In the ear
OF the yelled mourner, joining the
twain in tremulous fnger-clasp, "let
this poor one hand plead for its dear
owner. Look up and see!"
"And let my earnest heart, truly
brought purified through the fire of
temptation and affection, join in the
prayer that you will forgive the past.
Mary, can you doubt me this time!"
Mrs. Prescott looked once at the
changed, earnest face OF the reformed
man. Then she put out her arms, and
those two were one again.
Edna"
The weeping, happy girl started as
the name was softly whispered, and
thrilled as we'll, for her lover spoke.
MY DEAR" he continued, lis not that
reunf q presage OF the future from
which / may take hope?"
Norman" murmured Edna, "can you
doubt my hearts wish? My father will
not need me always now"
And so, amid the glory OF the odor-
Gus lilies and the sanctity OF memories
true hearts alone can understand,
those four knew that love ineffable
had been gained and regained upon
that solemn, peaceful Decoration Day.