The Oskaloosa herald., 1894-05-31

The blow fell with crushing weight
upon her aching heart, but she was
I proud, and to hide her disappointment
accepted the attentions of young Lenox,
the man above all others she most de-
spised.a a7
Hugh did not write, as she had hoped
he would.an in the letters that CANT
back to other associates henever SO much
as mentioned her name.
~ He had left his old mother in the care
Z of his brother Ben, and Ben's wife, Wit
was something of gossip, kept him well
: posted concerning Marion JEWELS fifta.
ton. Hugh endured the torture in ST.
hence until the thoughtiess woman re.
peated the report of a wedding close at
hand, and then he begged her never
again to mention the name of Marion
, Jewell, namethat had once been SO
dear to him. Z
1 Marion's eyes lost their sparkle and
her face grew thin and white with he1
weary waiting, but she never complained,
and except that she was a trifie more
thoughtful than in the old days no out
ward change was visible in her conduct.
When Thane LenOx went back to the
city, people said that he had grown tired
of the rustic beauty and had cast herAof
just as she had done poor Hugh, and
they did not pity her either. But they
were wrong, for his going was great
relief to her, and had they known her
loyalty to their favorite they would have
been more considerate in their cenSure.
The report that came back from time
to time Of Hugh's conduct on the battle
field proved that he was anything but a
coward, and others besides Marion had
cause to regret the hasty words they had
spoken in the days gone by.
The months dragged slowly along un-
til two whole years were gone, and
Marion was beginning to look forward
to the time when Hugh's time would ex-
pire. but her days of waiting ended sud-
denly, when, with the news Of the con-
quest on Lookout Mountain, she learned
that Hugh's life had been part of the
price paid for the victory. That he had
died at his post did not ease the pain at
her heart, and after the pine box con
tanning what his comrades sent home as
his mangled body was laid away by the
side of his dead kindred she shed many
bitter tears over the fresh made grave.
ButHugh Curtis did not sleep in that
quiet tomb, for far away under a south
ern sky he tossed to and fro upon his
couch in prison hospital. He was not
exchanged until the war closed, and
then, knowing that his friends had long
ago given him mp as dead, he deter
mined never to undeceive them, but to
make for himself a lonely home in the
sunny south.
TheIyears came and went until more
than score were gone and yet inAall
that time Hugh had never heard word
from the old home nor looked upon
face that was once familiar. Still he was
restless and diseontented, and the yearn-
ing in his heart for the old home and old
associates was at times almost beyond
endurance.
One morning-it was in May, 1882
just 81 years after Marion had spurned
him from her as a coward, he determined
to crafty his longings by paying visit
to his native town. There was some de-
lay in the journey, but early on the sec
ond morning after he left his southern
home he stepped upon the platform of
the little hamlet where his boyhood days
had been spent.
The village itself had not changed
much, but all the faces he looked into
were strange, and no one seemed to rec
ognize the gray haired man passing along
the quiet street. At first he did not un-
derstand the meaning of the flags and
flowers that We're displayed in such pro-
fusion on almost every dwelling, but
after moments thought he recollected
that it was the Both of May. Memorial
day in the north.
Not wishing to disturb Ben's folks so
early in the-morDing, he turned into the
cemetery to read tic names upon stones
that had been placed there since he went
away.
Il wonder if there are any new graves
in our old burying ground,"g he said
aloud, crossing over to the other side of
the cemetery. "Ah, there is one-a SOL
dier's grave" he said, STOPPING down to
read the name on the marble slab. MY
God! 1t is my own epitaph 1 am read
ing. he exclaimed. starting back quickly.
y Just at that moment slight figure,
carrying cross made entirely of white
flowers, came through the pine thicket
beyond and laid the Offering on the
grave-his grave.
She did not utter4a word, but tears
fell thick and fast over that grave, dug
nearly score of years before. He could
not see her face and Thought it must be
Lottie. Ben's eldest girl, who was mere
baby when he went away.
us that You, Lottie?' he asked, taking
a step forward a
Instantly the woman rose TO her feet,
| and he stood face to face not with Ben's
Eottie, but with Marion Jewell
Has the grave given upits deadF'' she
asked. recognizing Hugh in spite of his
Changed appearance.
"The grave never. held me, Marion, 2
he answered. Marion, Marion-what
shall | call youY ?
''Call me Marion Jewell, just as you
used to, Was the reply.
-
"Thereis but little more to tell. There,
with that grave between them, they
went over the long, bitter past, and then
4 u. Al 4.