The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-05-24
ASLEEP AT HIS POST.
By GILBERT PATTEN.

By GILBERT PATTEN.
Copyright, 1894, by American Press Associa-
With muff1ed drums and measured tread
the little band of battle marked and time
SCARED veterans-honored heroes OF the no
BILE army that fought to preserve the Union
marched through the cemetery that lay
sleeping on the southwark sloping hillside.
The balmy breath of springtime was in the
air, and when they passed onward. after
pausing at the last resting place of some
dead comrade, the sweet perfume of flowers
rose from the green grass that grew above
the departed soldiers breast, while tiny
flag-the dearly loved red, white and blue
-futtered beside the marble tombstone.
At length they halted by white shaft
that bore the name of John Loring," fol-
lowed by this strange inscription:
Pardon is granted because of his faithful
service and splendid record as brave and
loyal soldier. A. LINCOLN.
With single exception every head was
uncovered and bowed as the flowers and
flag were placed on the grave. One there
was among them, however, who stood up
stiffly, with his cord encircled hat unre-
moved from his white head, his age lined
face grave and emotionless, as if carved
from adamant.
Never in all the years since they began
decorating that grave had Uncle Dan'l
BrintOn been known to remove his hat there
or in any manner show he mourned for and
honored the sleeping comrade with whom
he had fought almost shoulder to shoulder
in the same company. Publicly he made
no explanation of his singular conduct, and
when questioned he simply shook his head
and looked grimmer than usual. Any other
man of that company would have received
the severest censure from his comrades, but
Uncle Dan'l was acknowledged to be "a
little queer'' and ''strait laced" so his act
was passed over in silence.
There were those, however, who limited
that there had once been a feud bet IN
the two men, and that even death had not
softened the heart of stubborn old Uncle
Danl; but, if this was true, the facts were
not public property.
At all the other graves where the veter-
ans paused and uncovered he removed his
hat and bowed his head with the rest, his
grim features softening and something like
tender look creeping into his eyes, once SO
clear and bright, but now growing dim
with advancing age.
Among those gathered at the cemetery to
watch the solemn memorial ceremonies was
plainly dressed but pretty girl of IS. She
was attired in common print, and the shoes
on her feet were made for wear instead of
beauty, but nothing could conceal the
grace of her budding figure, the ladylike
shapeliness of her almost delicate hands,
the pearly whiteness of her small and even
teeth and the !impid sparkle of her clear
blue eyes.
There was something like look of min
gled pride and pain on her face as she saw
Uncle Danl stand up SO rigidly by John
Loring's grave, and she glanced slyly at a
manly young fellow few years older than
herself who stood with his hand on the bit
of a spirited horse, restlessly tapping the
tops of his high boots with the riding whip
he carried. She saw the young fellow was
watching Uncle Dan'l all the while, biting
his lip and occasionally pulling at his light
mustache.
When all the graves had been visited and
the ceremonies had been completed, Uncle
Danl saluted the commander and fell out of
the company, Immediately coming straight
toward the girl, whose face frightened as
he approached.
''I'm relieved from marchin back to town,
little one." he said. Then his eyes fell on
the young man in the riding suit, and he
started bit, shadow settling on his face
while he went on, lifting his voice a trifle,
''I'm gettin purity old fur marchin, but I've
alwus done my duty in ev'ry campaign, and
never slept at my post"
The young man wheeled suddenly and
looked straight at the old soldier, but Uncle
Danl turned his back, still speaking to the
girl:
Come, Jennie, we'll 20 home now. Them
as don't deserve it has been honored like
them as do, and the decoratin is all over"
She took his arm, and they went slowly
down the road together, followed by a long
ing gaze from the dark eyes of the young