The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-30


THE COLONEL SOBBED ALOUD.
Their man nor devil, who led wherever
hope was most forlorn, who was always
where the fight was hottest, who fell at
last, a jest on his lips, struck to the
heart by southern bullet. A southern
er, too, by birth and education, but who
broke away from tradition and environ
ment and drew his sword in defense of
his country's flag.
81 remember, now, his wife was
northern girl. Dennison used to talk of
his home up in the Alleghanies. And it
was here? And his grave is over there?"
The colonel strained his eyes toward the
graveyard. Just as soon as the crowd
gets away I will go over and find it and
put a few flowers on it. Brave boy,
brave fellow. I am so glad Tom wrote
me-
Meantime the major had passed
through whirlwind of passion and
sorrow alone in his room. What righs
had this insolent, triumphant northern
er to stir him so? Why disturb those
depths i'll his bruised, aching old heart?
Over and over the southerner lived the
pass, with it's dreams of glory, it's futile
SJGuRRl6S, 1bS CTu61
Again he saw the idol of his boyish
dreams, as, vanquished, beaten, but still
heroic, he handed his conquered sword to
the victor. Again he saw his home do
stroyed, himself poor, forced to accept
mental position, drifting about, bat
tered old wreck on the sea of life, until
he had fallen in with this man, whom he
had honestly liked and who had need
lessly hurt him and opened the old
wounds afresh.
A knock at the door, and the majors
mail was handed him. AS he looked it
over he saw letter, directed in the we'll
known writing of his lawyer in Atlanta.
He broke it open and read it hurriedIy.
Then he sank back in his chair, and
from his closed eyes large tears slowly
dropped down over his SCARED face.
The sentence which had so profound
~ moved him was this: ''She has left
her fortune to you, as her husband, your
brother, loved you so. His grave is in
the cemetery Of the very town where
you are now stopping. -
The afternoon sun poured food of
dazzling light across the marble head
stones, whose solemn rigidity was sof-
tened by garlands of flowers. The crowd
had gone. Here and there stray visit
or yet wandered, reading the names cut
on the white stones The solemn, pur-
pie mountains were rose flushed by the
sunset. Up from the village came at in
tervals the muff1ed sound of the martial
music, now rising and swelling, now
softly dying away.
Tho colonel c1Oxu1u and 7aho1-i 10
picked his way among the graves, stop
ping now and then to read a name or
date. At last he came to a we'll kept in
closure, and parting the climbing rose
vines passed in. Yes, here was what he
sought A smooth white slab told the
world that ''Here lies Captain Charles
Dennison, 49th Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, - with the added verse:
On flames eternal camping ground
Their silent tents spread,
And glory guards with ceaseless round
The bivOuac of the dead
The poor old colonel was so overcome
at beholding, after so many years. the
tomb of his favorite officer that, show
ering the grave with the costIiest flow
ers he had been able to procure, he bent
his head upon his hands and sobbed
aloud.
A sound near him made him raise his
head.
On the other side of the grave stood
the major.
The two men looked steadfastly at
each other for a moment.
Colonel, the major was first to
speak, ''what was Captain Charles Den
nison to you?''
ga beloved officer, SIR said the
colonel, struggling to choke back his
emotions. 81 loved him like son, sir.
I only learned this morning that he was
buried here''- He broke off, unable
further to proceed.
"And are these your fowers?' asked
the major.
The colonel only bowed his head.
81 thank you, sir, y said the major in
his most stately and winning manner,
''for this kindly tribute to one of my
family
.sYour family?'' gasped the colonel
eyes, Captain Charles Dennison was
nv youngest brother. sir.
The colonel recoiled as if he had been
struck. But in an instant, recovering
himself, he courteously dotted his hat,
and extending his long hand over the
grave said simply, will you forgive
me 1naior2's