Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-30


near neighborhood of these once con-
coner, coming hurriedly around the
little pavilion in the grounds, found
the gray sleeves around his sisters
shapely waist, and really did not seem
greatly astonished or overcome. Then
came explanations, pretty confusion
upon the part of the girl in blue. play
full chidings from her brother because
of this easy surrender to the confeder-
acy, followed, of course, by sincere
congratulations and brother's bIess-
ing, most willingly and heartily given.
Evidently the blues and grays in the
picture were mixing, but the general
effect was pleasing and artistic, Poin-
dexter being dark and stalwart, Lettie
a sunny-haired blonde of willowy form
and delicate features Falconer and
PoindeNter had but two arms between
them, But two such arms were better
than a million belonging to mere par
lor pets and perambulating tailors'
dummies. The young ladies were more
than satisfied; what matter, therefore.
what cavilers and critics might say?
And not long after they all went
home. PoindeXter had no near rela-
tives; his plantation had been despoil,d
X
he had ample wealth in other forms.
So he went to PENNSYLVANIA with his
friends and became a resident there.
The double wedding at which these
well assorted pairs were married was
a pleasant picture. The interior of the
old church had been furnished long
years before in pleasing tone of neu-
trail gray. Ruth wore a silver-gray
wedding dress and Poindexter gray
uniform. Then there were the blue
uniform of Falconer, the favorite blue
in which his sister was married, TIE
boys in blue who turned out to their
commanders wedding, the spotless
blue sky above from which the sun
sent golden strands to brighten the
FURNISHED tresses of those beauteous
brides, and in many places as well as
in the canopy of bunting and flowers
under which they stood to be wed, the
country's starry flag with it's firma-
ment of heavens own blue, all making
another picture in blue and gray. AZ
Ruth looked at her stalwart hus-
band, the sunbeams in her hair, heart
and eyes, she looked like one of Ra-
phaePs angels released from its canvas
to make a mortal glad. 1t was a happy
wedding, and out of it grew two happy
homes.
Years came and vert, summer skies
of blue changed to winter skies of gray
and back again. Gray came thickly
into the hair and boards of the two
veterans and into the sunny tresses of
their bonny brides. But both these
men We're loyal to the core, loyal in
friendship, fl loyal in devotion to their
country's cause. PoindcXter, always
maintaining the sincerity of the boys
in gray, who proved it by heroic cour-
age and sef-sacrifice, was not man
to do anything by halves. He saw that
it was a good thing that slavery had
been shot to death, that union had been
established, that disintegration,
though masked in specious disguise,
had been forever made impossible. On
Memorial day, though not of course
eligible 70 membership in the G.. A
r., he walked by invltation in the pro
cession, and there, arm in arm, Fal
coner and his sisters handsome pris-
oner paid tribute to the heroes deal
Sometimes at public meetings anil
campfires they spoke, and the fervid
southern eloquence of the soldier
who once bravely fought in gray
breathed deep devotion to the cause
won by the boys in blue. Families
-
with something of their fathers looks
and loyalty; sunny-haired girls, from
whose blue eyes shone the devotion
shown by their mothers in the days
which tried women's souls. Two years
ago, not many months apart. the ia
theirs heard the word of command from
Oh high, and like true soldiers obedi-
emily responded. They lie side by side
in death as in life; above them graz
granite slabs growing as it were, from
beds of blue violets, myrtle blossoms
and emerald grass.
On last Memorial day there came
TO these graves, after the crowd had de-
parted, hand in hand, two lovers. The
youth was Carlos PoiEdexter, the
maiden Dorothy Falconer, children of
the men who slept at their feet. He
wore a naval cadet uniform of gray.
she had a clinging dress of blue, and
her eyes matched her earb as his
gray eyes did his neatly fitting uni
form. Small union flags drooped over
the grassy mounds, and on the gray
granite monoliths hung chaplets OF
flowers, already fading. The skies
above were blue, but as they stood
there talking gently of the parents
they loved, the gray veil of the twilight
crept over the heavens. the sunset GRIM
son famed and then paled in the west,
the stars one by one peeped out, shin
ing softly through the thinly gather
ing clouds. His arm stole about her
waist, hers crept about his neck, and
their lips met in a lovers kiss. Was
il the wind which breathed soft