The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-06-12

| suddenly, when, with the news of the
conquest 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 her pain at heart, and after the
pine box containing what his com
| rades sent home as his mangled body
was laid away by the side of his dead
kindrc'; she shed many bitter tears
over the fresh made grave.
But Hugh Curtis did not sleep in
that quiet tomb, for far away under
IL southern sky he tossed TO and fro
upon his couch in u prison hospital.
He was not exchanged until the war
closed, and then, knowing that his
friends had given him up as dead, he
determined never to undeceive them,
but to make for himself Il lonely home
i'll the sunny south.
The years came and went until more
than IL score were gone, and yet III all
that time Hugh had never heard
word from the old home nor looked
upon face that was once familiar.
Still he was restless and discontinued,
and the yearning i'll his heart for the
old home and old associates was ut
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 deter
mined to crafty his longings by pay
ing visit to his native town. There
was some delay in the journey, but
early on the second 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
recognize the gray haired man passing
along the quiet street. At first he did
not understand the meaning of the
flags and flowers that were displayed
in such profusion ON almost every
dwelling, but after moments thought
he recollected that it was the 30th of
May, Memorial day in the North.
Not wishing to disturb Ben's folks
so early in the morning, he turned
into the cemetery to read the names
upon stones that had been placed
there since he went away.
II wonder if there are any new
graves in our old burying ground" he
said aloud, crossing over to the other
side of the cemetery. "Ah, there is
one-a soldiers grave" he said, stoop-
ing down to read the name on the
marble slap. MY God ! 1t is my
own epitaph l am reading" he ex-
claimed, starting back quickly.
Just at that moment a slight figure,
carrying a cross made entirely of white
flowers, came through the pine thicllet
beyond and laid the offering on the
grave-his grave.
She did not utter word, but tears
fell thick and fast over that grave,
dug nearly a 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 step forward.
Instantly the woman rose to her
feet and he stood face to face not with
Ben's Lottie, but with Marion Jewell.
Has the grave given up its dead -
she asked, recognizing Hugh in spite
of his changed appearance.
The grave never held me, Marion"
he answered. Marion, Marion-what
shall | call you?''
'Call me Marion Jewell, just as you
used to- was the reply,
There is but little more to tell.
There, with that grave between them,
they went over the long, bitter past,
and then while Hugh went to gladden.
the heart Of his old mother Marion
hurried across the fields. to prepare
for the wedding that was to take
place at shutdown. Three times seven
years had passed away since last they
met, but their hearts were still tender
and true, and after many days the
weary waiting was at an end.