Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-05-27

| she could get any trace of him. Years
passed-years during which the young
wife often told herself that the knowl-
edge of his death were better than that
terrible uncertainty as to his fate. AS
soon as the war closed, she went south
and inspected the records of all the mill
tary prisons. but gained no clew from
these. Yet she could never convince her
self that he was dead, and she lived in
the faith that she and her boy, the son
he had never seen, now nearly as old as
his father was when he went to the
front, would yet look upon the living
face of that husband and father.
1t was the day when all America,
leaving all other matters aside, unites
in doing honor to the heroes who died
that the nation might live. The morn
ing had broken bright and clear, and the
spring sun shone benignantly upon the
completing preparations for the Me-
mortal day ceremonies in Banbury,
whence many a promising young fell
low had gone to the war and died for his
country.
At II o'clock came the services at the
church, which almost everyone attend
ed. Lined on either side of the walk
outside were the Banbury guards, the
local militia company, standing at
parade rest" while waiting for the APP
pearance of the grand army post.
Presently the veterans appeared,
marching up the street with somewhat
uncertain stcp-for many of them were
cripples-behind muffied drum and ST
Of
the remnant of scores of strong. hope
full young fellows who had gone forth
from Banbury to fight for the cause
they loved.
AS they approached. the young cap
tain of the guards gave two or three
quiet commands: Attention.! Carry
arms! Present arms!" And through
the files of untried soldiers passed
those of many battles.
Il wonder who that old fellow in the
last row of veterans is" unused John
Lorimer, who. with his mother and
BESSIE Armstrong. stood on the corner
and saw the old soldiers pass by. ''He
must be a stranger. Did you notice?
He seemed to be daZed-a little off.
reckon
The services a the church WI ere more
than usually impressive. The new min
ister. Mr. Dare. was himself n veteran,
and he talked to the soldiers as only a
soldier can, then preached a sermon
that brought tears TO the eyes of nearly
everyone in the house.
The services over, the veterans, fol-
lowed by the guards and long process
sion of citizens, marched to the GENE
terry to perform the remaining ceremo-
Iiies of the day. At the church door Mrs.
Lorimer left her sou and Bessie to join
some other fioweT-laden woman in a
carryall. and the young people walked
leisurely toward the cemetery.
There were short services n: the base
of the tall shaft inscribed: TO Our
Unknown Dead'-then the graves were
decorated. the salutes fired. and the pro-
CesSion marched back to the village
leaving behind only d few persons. most
OF when had friends buried there.
Among those who remained were John
Lorimer and Bessie Armstrong who. in
a silence be-otten by the solemnity of
the occasion. walked hither and
thither among the shady paths of the
little cemetery.
What's that?" asked John. suddenly.
rs they turned into path they had not
seen before.
Bessie gave a little scream. Almost
at their very feet lay the old stranger
john had noticed in The morning. with
the blood trickling from a wound on his
gray head. He had, apparently. sat
down ON Il stump to rest. and. overcome
BY the heat and his rather long march,
had fallen backward striking his head
on large stone just beside the path
way.
John went to him as soon as he recov-
cred from his first shock. and raised the
old mans head. but beyond his faint
breathing, there was little sign of life.