The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-29
is THAT A TEAR DROP NYORU EYE"

auce 10 the national holiday. When he ala,
however, the May-day brilliancy Hooded
everything, as II flowers and gloom were
things uhheard Of In that corner OF the
world, and Sed, white and blue bunting
were a natural growth. IL was an eXcep-
tionally vivid and impressive Illustration
of the proverb, Better late than never.
The ceremonies were fully an hour late,
but never, since the first Decoration
Day, had they been so t~riumphantly
bright, for, besides the contrast with the
mornings gloom, there was no dust TO
dull or obscure the brightness or tho
flags, uniforms, and the gay dresses OF
women, or TO hide the glitter of arms,
accOutrements and musical Instruments.
AS a direct result OF the deay Chesney
PAYNE was able to be present IN the
cemetery before the ceremonies were
over. And everything gone on strictly
according 70 the programme published
the day before he would have thought II
hardly worth his while 20 hurry 10 the
spot at the end OF a hard days work,
and to struggle through a dense crowd,
chiefly OF women and children. TO the
white headstone opposite the third plat
form. AS 1t was, having told Hilda and
her mother that he could not be with
them, he made up his mind 20 give them
a surprise which. he believed, would DO
UAN4EaAlN OAANf IL ENa "a 49, NF
The afternoon sun slanted, already
yellow. over the rain freshened lilacs
and the patches Of grass here and there
left uncovered by the crAwds in the
places more remote from the speakers
stands. The sunlight seemed 10 just
gild the bright-colored hats OF the wo-
men and skim the darker headgear OF
the men. An anthem had closed in one
grand swelling chord as Chesney enter
II - - - 10 AnrHfl nnn FhnF
many who had uncovered for the singing
OF the sacred song still held their hats
20 shade their eyes. Looking down into
the hollow, he could see just where Hllda
and her mother ought TO be standing,
but Il was not until he had squeezed
his way for some distance n saved
much time here and there by taxing
roundabout side-paths. that he was near
enough to distinguish the two women.
Strangely enough, for a man not apt
10y nature or training 70 notice Guch
minutiae. he remembered the lilac and
white trimmings OF Hilda's spring hat.
He smiled TO himself I'm anticipation OF
the pleasure he would have from their
surprise when he would softly take his
place behind them and then call Mrs.
Scot by name, and then. too, there was
that delicious thrill which he always felt
when no vas near C meeting WIN
Hilda-an unvarying experience when
alone would have been enough TO make
him reject the shrewd advice Of older
friends who consulted him 20 quit hang
ing around that girl, theH never marry
you.- and TO look for some one moro IN
clined to matrimony.
He stopped when he was at last about
four yards away from the mother ana
daughter-stopped to further consider
how he should best creep up on them.
The ~eloquence OF the congressman, who
was in the very middle Of his speech az
the time, made no impression upon Ches-
ney. He could not see Hilda's face
wishing to approach from behind; so he
watched her lilac-trimmed hat as he
would have kissed her glove in the abb
sence OF her hand. Then. suddenly, no
noticed. by the turn OF that hat. thai sne
was talking TO some one standing BESIDE
her-a man. Instinctively, the lover was
filed with curiosity as TO this mans
Identity. and from that moment Chesney
Payne's attention was transferred from
Hflda's iilacs to a gray felt hat to the
right ~ them.
He pushed on a few feet nearer and
n little TO the left. The man wore a
moustache-that vas the first thing
Chesney discovered. Next, he saw that
the man was young looking. IN the
third place, being himself familiar with
most OF the men of that city VIVA were
at all likely to be there that day ana
dressed as this one was, he felt sure
that THIS man was a stranger. only Tor
one instant did he imagine that the per-
son who seemed 70 q k so keen an IN
terest in Hilda Scot and who whispered
TO her from time to time during the pro-
gress OF the speech. could be a member
OF the firm which employed her services
as a typewriter and -stenOgrapher. n
thought was soon dismissed.
The speech seemed intermlnable 10
Chesney Payne. He longed 10 push on
and reach a solution of the mystery OF
the man in the gray felt hat. Grad
ually he seemed TO be getting cold; m
thing made him sshiver in spite or the
bright sunshine.
As the speech came 10 an end amid
clapping Of hands and waving or hand-
kerchiers. Chseney saw that the gray
hat stopped over toward Mrs. Scot. lie
was noting every movement.
Half an hour more OF this agony, inc
the young man made up his mind 10
leave the cemetery alone and stay there /
aloha