The times., 1899-06-25

1T is the grave OF my uncle, she gently
replied. My mothers only brother. Ever
since l can remember l have come here
each Decoration Day and placed flowers by
his headstone. My mother died four years
ago. and since then have come alone
The stranger turned away and looked
down into the valley. Strains of music
were floating up from the hillside road-
The procession was approaching the ceme-
terry.
Then you live near here?" said the
stranger.
Yes" said the girl. 81 live on farm
Just north OF here.
And why are you not in the village with
the other young women?"
The girl sighed
Il haven't the time" she said. There
Is always SO much to do
There was a minor wall from the band.
The procession was entering the ceme-
terry gates.
Gould your mother recall your unele?'
asked the stranger
Not very we'll" replied the girl; she
was but little child when he enlisted
But she was always very proud of him. and
| know she expests me TO visit his grave
just as we used to visit it together"
The girl looked down. and the flowers in
her hand trembled. The stranger tuggel
at his cropped mustache.
Here are your friends" he abruptly
said, and turned to face the decorating
committee as they approached among the
trees.
Il must CO." said the girl.
Wait but a moment" said the stranger.
and stepped between her and the majors
grave.
The leader of the decorating band recog-
nized the stranger and salutad- The stran-
ger gravely returned the greeting.
I'VE have made it a practice TO decorate
the majors grave first" said the leader.
as he paused for the stranger to step aside.
1T is a singular distinction" said the
stranger.
The leader looked surprised.
why so?" he asked.
well. for one thing. it is an empty
grave"
that his loyal spirit is here, and We are
honoring his noble memory rather than
his precious dust"
Very fine" said the stranger grimly;
but it is q mockery Just the same"
The veterans gasped and fell back The
girl at the s,-snger's elbow drew away
| from him. buT he caught her hand.
'Derned if l didn't take him for Con-
| fed. from the start" whispered Comrade
| Plummer.
But before the angry leader could speak
the oldest man in the party stepped for
ward. He peered narrowly at the stran-
! ger.
why do you call it moekery?" he
asked. and even as the question left his
slips his trembling hand was extended.
''Yes, Dan Robbins" said the stranger
| in a loud, clear voice. you have guessed
| it"
81 am the major himself"
And he laughed and the laugh was like
sob.
Il knew your' cried the old man. There
| was somthin' in your voice and then 1
| caught sight Of the old scar on your tenn
pie. 1t is our major. boys. an no mis-
| take,'
They crowded forward with eager. out
stretched hands.
"Three cheers for Major Hawkins came
a voice from the rear. 1t was the voice Of
Comrade Plummer.
! And the cheer went up from the quaver-
| ing old throats with will.
1T was this way" boys" said the ma
jor to the eager crowd about him In
that mad rush at Charlottesville / was
swept away from you and then rebel
bullet scared my skull. II knocked me
out all right enough, and, wnat is stranS-
er, II sent my wits aglimmerfng. / think
they had me in prison Tor 4 long time and
took me for an imbeeIle I fancy. Anyhow.
they must have let me wander away. and
while | have no remembrance OF what oc-
Cured during that long blank 1 know
drifted to the Far West After i wkile
my mind began to grow clearer, but my
memory did not come back. l prospered
in business and then one day told OF my
infirmity in the presence of a great sur
geon from the East. BY a simple opera
ton he raised the depressed portion OF my
skill and my memory began 10 come back
II was a long. slow process. but you see
il has finally brought me here He paus-
ed a moment and when he spoke his voice
trembled. Il have learned that. in all these
thirty odd years | have not been forgot
ten God bless you. old comrades And
l have found in this dear girl my only liy-
ing relative. She will, l think. go back
with me to my Western home And now.
as to this" and he turned with 4 quiZzical
smile to the headstone. Il must ask you.
dear old comrades. to arrange for its re-
moval at once. / will not ask you to pre-
serve 1t for me, although hope to lay my
old bones on this pleasant hillside with my
people Do with 1t what you think best,
or as a slight recompeuse for all your
trouble | want to present to your post an
endowment fund that / will have more to
tell you about at the hotel. where / eS-
pect you all to dine with me this after
noon
They gravely saluted. and then passed
away to their duties. leaving the major
and the dazed but happy girl standing hand
! in hand by the headstone.