The times., 1899-06-25
THE RETURN OF A VETERAN.
Found His FelIow-Citizens Decorat-
ing His Grave.
From the Cleveland Plain Dealers


Found His FelIow-Citizens Decorate
ing His Grave.
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.)
Sandyville, as some prosaic early settler
had christened the little feeder at the big
lake town. was about to enjoy its granGest
public holiday. Decoration Day was the
one occasion when the hamlet asserted it.
self in mutual effort that included old
and young and great and small.
There were committees without number;
there was the Lincoln Post OF veterans,
and the Sandyyille band and the Sandy
vile school childyen. The Sandyville la
dies made the wTeaths and punched the
flowers, the school children sang their
loudest and loyalest. the veterans placed
the flowers on the flag-marked graves, and
the band footed its prettiest from early
morn until the shadows grew long.
Perhaps there was q dreaded sameness
about these exercises. but that did not
lessen the interest in them. They were a
year apart. and this somewhat toned down
the inevitable monotony. The observance
Of Decoration Day-they couldn't bring
themselves to call it Memorial Day-was
both duty and a pleasurab,e relaxation,
and everybody in Sandyville improved the
occasion.
The observance OF the day In the year
OF grace, 1893. was patterned closely after
its predecessors Captain Fawcett was
again the chief marshal-he owned the
handsomest saddle horse in the township
and the various COMMITTEES were made up
pretty much as usual. The last meeting
of the committees was held on the Satur>
day preceding the Both in the town hall
Squire Dickey presided and the chairman
OF the several. committees made brief re-
ports. When the last committeeman had
turned in his statement the chairman's
call for new business was interrupted in
somewhat peculiar way. A stout man
something past middle age, with a close
cropped mustache and iron gray hair. arose
in the rear of the hall and said that al
though he was stranger In Sandyville he
was in such deep sympathy with the OBJ
ject of the gathering that he felt en-
boldened to rise and address them. When
he said he was in sympathy with them
he meant practical sympathy. Decoration
Day was the one day that linked all loyal
hearts in bonds OF tenderest meaning. He
desired TO hand the committee OF finance
the sum of $50 TO assist in defraying the
necessary expenses of the occasion.
There was applause which deepened as
the stout stranger stalked up to the chair
man and laid down the bank bills on the
table before him.
ITO whom shall l credit this munifcent
subscription" inquired the polite chair
man.
The stranger hesitated.
call it friend from Utah." he said,
as though the matter was of but trifiing
moment.
"Will you stay over for the observance?"
enquired the chairman.
Perhaps l WILL said the stranger; 81
have spare day or two on my hands,
And might | enquire" continued the
chairman. with studied courtesy, IF you
are military mana veteran, perhaps, OF
the civil war?"
YES" said the stranger, with quick
salute and short laugh; "as 1 was on
military duty in Cuba last summer. l be-
lieve I'm veteran of both wars
A buzz OF interest ran through the hall.
I'VE should be proud. indeed, to have
you assume prominence in our exercises"
said the chairman, as he returned the sa-
lutte.
mo. no." cried the stranger; 'I prefer
to be a mere locker on. Besides, l may be
called away at any moment. Thank you
very kindly" And he turned away. Then
he paused.
might l ask" he said. ''if you have
among the sleepers in your pretty ceme-
terry any soldier of more than usual dis
tinction?'
Major Hawkins is the officer of highest
rank replied the chairman. He fell in
the surprise at Charlottesville He was
the major of our home regiment. and
braver or more popular officer never wore
the blue
Hawkins, you say?" queries the stran-
ger"
Yes, Major Jonas Hawkins
The stranger eyed the chairman sharply.
Hes buried there. you say?"
ssWPlI not pxactly ~ reDliei the chair
man. You see, he was among the missing
at Charlottesville, but there isn't the
faintest doubt of his death. So his sad
dened, though proud llowtownsmen had
neat headstone placed over what might
have been his grave. You'll see is up there
on Tuesday
Thank you," said the stranger, sharp
| Iy, and salutipg once more. he quickly
| turned and strobe up the aisle and out
| through the main entrance.
There was another buzz as he disap-
peared, and for moment or two the chair
men found it quite impossible to draw at
| tention back to the business OF the mo-
ment.
"Rayther mysterious old chap" whis-
pered Veteran Joe Plummer to Veteran
| Tom Gale.
''Nothin' mysterious bout his money
fars could jedge from this distance" re-
turned Veteran Gale.
There's one thing I'm sorry the cap'n
| didn't ask him." said Veteran Plummer.
What's that"
Which side he was on
Then the chairman raped for silence
and order.
The stranger was seen several times in
Sandyyille during the two days that in
tervened before the day of memories. He
wasn't a guest at the Parker house, but
drove over, 1t was understood, from Cling
stone. four miles east on the Buffalo road.
He made no friends, and seemed to spend
| his time in long walks about the vicinity.
Decoration Day dawned bright and clear.
Everybody was astir early. The commit
| tee on marking the graves had finished
| their work at 10 O'Clock. Twenty minutes
| later the procession started for the hill
| side cemetery. half a mile from the town
hall
The committee on marking graves when
returning to fill their places in the pro-
cession met the stranger from Utah plod-
ding along the road toward the cemetery.
He stepped aside to let them pass, and
gravely saluted. A few minutes later he
was seated on a grassy flag marked mound
overlooking the little valley. There was
| big square headstone close to his elbow
headstone which recited the fact that Ma
jor Jonas Hawkins, of the One Hundred
and Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, had
died for his beloved country at the battle
of Charlottesville.
The grey -mustached stranger looked at
/ this headstone with a quiZzical yet tender
| expression. Then a smile stole over his
face. He leaned back and laughed silently.
step on the graveled walk aroused him.
young girl OF perhaps nineteen was ap-
preaching. She was a comely girl Of sien-
der build, with a neat figure that her
| homely frock could not entirely conceal.
| The stranger arose and saluted her. The