The record-union., 1899-06-19


| her homely frock could not entirely
conceal. The stranger arose and sa-
luted her. The girl had a bunch of
flowers in her hand as she advanced
and was about to lay them by the Ma
jors headstone when the stranger
stopped her.
"One moment, please" he said;
may ask why you place those flow
eGs ON this-this grave?'
| The girl looked at him in surprise.
1T is the grave of my uncle" she
gently replied. MY mothers only
| brother. Ever since can remember
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 look
ed down into the valley. Strains OF
music We're floating up from the hill
side road The procession was ap-
preaching the cemetery.
Then you live near here" said the
| stranger.
Yes said the girl, II live on farm
just north Of here
And why are you not in the village
with the other young women?"
The girl sighed.
II 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
cemetery gates.
Gould your mother recall your
uncle?' asked the stranger.
mot very WE'LL" replied the girl; "she
was but a little child when he enlist
| ed. But she was always very proud OF
him, and I know she expects 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
tugged at his cropped mustache.
| Here are your friends" he abruptly
said, and turned to face the decorating
committee as they approached among
| the trees.
81 must CO." said the girl.
WYATT but moment" said the stran-
ger, and stepped between her and the
Majors grave.
The leader of the decorating band
recognized the stranger and saluted.
The stranger gravely returned the
greeting.
| I'VE have made it practice to deco
rate the Majors grave first said the
step aside.
1T is a singular distinction" said the
stranger.
The leader looked surprised
why SOP" he asked.
well, for one thing, it is an empty
/ grave
True" said the veteran, "but we feel
that his loyal spirit is here, and we are
honoring his noble memory rather than
his precious DUST
VERY fine" said the stranger grimly;
| "bu1 it is mockery just the same"
The veterans gasped and fell back.
The girl at the strangers elbow drew
away from him, but he caught her
hand.
"Derned if 1 didn't take him for
confed from the start whispered Com
lade Plummer.
But before the angry leader could
speak the oldest man in the party step
ped forward. He peered narrowly at
4 the stranger.
why do you call it a mockery?" he
asked, and even as the question left
his lips his trembling hand was eX-
tended.
Yes. Dan Robbins said the stranger
in loud, clear voice, you have guess
ed it
Il am the Major himself"
And he laughed and the laugh was
like a sob.
Il knew you,' cried the old man.
There was somethin in your voice and
then 1 caught sight of the old scar
on your temple. Il is our Major, boys.
an no mistake!'
They crowded forward with eager,
outstretched hands.
"Three cheers for Major Hawkins"
came voice from the rear. 1t was the
voice of Comrade Plummer.
| And the cheer went up from the quav-
ering old throats with will.
| "It was this way. boys said the
Major to the eager crowd about him.
| I'm that mad rush at Charlottesville
| was swept away from you and then
rebel bullet scared my skull 1t knock
ed me out all right enough, and, what
is stranger, it sent my wits glimmer-
ling. l think they had me in prison
for a long time and took me for an
imbecile 1 fancy Anyhow, they must
have let me wander away, and While
| 1 have no remembrance of what oc-
CURED during that long blank l know
| 1 drifted to the far West. After
while my mind began to grow clearer,
but my memory did not come back. l
prospered in business and then one day
told my infirrnity in the presence of a
great surgeon from the East. By
simple operation he raised the depressed
portion of my skull and my memory
began to come back. 1t was long,
| slow process. but you see it has finally
| brought me here" He paused mo-
ment and when he spoke his voice
| trembled. .I have learned that in all
these thirty odd years have not been
| forgotten God bless you, old COM
rades. And I have found in this dear
girl my only living relative. She WILL
I think, go back with me to my West
ern home. And now, as TO rnts, ana
! he turned with a. quizZdcal smile to the
headstone, "I must ask you, dear Old
comrades, to arrange for it's removal
at once 1 will not ask you to pre- !
serve it for me, although l hope to lay
nv old bones on this pleasant hillside
with nv people. Do with it what you
think best. or as slight recompense
for all your trouble I want to present
to YOUR post an endowment fund that
will have more to tell you about at
the hotel, where l expect you all 10
dine with me this afternoon"
| They gravely saluted, and then passed
away to their duties, leaving the Ma
| ior and the dazed but happy girl stand
| ing hand in hand by the headstone.-
w. r. Rose, in Cleveland Plain Dealer
All danger of drinking impure water