davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24


why, that's my name!" and the old
man looked about him in dazed man.
ner, as though for moment he doubt
ed his identity.
''Yes, my name is Merrill Fremont,
and | was born in '3s, but though was
wounded did not die at Gettysburg. A
union soldier in a confederate grave
yard. All, that accounted for the lack
of memorial flowers" and he smiled
grimly. But I'm not Dead" and he
thumped his cane vigorously upon the
gravel path.
He leaned his hands on his stick and
stood gazing intently at his own name.
1t isn't me-but it is some union
soldier buried for me, and he shall have
some flowers. Yes, I'll decorate nv own
grave" and with chuckle Merrill Ere
mont started briskly down the path.
As he neared the gate it opened, and
tall, slender figure clad in black en-
tered, followed by an old negro fairly
staggering under the weight of mag
nolia blossoms. Something familiar in
the two figures made Fremont pause.
But they did not notice him. The lady
turned up side path and walked quick
ly toward the end of the grounds Mer-
rill had just quilted. followed more
slowly by the old serving man.
Merrill faced about and watched
them. He was certain now that the
woman was Erma. He expected her to
enter the Ralston lot but she only
paused, waved her hand toward the
fiower-hidden graves, said something
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Cleaned By Telegraph and Mail
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.


THE Connecticut senate rejected the
measure providing for woman suffrage.
JOHN F. POTTER. of anti-slavery fame
and former congressman, died at East
Troy. Wis, on the 18th from paralytic
stroke, aged 50 years He was one of
the founders of the republican party.
In 1860, at the close of an angry discus
sion with Roger A. Pryor. he was chal-
lenged to a duel by the latter. Mr..
Potter chose bowie. knives, which were
promptly objected to by the other side,
and the matter was dropped. From
this incident Potter was given the So
briquet of Bowie Knife" Potter.
AT a conference held at Detroit.
Mich, on the 18th between Senator
Mcmillan and several of his political
friends, republican leaders from vari-
ous parts of Michigan, it was decided
that Senator Mcmillan will be a candi-
date for third term as United States
senator.
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY sent his con-
gratulations to the cZar of Russia on
the opening of the peace conference at
The Hague on the 18th.
ROBERT GILLIAN. general manager
Of the Pittsburgh 4 Gulf railroad, died
at Kansas City. Mo-. on the 10Th of u
| complication of pneumonia and appen-
dicitis.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

passed away from earth's turmoil and
strife should be remembered and hon
ored by the sweet tribute of flowers
laid upon their graves.
And so Decoration day should be to
us, next to Christmas, the most sacred
day of all the year. 1t is not day for
rioting and rejoicing, or ball-playing.
or "scorching." 1t is a day that we
dedicate to the dead.
And let us keep it as becomes the
people of nation broad in philan-
thropy-exalted in civilization; let us
keep it as nation of men and women
who believe in a republican government,
and all that it represents. and who
are ever ready to honor those who come
forth to the defense of our inssitu-
tions when duty calls.
To-day we are one country-we know
no east, no south, no west, no north
we are brothers and sisters-the honor
OF the nation is our own-the fac is
dear to every free-born man and woman
who treads American soili - Kate
Thorn. in N. Y. Weekly.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24
to her attendant, and passed on her way
until She stood beside the undecorated

to her attendant, and passed on her way
until she stood beside the undecorated
grave.
Fremont rubbed his eyes and stared.
In lady motioned to the negro to
lay his fragrant burden down.
Merrill FASTENED up the path. He
was near enough to hear the well-re-
membered voice say: You NAV go.
Uncle Sorney; I'll arrange the flowers
myself"
The servant shuffled away down the
path he had come, while his mistress
knelt to place the blossoms
Merrill Fremont paused, hat in hand.
Erma believed him dead and forgave
him. How would it be when she found
him alive? He stood in dumb uncer-
tainty. She was his only love- and to
lose her again would be more terrible
than not to have found her. Dead. she
surely loved him; her action proved it.
Would he not better go away in the
certainty of that love than, by staying,
perhaps revive the old bitterness which
his return to her unharmed, while all
her beloved family lay dead, might re-
call?
He was about to retreat. 1t was too
late, the lady turned and saw him. He
stood awkwardly before her. She
looked at him in puzzled inquiry.
Suddenly he cried out: "Erma.''
She moved back pace in surprise at
being so addressed by an apparent
stranger.
Once his tongue loosened Merrill
gave her no chance of escape. In quick,
incoherent words he poured forth the
mistaken report of his death, his love,
his sorrow for her grief and at last an
earnest plea that she would prove more
kind than in the past.
AS she listened delicate flush crept
into the lady's pale, sweet face. The
shadow that rested in the deep, blue
eyes lifted. She looked searchingly at
the man before her. Could this really
be her young lover, returned in the
guise of this impetuous elderly man?
She had never thought of him save as
the soldier boy who had gone away at
her bidding. At last she seemed to un-
derstand. For moment the corners of
the lovely mouth forgot to droop.
BY the light of memory the man and
woman grew young again.
When his torrent of words ceased she
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

could almost hear them now: go. You
are traitor. L never want to see your
face again"
The old man shook his head sorrow
fully. No. she would never forgive him,
not even now, after all these years.
Well, he would go back north on the
morrow, so what matter?
He and the Ralston boys had been
college students together. He would
pay a visit to their last resting place.
He opened the gate and slowly made his
way among the fiower-covered mounds.
When he reached the Ralston lot he
looked about him sorrowfully. He felt
sadly desolate. He alone was left of
all those merry, laughing fellows.
Presently his eye wandered to grave
somewhat apart from the rest. The
scarcity of it's flowers drew his attten-
ton to it. He wandered idly toward
it, thinking: ''Some poor, friendless
chap"
He started and then dropped upon his
knees in his eagerness to read the
simple inscription on the headstone. 1t
ran:
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24
DECORATION DAY.
1t Is a Day Dedicated to the Brave
Dead and should lie
Held Sacred.

Among the many national holidays,
there is none which so tenderly affects
the heart of the thoughtful as Decora-
ton day.
The day when rich and poor alike go
to the silent resting-place of the loved
and lost, to lay with reverent hands
flowers upon the graves of their dead.
The day when grateful people go to
decorate with the sweet offerings of
fragrant springtime blossoms the
graves of those who fell in battle, and to
speak in hushed and saddened tones of
those troublous times when every heart
was sorrowing, and every eye was wet
with tears for the dissension which had
rent our beautiful and beloved land in
twain.
Decoration day! The very name calls
up such sweet and tender memories.
How the flowers are tended and cher
ished through the long, cold days OF
winter that they may be at their best
and brightest for Decoration day! And
the costliest offerings are not too good
to lay upon the graves of those we have
lost, but whose memories still live in
our hearts.
How those among us who are far
enough down in the afternoon of life
remember the time when wars dread
| notes disturbed the peace and tran
quillity of the land! How we remem-
ber the anguish of suspense after a
| battle had been fought, until the aw-
| full list of 'killed and missing" had
been made out! And then? All, God
| had need to be merciful to those who
read the names of their loved ones in
| the terrible list!
How from the pine-clad hills OF
Maine to the palmetto plains of the
gulf states-from the Atlantic to the
Pacific-the cry of grief was in all the
| air, and the brave young sons of the
north, and the equally brave and gal
| liant young sons of the south, gave
up their bright young lives. and the
mourners went about the streets il
every town and city in the land.
Mothers sent out their sons, anC
wives sent their husbands. And wher
| they came not back, as, alas! so many
of them did not-the desOlated hearts
| of those who had loved them sought
solace by setting apart one day wher
all the soldiers of the land who haC
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24
Memorial Day,

We have shed bitter tears for loved and lost
ones,
Yet our dear dead are never far away.
us we who drift in thought and feeling
from them,
Though toward them still we turn, Memo
rial day.
Then may these flowers bear tidines to
those loved ones
The subtle fragrance rising like a PRAYER
And tell our longing and our deep devotion
To those-not lost. but dwelling other
where.
Our Fathers house, we know, has many
mansions:
They dwell in others while in this we stay.
Could we but see their loving hands reach
toward us
And draw US near again, Memorial day
Judith Spencer. in Good Housekeeping.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24
COMMUNICATION DAY.
A Day to Fay Tribute to Those Who
Yielded Up Their Lives for
Their Flag and Country.

Memorial day, with all its beautiful
significance, has come to have an abid
ing place among our holidays. 1t is
we'll for US to honor and to render our
tribute of gratitude and thanksgiving
to those who gave their lives for the
maintenance of the grandest system OF
national institutions that any people
ever enjoyed. Our nation stands fore
most among the few great political
powers whose warriors have always eX-
hibited the noblest patriotism.
Our independence rests on the mar
tyred bodies of our forefathers. And
the costly price of our national unity
and liberty lies buried beneath the sod
where many widow and orphan has
wept, and where with each returning
year, in this month of May, we render
our floral tribute to their memory and
to American patriotism. Our national
institutions, though conceived in the
minds of our noble fathers, were
brought forth, nurtured and handed
to us by our brave men, who left their
homes and loved ones, and faced shot
and shell, bayonet and saber, for their
country.
American grandeur consists not in
perishing sculptures and massive ma
sonry, the achievements of captive
slaves. Her monuments have not been
erected in commemoration of warlike
valor or martial conquests, but in honor
of those who counted not their lives
precious when their country and its in
stitutions were in peril, but freely shed
their blood and laid down their lives
that they might live as the priceless i'm
heritance of those who came after
them. How eloquently they speak to
US to-day as we twine our floral gifts
about them, and over the lowly grass
strew the fragrant flowers of spring!
Memorial day is what its name i'm
plies-a day of commemoration. In
the graves on whose mounds shall be
planted flags and scattered flowers
sleep the remains of men whose deeds
of courage and daring are worthy OF
being perpetuated. All honor to the
heroic dead!-Christian Work.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

was in haste that
his mission should be concluded, 50 that
he might get away from the quiet.
sleepy village. The very beauty of it's
fragrant spring dress saddened him.
In a timid. hcsitating way he had
made a few inquiries for old friends,
but the answer was ever the same. War
had scattered most OF the old families.
Those alone remained who slept in the
peaceful cemetery in the dip which
formed vale at the bend in the river.
And the Ralstons?"
All were gone. OF the impetuous,
high-spirited family. only Miss Erma
was still alive. The Ralston boys
four of them-lay in soldiers graves
beside their gallant father.
Mrs. Ralston had seen her brave boys
brought home dead one by one. But
she gave them for her country's sake,
gladly, but her heart was slowly break
ing. She did not long survive her hus-
band.
Did Miss Erma still live at Iron
wood?"
No. The old plantation was desolate
and Miss Ralston lived in Il little white
cottage down the road, the one almost
smothered in jasmine and roses.
The gentleman took his cane and
with a brisk step which told of some
young blood still flowing in his veins
started down the street in the warm
spring sunshine. The square shoulders,
erect head and firm tread all bespoke
the soldier.
AS he came in sight of Miss Err
mas house his steady walk became
jerky and finally settled into an uncer-
tain amble. For the fraction of a sec
ond he paused at her gate, then beat a
hasty and confused retreat. Complete
ly out of breath he drew up beside the
high arched gate which opened upon
the soldiers last tenting ground.
by Jove! It's no use. 1 couldn' t
face her." and the old man mopped his
brow. "Whew! how her eyes did blaze!
Facing Il cannon is play to standing the
fire of Erma's angry eyes"
He leaned against the post. The
light died out of his face and he thought
of that long-away time when he and
Erma had been lovers. And then came
the war. How quickly had followed
that awful day when he went to say
farewell and she would not look at him
because he wore the hated blue He
tried to argue, tried to persuade, but
she would not listen.
She was a southern girl-Col. Raj
ston's daughter. If he fought the
south, he fought her and was her dead
ly foe. Was it not cruel enough that
the dreadful war should deprive her of
her lover, without calling him to fight
against instead of for her?
How clearly he could see her as she
stood then on the low, wide steps, a
slim, girlish figure clad in clinging
white. Her cheeks were flushed and
her mouth tremulous, but the chin was
firmly set. All through the war he had
carried in his heart the memory of her
as she stood in the sunshine, framed 1y
the stately pillars of the gallery; while
he, with despair in his heart, but a
dogged determination in his eyes.
: turned, when half way down the broad
avenue of live oaks, and, lifting his
union cap, murmured: God keep my
southern sweetheart"
How often he recalled her words. He
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24
Cured.

"Jove, old man, I'm glad to see you.
L haven't seen any of the boys for
ages"
That's so.'
Say, where's Charley Greeno When
1 was here last he was head over heels
in love with Miss Deudimple Got all
over that by this time, suppose?''
"Yeup, all over it,
''Gave her the throw down. did he?
NO, he married her."-Detroit Free
Press
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

THOUSANDS of colored men in this
country. the New York Herald said.
are being induced to believe that they
are to be pensioned by the United
States government upon being able to
show that they were formerly slaves.
The promoters of this scheme have
been at work for several years and it
is estimated that more than $3.50, 900 in
small sums has been collected by those
having the project in hand. Accord
ing to circular sent out one of the
offices is in Nashville. Tenn, with /.
ii. Dickerson as general manager.
The circular is headed, Onward tc
Victory
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

York, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis
and, possibly, Kansas City were re-
ported as organizing combine. Plans
were said to have been practically de-
cided upon at recent meetings held in
st. Louis and Chicago, and will be final
ly clinched at another session to be held
in Cincinnati. The new combination
will have a capitalization of $50, OOO,-
OOO
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

UPON the recommendation of the di-
rector of the mint the secretary of the
treasury has approved the design for
the new Lafayette silver dollars. On
one side of the dollar will be the heads
of Washington and Lafayette and on
the other representation of the mon
ument to Lafayette to be erected in
Paris in 1900
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

WAR department officials expect that
within two months the Pacific trans
port feet will be on its way home from
Manila with the last of the volunteer
regiments. Secretary Alger had long
conference the other day with the heads
OF the staff bureau of the department re-
garding arrangements for the return
Of the volunteers. Nearly every state
has requested that the regiments be
returned to the states whence they
came, as the people want to see them
as organizations instead of as individ-
uals. If this be decided upon while
awaiting muster out, they will be held
in camps.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

A MOVEMENT is on foot to. establish
an industrial colony on Long island
made up of negroes from the south. The
idea is to buy tract of land and estab-
lish a town. No white person will be
permitted to acquire property for
dwelling purposes within it's limit.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

IT has been officially announced that
not single property holder in Santa
Fe. N. NJ, owns foot of ground nor
has the city title to the streets or the
plaza. The courts have decided that
the Santa Fe grant is illegal and that
the city and township are situated on
government land and that the city has
no right to collect taxes levied on lands
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

They died for country. Meath the somber
sod
Thoy lie in silence, heroes ALL
Where the soft winds murmur and the
grasses nod
They died for country at their country's
call.
Deck with flowers that sacred mound.
In solemn gratitude. On hallcwed ground
Ye stand. where brave men sleep. a sainted
throng.
Your fearful tribute and your solemn song
Shall prove the fervor of a nations woe,
The glory of the sacrifice they made
And as your chant arises. soft and low
Upon -the grave Gods gentle sunlight
plays,
As If in blessing on the resting place
OF those who persisted in the darksome
days.
Edward 8. Van zle. In Once Week.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

The directors of Wittenberg college,
at Springfield, O., one of the oldest
Lutheran institutions in the country.
recently decided to admit women to
the theological seminary and. upon
completion of the course, to confer the
degree of B. d. uDon them.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

THE organs of the Spanish colony
at the City of Mexico predict that the
United States is on the eve of long,
barren and costly war in Cuba, basing
| their predictions on supposed informa-
| tiOn from Cuba.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

A NOTABLE feature of Admiral
Dewey's arrival in Washington will be
the presentation to him by the presi-
dent of the superb jeweled sword made
by the authority of congress as a testi-
monial from the government. The
sword was completed some time ago,
but, owing to its delicacy and great
value, it was deemed best not to send
it to the admiral. 1t is now in safe
deposit vault, awaiting his coming
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

ARMY officials at Washington are
preparing for war with the temper
ance people on the post exchange. The
opponents of that institution have been
writing to congressman asking their
views on the law relating to the So
called army canteen and soliciting
their votes for abolishing the system.
which the attorney general decides is
not adversely affected by existing laws.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

THE Texas house passed a bill placing
one per cent. tax on all personal in
! comes in excess of $4,000 year. 1t
was believed that the measure would
! pass the senate
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

w ViL AN'o ONN al eiSi
music clear.
We fall Into ranks and we answer
To our names on the roll call: Here"
But each year are our numbers fewer,
And still as the years go by
There are fewer and fewer to honor
The graves where our comrades lie.
Yet the blue May skies bend above us.
The flowers our full hands bear.
In wreath and in cross and in cluster,
Their same fresh spring beauty wear.
Time brings to them never such changes
AS fall on each comrades head
Ere he lays down his burden and hastens
To join the ranks of the dead.
The tender and clinging green grasses
Have decked all the soldiers graves
And the flag we fought for as guidon
In its starry gemmed glory waves.
They have given their life for it's honor,
And therefore we come to-day
To bring them, in tender remembrance,
The laurel the palm and the bay.
One by one shall our ranks be lessened.
One by one will our comrades pass
As they join the great silent army
In it's bivouac meath the grass.
Til at last shall we all be lying
In dreamless and calm repose,
Beneath the summers sweet sunshine
Or the shroud of the winters SHOWS.
But the tears of Nature above us,
In showers or in falling dew,
And the songs of the birds around us
Shall come with their tribute true.
In the heart of the great earth mother
Kept so close to her tender breast,
Till the last great reveille wakes
We shall lie in our quiet rest.
But until the last summons calls us
We will march, at the bugle's note,
To the lowly mounds where our banners
In a solemn remembrance float.
There we pause for a moment in sorrow,
AS each year, when this day draws nigh
We come with our hands full of flowers
To the graves where our comrades lie.
MARY n. Robinson, in Good Housekeeping
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

A MEETING was held recently at Salt
Lake City by the directors of the salt
palace and the architect was author
lied to proceed with all possible haste
on the work of having the palace
erected.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

A DISCOVERY which. it is claimed,
solves the problem of circumventing
old age has been made public by Prof.
Joseph &. Hawley and Alexander C.
Wisner. of the Chicago Chemical school.
The return of youth is produced by
hypodermic injections of the lymphatic
fluids of animals. particularly young
goats The theory is that, if the min
eral deposits which accumulate in the
bone in the process of life can be re-
placed by the life cells in the lymphatic
glands of goats. deterioration of the
bones win be prevented and youth will
be retained in the system much longer
and life prolonged, perhaps doubled.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

FIGURES prepared by the treasury
bureau of statistics show that Ameri-
can wheels are now being ridden in all
parts of the world. In the wilds of
Mexico and Central America, under the
blazing skies of Cuba. Porto Rico and
other West Indian islands; across the
pampas of Argent tine. Brazil and other
South American states: amid the dense
ly populated areas of China, British
East Indies and Japan, and in the
jungles of Africa the American wheel
is making its way. During the four
fiscal years 1896. 1897. 1898 and 1899 the
expectations of American bicycles
amounted to $50, OOO 900.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24

stood silent for some moments, and
then held out her hand as she softly
said:
1--WE Danish our anger forever
When we laurel the graves of our dead :"
-Gilberte Holt in Detroit Free Press.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-24
CURRENT COMMENT.
GERMANY has adopted a new lamp to
| succor the wounded on battlefields.

ENGLAND's projected railroad in
Africa. from the cape to Cairo, is 1864
miles.