Mexico Missouri message., 1900-11-29

S-aEAJ &r
will YOU DANCE WITH ME?"
was heard to exclaim with his last
breath: Queenie. Queenie, oh. my
long-lost loved one!' No doubt this
piteous appeal wrung from a noble
heart was to some faithless sweet
heart who had deserted him years be-
fore"
This simple little paragraph had
been copied and recopied, and dis
cussed, ami made the theme for count
less stories and ballads.
But Jack, who uttered 1t, didn die.
He lived to return to America, was
honorably discharged, and resolved 10
pass another Thanksgiving in TIE old
neighborhood where his young days
had been spent So he returned, after
an absence Of nearly ten years, and
was at the house of his rather on this
evening, gazing sadly into the fire
which seemed to rehect his own ach-
ing heart.
What was life to him now?
That chief charm, that only light
to his soul, had gone out, leaving all
gloom and darkness.
He was like an old man.
His hair, once dark as the ravens
wing. showed traces of silver in it,
and his face, so handsome. clear and
fresh. now had the lines of care upon
it.
Though he sometimes smiled and as
sumed an appearance of gayety, his
mother knew that his heart was sad.
But that mother had a hope that
happiness would yet dawn on her son.
She had a piece of intelligence she
had not broken to him. Queenie Gra-
ham, after an absence of ten years,
had returned to visit an aunt.
There was to be a great Thanksgiv-
ing party at Jacks grandmother's. the
oldest lady in the neighborhood, at
which she was to invite all the young
folks, tor Grandma Goodwin" took
great pleasure in young people.
Queenie would no doubt be there,
and she determined that Jack should
meet her. The mother knew that her
sons pride would keep him away il
he knew Queen!e vas to be there, so
she kept that surprise a secret from
him.
She little knew how love had hum
bled Jacks pride.
In the vest pocket OF the veteran, he
carried the self same ring which
Queenie had thrust back on him ten
years before. 1t was next his heart
when he stormed San Juan hill, and
he hoped if he was slain the bullet
would pass within the golden circle
of his youthful love, and that he might
die with her name on his lips.
But fate destined Jack to live. He
was once more home, among friends
who had crowded about to hear him
tell of the wild charge and the storm
of death.
Would he go to grandmother next
day to the Thanksgiving dinner. Yes,
he would
The mother was happy.
The old carriage was loaded with
jolly young folks and middle-aged peo-
pie, and among them the veteran of
san Juan.
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