Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-29
BENEATH the PINES
A Story for Decoration Day
BY Mai. A. F. GRANT.

nO ERTIE held the letter long in her
| TN hands and, looking out across the
LO rich landscape that spread from the
little home near the river, sat in silence till
the shadows seemed to lengthen and the
arrows Of the dying day fell no longer on
the sward.
As she folded the strange missive, which
had come to her from the south, she looked
up at q portrait hanging or the wall, a
portrait which on the morrow would again
wear a wreath which her fair hands would
fashion, and for a moment something glis-
tened, pearl-like, In her blue eyes.
The last sounds of the final battle had
died away a few years previous, and the
scars Of war, while they still remained un-
healed, were fast vanishing beneath the re-
united love Of a great people.
Not far from the young girls home the
armies had pressed the grass and the roar
Of conflict had shaken the stately hills. She
had gone often to the little ford where
she knew her father had fought; she had
stood there seeing, vision-like, the long lines
Of blue as they strove to hold the ford
against the gray, only to be beaten back and
vanquished. From that day no tidings had
come from her soldier parent. Missing
had been written opposite his name and,
though missing on the rolls, he was ever
present to her in a hopeful daughters mem
DRY.
And now this strange letter had come like
a bird from southland, a letter written in
an unfamiliar hand, and of itself a mystery.
Again and again she had read:
Dear Miss Parker: I have in my pos
Pattlefsld after the brave defense of Cor
d9n's Ford. The hilt of the weapon bears
the name Of Capt. John Parker, company
a. til o. v, I. I remember buryins
an ofnoer after the fight, and every
thing indicates that the sword belongs to
him. For some time I have been trying
70 trace his family, but without avail, till
lately, n I am now confident that
have discovered q portion of 1t, at least, in
you. Strange to say. 1 find that you have
moved to the vicinity of the fight at the
ford, and, as We buried some of our brave
enemies near the battlefield. I am con.
fdent that I can find the exact spot. The
war has not been over long, but we are
last becoming, under God, a reunited peo-
plei and, II you will permit, I will return
the sword which I believe was bravely
worn by your father, and 1 ask you to
meet me at ten o'clock on the Both at the
lord and by the big rock, If 1t still remains
1nere. with he greatest respect,
ORVILLE LANE. Late G. g. A."
Bert had shown the letter to her invalid
mother, who had read 1t with tears and In
grateful silence.
II we could but find his grave so that we
could strew 1t with flowers" said the widow,
I would be ready to depart in peace"
He says he can locate it, mother. At
any rate, we can crown papa's sword and
that would be q relief"
Yes, yes. You will go down to the ford
tomorrow, child?"
ri will be there"
The girl went to the window and looked
at the dying sun. 1t was gliding the pines
OF Virginia with its last light a mournful
soodbyt to the day.
I'm going out, mother" she said, sluno-
ing at the thin figure in the roller chair
across the room. "Ill be back soon"
In another moment the young girl had
Quilted the house and was on her way to-
ward the river. The ford was a ~favorite
spot to her; it was redolent with memories