Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-29
MEMORIAL
DAY UNION

81 USINESS had brought him to his
TX native town in the sunny South.
g. lie was in haste chat his mission
should be concluded so that he might get
away from the quiet village. The very
beauty of its fragrant spring dress sad
dened him.
In timid, hesitat;ng way he had made
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 a vale
at the bend in the river.
And the RalstonsY'
All We're 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 gal
liant 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 breaking. She
did not long survive her husband.
Did Miss Erma still live at Iron
wood?"
No. The old plantation was desolate
and Miss Ralston lived in little white
cottage down the road, the one almost
smothered in jasmine and roses.
The gentleman took his cane and with q
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 Erma's
house his steady walk became jerky and
finally settled into an uncertain amble.
For the fraction of a second he paused
at her gate, then beat a hasty and con-
fused retreat. Completely out OF breath.
he drew up beside the high arched gate
which opened upon the soldiers last tent
ing ground.
by Jove, It's no use. / couldn't face
her," and the old man mopped his brow.
"Whew, how her eyes did blaze! Facing
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. IL he fought the South,
| he fought her aud was her deadly foe,
| Was it not cruel enough that the dread
| full war should deprive her of her lover.
without calling him to fight against in
stead OF for her?
| How clearly he could see her as she
4 stood then on the low, wide steps, a slim.
| girlish figure clad in clinging white Her
| cheeks were flushed and her mouth trem-
| ulous. 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 by the stately pill
/ lars of the gallery; while he, with despair
/ in his heart, but a logged determination
in his eyes, turned, when half way down
the broad aven.e of live oaks, and lifting
his Union cap, murmured, God keep
my Southern sweetheart.
How often he recalled her words he
/ could almost hear them now. Go. You
are a traitor. | never want TO see your
| face again
The old man shook bis head sorrowful-
! ". No. she would never forgive him, not
/ even now after all these years. Well. he
| would 80 back north on the morrow. 81
what matter?
He and the Ralston boys had beer CO..
/ leSe students together, He would pay Z
| visit to their last resting place. He open
| cd the gate and slowly made his wa!
| among the lower-covered mounds. When
be reached the RSlston lot, he looked
about him sorrowfully He felt sadly
deSolate He alone was left OF ali Those
/ merry. laughing fellows
Presently his eye wandered 70 grave
somewhat apart from the rest. The
scarcity Of lis flowers drew his attention
to II. He wandered idly toward il. think
ing. ,Some poor frieas' ess chap"
He started and then dropped upon us
knees IN his esgerness 10 read the simple
inscription en- the headstone- L rans
MERRILL FREMONT"
"lsorn 1888. Killed al Gettysburg, 1868.
.Why. that's my Nance and the Oh
man looked about him in dazed name,
as though Tor moment he doubted hi.
Identity
Yes. my aame is Merrill Fremont ans
was born IN SIS. but though i wa.
wounded | did not die n Gettysburg. 4
Union soldier in a Confederate grave
vard. All. that accounted for the lack o
memorial flowers" and he smiled grizzly
sBut I'm not dead" and he thumped hi
cane vigorously upon the gravel path-