Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-05-24

wife, if she hadn't blue eyes like the little
girl down south"
He lighted his pipe with faraway look
in his eyes.
eyes, I'll go down t. tn home next week;
they'll take good care of the old man while
he rusts out. Well, there'l be lots t. talk
about at nights, with tn whole four year
O. tn war to thresh out. Maybe I'll find
somebody that's been south since I have
an can tell me if Lottie was happy with
that tall Johnny reb she thought it heI
duty to wait for. Well, was promised to
Marthy, too, so I guess my duty was as
plain as hers
He glanced over at little group stand
ing in lot not far away.
tom Beltzer's folks, guess" he said.
"Ton told me t. wait an they'd give me
lift home. Showin' their company round
tn cemetery little, guess. Well, amt
in much of hurry, seein' its tn last time
III ever see Tom an Dicks graves. Three
brothers that went south t. fight, an me
tn only one t come home out of a coffin
The sweet May wind brought him the
scent of amounted flowers and the faint
echo OF Marching Through Georgia."
played by hoIneward bound band.
Il always love that tune" the old man
sighed ct was Georgia where l met Lot
tie. How them blue eyes flashed tn first
Clfne tney III on Il Tall duk uey was iOdC-
ing in tears the last time | saw EN-. Well,
Marthy was a good wife, an she never knew
! carried q pair of blue eyes home in my
heart, along with the bullet in my shoul-
DER
Voices drew near. A stout, red-faced
woman, two girls and sweet-faced elderly
woman in black, were approaching.
Il didn't know you had any acquaint-
ances here Mis- White" the red-faced wom-
an was saying as they came. Somebody
ye knew long time ago, eh? Well, we
amt any of US growing younger. That's tn
monument yonder. Th' Ladies auxiliary
made gallons o oyster soup an tons O. cake
t. help pay for it,
An it's mighty handsome one, too, :"
replied soft, dreamy voice. "Wel, we've
got SO loyal down ouah way now that maybe
veil be buildin' monuments, too My son
wore tn blue in the wah with Spain, an
nobody was proudsh than me. His father'd
a been Just proud, II he d lived t see it..
y good many s7idiers buried here, amt
they? Isis thaih anybody by the kname
Of Shrirer?"
'sTwo of eerl, right over yonder. Now,
| look at Ern az Gertie, goin' way over t the
| other end o IA cemetery-an' their pa goin'
| t drive the hcsses right up here. En-,
| Gertie, Oh-:l, Eml" She started slowly
| down the pa!l, calling shrilly as she went.
| little, with droaping head.
Two Shri..ers buried heah,' she said.
''One OF them must be him. To think I'm
| come so fan to fino-his gravel" She paused
| and looked about her. Right ovah yon-
| 6ah, Mis- Better said. III have time t.
| lock fer it, befoan she comes back
| a tall figure in grand army uniform
| stood at t!se entrance to the lot nearest.
4 beg youah pahdon,' she said. but is
! tilaik anybody by tn name OF Shriner-
| Lewis Shriner-buried heah p?
| The old man started. Not that know
OF, mas I'm well an hearty Ior dead
man; my wife's here, but I-Lottiet"
| "Lewisl Oh, Lewis! I have found you,
at last"
s'.At last, I.ottie: battered old hulk
on his way to the home. and
.'On your way to tn home, my home,
that's waitin' for youah, Lewiston us
both.'
North and south once more c!asped
hands. ELISA ARMSTRONG.