The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-05-31

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 { tn home next week;
they'll take good care of the old man while
he rusts out Well, there'll 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 | have
an can tell me if Lottie was happy with
that tall Johnny reb she thought it her
duty to wait for. Well, | was promised to
Marthy, too, so l guess my duty was al
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. Shown their company round
tn cemetery a little, guess. Well, | amt
in much of a hurry, seem its tn last time
I'll ever see Tom an Dicks graves. Three
brothers that went south t fight an me
tn only one { come home out OF coffin"
The sweet May wind brought him the
scent of uncounted flowers and the faint
echo of Marching Through Georgia"
played by homeward bound band.
IL always love that tune" the old man
sighed. 1T was Georgia where met Lot
tie How them blue eyes flashed tn first
time they lit on tall Eank. They was float
ing in tears the last time | saw EN-. Well,
Marthy was a good wife, an she never knew
| carried a pair OF Llue eyes home in my
heart, along with the bullet in my shout
der"
Voices drew near. A stout, red -faeed
woman, two girls and a sweet-iaced elderly
woman in black We're approaching.
81 didn't know you had any acluaint-
ances here Mis- White" the red-fac WON.
an was saying as they came. Somebody
We knew long time ago, ell? Well, we
amt any OF us growing younger. That $ tn
monument yonder. Tn Ladies' auxiliary
made gallons o oyster soup an tons o cake
{ help pay for it,"
"An' it's mighty handsome one, too, "
replied soft, dreamy voice. well, we've
got so loyal down ouah way now that maybe
we'll be buildin' monuments, too. My son
wore tn blue in the wah with Spain, an
nobody was proudah than me. His father'd
a been Just as proud, if he'd lived L see it.
A good many soldiers buried here, amt
they? Isis thaih anybody by the name
of Shriner?"
1.-TWO of 'em, right over yonder. Now,
look at En- an Gertie goin' way over { the
other end o. tn cemetery-an' their pa goin
t drive the bosses right up here! En-!
Gertie! Oh-h. EN-" She started slowly
down the path, calling shrlly as she went.
The sweet-faced woman wandered on a
little with dropping head.
1.-TWO Shriners buried heah," she said.
zone of them must be him. To think I'm
come so fab to fnd-his gravel" She paused
and looked about her. Right ovah yon-
dab, Mis- Better said. III have time t
look fer it, befoah she comes back"
/ A tall figure in grand army uniform
stood at the entrance to the lot nearest,
Il beg youah pahdon," she said, but is
thaih anybody by tn name of Shriner-
Lewis Shriner-buried heah"
The old man started. mot that | know
of, maam. I'm we'll an hearty for dead
man; my wife's here, but I-Lottie!"
Lewis! Oh, Lewis! l have found you,
at last"
"At last, Lotte; a 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 clasped
| hands. ELISA ARMSTRONG.