The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-02

the worlds full of your name, I'll tell
folks 1 knew you like my own boy and
I'll brag about how many times you used
to come to see me-
Hush Tom, you make mo feel silly
said CASTOR as he warmly pressed the old
fellows hand.
He went back toward his office with
lighter step and more buoyant heart. His
mind was as clear as the monday sun
that was now flooding the green fresh
world with its splondor. He would stand
by his own people. He would sink or
swim with them. There were things
more to he desired than gold.
He called at the office to get his mail.
Sam Love, the new postmaster was a
jovial, honest, la2y, good -natured Demo
crat whose ideal Of luxurious life was
attained in his Office. He handed CASTOR
his mail with a gigglc.
Whats the matter with you, SAM
"Nuthn' tall ! Just thought I'd tell
you that like her handwrite," he
laughed
How dare you study the handwriting
on my letters, sir"
whats the use of being postmaster?
There amt no big money in it, l just
take pride in the office" said Sam ge-
nialy. That's a new one, amt it?"
CASTOR looked at the letter incredul-
ously 1t was new one,--a big square
envelope with seal on the back of it
addressed to him in the most delicate
feminine hand. and postmarkcd "Indepen-
dence."
Great Scott this is interesting" he
cried, breaking tho seal.
When the postmaster saw he was going
to open it right there in the office, he
stepped around in front and, looking over
his shoulder said:
"'What is it, Charlle?"
It's an invitation from the Ladies'
Memorial Association to deliver the Me
mortal day Grafton at Independence the
10th of May. That's great. No money in it,
but scores of pretty girls big speech.
congratulations the lion of the hour!
Don't you wish, you were really a man
of brains, Sam?"
mo, no, I'm married. 1t would be a
waste now.
Castor accepted the Invitation with
feverish haste. He had it all ready to
put in the office for the return mail to
Independence. But he was ashamed to
| appear in such hurry, so he held the let
ter over until the next day.
On the 10th of May independence was
in gala robes. The long rows of beauti-.
ful houses with dark blue grass lawns
on which giant oaks spread their cow
| arms, were gay with bunting, and with
! flowers, flowers everywhere Every urchin
on the street and every man, woman
and child wore or carried flowers.
| AT ten o'clock the procession was
formed What a sight 1t stretched from
the hotel down the shaded pavements
mile toward the cemetery, two long rows
Of beautiful girls holding great bouquets
OF flowers. This long double line of
| beauty and sweetness opened, and escor-
1 ted gravcly by the Oldest General of the
Confederacy present. Castor walked
through this mile of smiling girls and
| flowers. Behind him tramped the yetcr-
ans some with one arm, some with
wooden legs
When they passed through the double
line closed, and two and two the hundreds
of girls carried their flowers in solemn
| procession. Here was the throbbins soul
of the South keeping fresh the love of
her heroic dead
And then to the stone altar marked
| To the Unknown Dead" they came and
| heaped up roses. Then a group of sad
faced women dressed in black, with quaint
| little bcnnets wreathing their brows like
nuns. went silently over to the National
cemetery across the way and each taking
a basket walked past the long lines of
the dead their boys had fought an1
dropped a single rose on every soldiers
grave. They were women whose boys
were buried in strange lands in LONELY
unmarked trenches. They were doing now
what they hoped some womans hand
would do for their lost heroes,
CASTOR had never seen this ceremony
so lavishly and beautifully performed
| before. He was overwhelmed with emo
ton. His fathers straight soldierly FIX
ire rose before him in imagipation, aud
| with him all the silent hosts that now
bivouacked with the dead. His soul was
Continued on Page Fitteen)