The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-08-13
time I am SO glad you are with me.
Before, have come alone"

time | am SO glad you are with me.
Before, have come alone"
II can guess why you come" said
Tom, edging as near to his companion
as the peace and dignity of the state
and of the young lady herself-al-
lowed.
Il don't know whether father is liy-
ing or dead" said Mandy, ''but it is
because of him that bring flowers out
here every Decoration day. make it
point tc put flowers on the graves of
the unknown dead, or those with no
stone to mark them"
Her eyes filled with tears and she
turned her head away from Tom.
Il shall always be with you, after
this" said Tom. quietly and earnestly.
"And who knows but that your father
may be with us, too, another year!
Don't cry, am in hopes that you will
see him again. one of these days."
The girl frightened. Hope shone in
her face as it turned toward Tom.
"If he should come, Tom, and we
should be in our own little home, would
you be good to bim?"
II will, Mandy, you may be sure of
that" said Tom, with seriousness
| that was convincing.
AS they neared the cemetery gates
the two became thoughtful and rever-
| ent. The roads that led to it were
black with people. All men, women
and children were carrying flowers.
The lovers entered the gate in silence.
Just as the young couple reached the
foot of the mound on the little hill by
the soldiers monument, they heard
the throb of drums. They drew aside
! see the veterans march by.
sThere's father" said Tom, as his
eye encountered, from a distance, that
/ of Asher Hills. And then, at a warn
| ing gesture from the elder Hills, Tom
| guided the girl who was with him, as
she still watched the little procession,
toward the screen made by clump of
lilacs and snow balls. near little foot
/ path which led away from the crowd
surrounding the monument, where the
formal exercises were to be held.
"What is it, Tom," she said. 81 was
going to hear the singing, and the
speaking"
] "Wait minute" whispered Tom
"here comes father, and who's that
with him?"
Asher Hills had the stranger by the
elbow, and was steering him toward
| Ia - ~ =
little plot of grass where they stood
the two veterans stopped.
| "Abner," the voice of Hills was low
and little tense, "look at that young
ster, that's my boy Tom. And the
girl"
"Father!" In q moment 'Mandy's
arms were around the wanderers neck
and the grass was covered with Man
dy's peonies and pansies..
| Tom gathered them up for his basket
and together he and his father walked
away, joining band of veterans as
they started upon their work of deco
rating the graves of soldiers marked
Unknown"
"Abner shall stay with me-" sale
Asher Hills, until Mandy marie.
and settles down." He noted the flusf
on his sons cheek, and smiled. "We'vt
just got settled in our home," he con
tinued, "and your mothers no mover
Abner shall live in peace what littl,
time there's left to him."
And at evening the crowds wer,
gone; the decorated graves were glow
ing, unseen by mortal eyes, in the dy
ing splendors of the setting sun. TIL,
night came on. The flags and fower
held their brightness as long as ther,
was ray of light. And then at las
the stars in their arching vault O.
blackness shone down upon worlt
of shadowy, colorless shapes. 1t wa
night. And the glorious dead slept il