The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-03

: = 4 . 7 d Isl q j 81
II Is their last evening together, and
everything seemed to be lovelier than
ever. The last rays Of the setting sun
cast their long shadows on her dusks
ssl,afr. and made 1t seem lighter than
it really was. 49, Il
..what glorious sunset! Can we ever
/ forget, Jack?
sAnd won't you thinkof me tomorrow
night when ! am far away on the pli III
lows?',S asked Jack.
VI He thinks-..How could help but love
herr, There she stands-a vision OF
white, rose in her hair, one dainty H.
81 tie foot Just in sight, and her haIda
Gclasped-even the flowers kiss her 1eet.
..Our last sunset together!
4 Jack. do not mention it, for how hap
~ ri be when your ship comes back,
3 and my Jack is home again.
Taking a gold chain from his pocKel,
he clasps 1t around her neck ana asks s.. +;
..Wil YOU wear this till ! come back
"of. coursc m wear IT, she says, and
taking rose. she pins It on MS cou'' sd say
Ing .now will you be truc?'
Then followed few secrets, and once
q more he tells the old, old story. yet ever
nGv. .f
Gazing ,ip at the evening star he
m,lsed, beautiful wise.and gentle Wilt
thou not watch DER her TIL return
And with n few parting words he mas
gone How she listens to his 1oot1ails,
and the click of the little gate down 'th re
u primrose ay,"5where they had passed
"a many happy hours that was where
Il;c had first told her that lle loved her
& Jack had gone, would he ever come BACK !!
Standing on the wharf she Watclles
the shin "Columbia" rapidly go out OIL
sight. On the deck stands hoy in blue,
on his coat is pinned a rose, withered.
but not dead; he waves goodbye I'M
til he can no longer see the one he loves
so we'll
with tears in her eyes she slowly re-
traced her steps home. why dia y seem ~,
a "a lonely? Even the birds sang a sad
refrain; everything made her think Of
last night, and vet in two years JACK
would be back
S"Haye YOU Il letter for me?" Eleanor
anNiotlslys asks. ..Why what a thick one.
4 Dear old Jack Yes. he was in the battle
SUNDAY. came out with dying colors.''.
II still love you" 1t reads. and some
day we will not be parted, dear Eleanor.
Fray for me. and think often Or your
own Jack Mother must read this let
ter from my boy" and she is soon with
her head in her mothers lap, hearing 1T
again.
weeks pass by. months and year, and
a half has gone. Jacks letters lave
come regularly; the same true Jack lie
is doing fine work for his country and
the time is drawing near. Eleanor Is
ASHAMED to confess it, hut in a corner OF
her trunk she keeps a few dainty fabrics,
which day by day she works on.
Since the evening they watched the
setting sun together. Eleanor has never
missed sunset: and this evening she
is especially happy, for IN a month Jack
Will be back.
why is ii that she kneels longer in
prayer tonight?
In far distant land, in Mexico sol.
der boy lay: hs, too, is watching INC
last rays Of the T.nn: Us she looking at
this same sun''ins Did Virginia? Oh, to be
there!'' /.
BY his ,ldc is box OF letters. a photo
graph, a girls ring and a faded rose,
Tier last letter came to-day, and She
iy still true Tom. How love her: and
sho is waiting for me. Old comrade, !
WIN answer To the roll-call far away to-
night, but ere | go promise me ono thing,
Bury those things" pointing TO the Letters.
etc. with me- see that this faded rose is
in my br.ast Take me back 10 old Nir-
gina and bury me under the naples,
where we have so often sat-
Il And Tom. tell her my last thoughts
were Of her, aud / loved hut her to the
last" n comrade bent over and kissed
him, and the last rays of that sun fell
on the calm,and peaceful face Of Jack, ~
ing dead.
They buried him under the NAPLES, the
place he loved so we'll
Once more she watches the sun set,
3 not now BIS a bright maiden for you
would not recognize the face. Underneath
her black robe. Won can see tho faint
CLEAN of tiny golden chain,
If he had lived she softly saidl 4
chip Is coming in, but it Is not her ship,
Silently she goes 10 the place she loves
,nost-Jack's grave--the last rays OF the
sun shine upon the pure marble shaft,
y and make the only word, Jack" seem toe
plain. "Iack, ! still love you, and Wei
soon meet"
And with her hands clasped over the
chain, they found her. No one could say
she was not happy, for the smile on hel
face was even brighter than the evening
star, which looked down
Z ELIZABETH BRYANT CRrrTENDEN