The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-05-16

desolation of the isolation. The SHIT
less family for years had been looked
after by Professor Jordan. ana Wnen
he came to the mountains he had con-
sented for them to follow. His PEN
sion was not large, but it had Deen
sufficient to maintain the two Fam
lilies in the woods. Now, with him
gone and the pension stopped the nat
ural aggressiyeness of Ben and ais
mother was arrogating to themselves
what had been done by the dead man.
They tried to constitute themselves
watchdog and guardian and censor
all that did not imply actual giving OF
help.
Looking out across bit OF nature
that is unspoiled by man." said How
ard Chandler as he and Eta stopped
beside her, II can understand now
Professor Jordan loved that view.
While a man has strength there 1s
work out in the world for him to do,
that he ought to do, wants to do, but
when the strength goes it is good to
live beside and above view ike
that, with its sublimity entering into
ones soul. / have been here only i've
weeks and feel like new man.
You came here for rest, then?' said
Mrs. Jordan, for Howard had spoken
little Of himself.
Yes: / worked rather hard at col
lege, and my doctor advised it. And
have you and Etta-Miss Jordan here
Ito thank for contributing so much to
the pleasure of the stay. You have
been nice to me-"
"It has been mutual. Do you think
of leaving us soon?''
'Yes, though not for few days.
Miss Jordan and I have been talking,
and she spoke of-of Memorial day,
and''-
Mrs. Jordan's eyes grew tender.
at is our first memorial" she said
in a low voice John was soldier,
and the real cause of his death was
wound he received long ago In the
war. Eta and want to gather few
flowers, and-and"-
She could go no further, for her
voice began to tremble, and her eyes
had filed with tears. Howard sat
down beside her on the roughly hewn
log bench which ran around two sides
of the cabin.
II understand" he said gently, land
with your permission will stay over
until after Memorial day and join you.
There are very few flowers in the vi
entity except dogWood and the wild
wind flowers. which fade quickly. But
know of fine clump of white rhodo-
dendrons several miles down the slope
that are in full bloom. and will bring
some of them. and perhaps can find
a few flowers in the valley. My grand
father was soldier. and have always
taken part in Memorial day exercises
at home. will be glad to join you.
the more SO from what Miss Jordan
has told me of the brave man who has
gone. She says you are from the west
ern part Of the state. May | ask to
what regiment he belonged? z"
'sThe Second volunteers. Company G.
He was first lieutenant and served
from the beginning. About his only
regret at being up here was that he
could not see anything more of his old
comrades. He often wondered what
they were doing and how many of
them were still alive. His great wish
was to see his old commander, Gen
eral Tavis. once more. They were at
college together and dear friends.
When General Tavis founded his COM
pany my husband was the first one to
enroll his name / wish | knew the
generals address SO could write him
about john
Towards face had grown eager, and
he was about to speak. but checked
himself
You have heard of the company
perhapsg' said Mrs. Jordan wistfully.
ut did some very hard fighting. and
more than one-half of the company
were killed in the war. and many 9TH
ers were wounded, some of whom soon
died. There cannot be very many
left"
Towards face was grave, tender.
reminiscent.
Eyes. know Of the company and its
brave Deeds" he answered. when
at home l always went to the reunions
with my grandfather and knew some
thing OF all the companies in the state.
But everybody has heard Of Company
9, its heroism and tragedy. Only two
comrades were supposed left to an
swer their name at roll call. and one
of them was Lieutenant Jordan. did
not connect him with Professor Jor-
dan when talking with Eta. The
only man left of the whole company
now is General Tavis.''
Mrs. Jordan's eyes filed; then a i
strange, faraway look came into them.
"John has all his comrades with him.
then" she lnurmured, land they are
up there waiting for their old COM
mander. A little while-only a little
while-longer and they will welcome
me too. Brave men are tender men.
and they viii save place for me be-
side John"
please don't. grandma pleaded
Eta. Grandfather can wait for Won
awhile l0nUar and noo5 49,