The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-03-12

4 SeGhet Was ASKED TO repeat MS
speech. Our Honored Dead" at the
/ dedication.
The day before the event Rose
Merton Whispered to Agatha, Paul
! Seayey isn't going to speak at the
| dedication"
-snoAI7u gqlrSv pres ..'9su9suoN,
! ly, ''of course he is"
Il heard him tell my brother Frank
| he wasn't going to get up on that
| platform and make fool of himself"
Rose persisted. Anyway, he starts
tomorrow morning for three days
| fishing trip with Frank
Agatha walked from school beWild-
cred and low spirited, for she felt
herself to blame for Pauls decision.
What will the Academy think of
him. she asked herself.
She was passing Miss Eulalie's
house and a sudden impulse led her
to seek comfort here where it had
never been denied her.
Miss Eulalie listened to her story
and, as she finished. half sobbing,
Il don't see why few words | said
should make him act that way; all
the others were praising him.
should think he would hate to dis
appoint them
Miss Eulalie patted her hand gent
ly. Yes, my dear little girl; but you
were truthful, and because Paul
knows in his heart you are sincere,
those few words Of yours counted
more than the praise of the others,
and because he has disappointed you
he doesn't care whether he disap-
points the rest of the academy or not
But it's not too late yet, Agatha;
perhaps I can help you. Now don't
say anything to anybody about it,
Miss Eulalie watched her so down
the road Looking back over the
years she saw another girl with
hopes and fears and ideals. and when
she turned from the window there
were tears in the eyes where people
rarely saw but laughing or sympathy.
Paul looked earnestly at the dagu-
erreotype, young soldier hardly
more than a boy This was your
brother, Miss Eulalie?" he said gent
ly, and picking up the other from the
table, a handsome, laughing face,
"And this was Maurice?"
She nodded.
my brother is buried in the GENE
terry. but they were not able to iden-
tify the body of Maurice, so he lies
in an unknown grave" She strug-
gled bravely with her voice, vibrant
with emotion. for it was not easy to
share this precious secret.
you see, Paul what Our Honored
Dead means to an old woman like
myself. I never see our glorious flag
but l think of these two who left me
to defend it; yes, died for it. l
thought it might help you to know
You are the age of Maurice and much
as he was. and tomorrow you speak
at the dedication; both their names
are on the tablet" Brave as she
was she could say no more, but Paul
shook her hand, new manliness
aroused within him, and great love
and respect for this grand old lady. |
Miss Eulalie, you have helped me. |
see now how unworthy I am even
to speak in their praise, but l will |
do my best"
The academy expected something |
fine of Paul at the dedication. He |
never failed them, but they were |
hardly prepared for what he gave. |
Perhaps the strongest tribute was the
silence which followed his speech, a |
silence only broken by low sob,
but afterward came the applause,
sincere and lasting, and Agatha sat
beside Miss Eulalie with heart sing
ing with joy. for Paul had touched
the undefinable something, the soul
of it.
It was a different Paul who receiv-
ed the congratulations of the people,
and as soon as possible he found his
way to little old lady and anxiously
took her two hands in his. Her words
Of praise were sweet to him and
somehow she felt her precious Sec
ret was safe in his keeping.
Then he looked beyond her to
where Agatha stood watching them.
He felt encouraged, for as their eyes
met he saw there were traces of
tears on the proud, sensitive face.
Are you going to congratulate me,
Agatha?" he said, pleadingly.
ooh, Paul, it was beautiful. beau
.iful, Our Honored Dead" she said
reveTently.
Miss Eulalie caught the low words.
She raised her eyes to the flag drap-
I'd across the platform. Our Honor