American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-08-14
MEMORY DAY
BY MARY M'DoNoucn.


t6a 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.J
The girl with the dreamy, sad eyes,
found her way to the little grave In
the sleepy churchyard, far nv ay from
the teeming city.
She laid her Offering Of flowers on
the mound and then sat beside 1t.
dreaming dreams Of another mound In
Flanders--perhaps uncared for, per.
haps unnoticed; dreaming dreams Of
other and happier May times, when
life seemed rose-tinted and glowing
with promise.
A little old lady, shriveled and fal.
tering. her skin brown and wrlnkled
with the years, broke In upon her rev.
cries. She seemed surprised to find
another grieving at her shrine. sur
prlsed to find the lovely remembrance
Of flowers. She brushed an aged hand
across her forehead, as II trying to re-
member the sweet-faced stranger.
Are you Margaret Ryan's grand.
daughterr
The girl rose and took the old .lady's
hands In hers.
I'm Joan MyIes," she answered
with her wonderful half-sad smile,
"and 1 came from the city. spent a
vacation here last fall. I've always
liked to wander alone through church.
yards, and ] came across this tomb.
stone. lit seemed mystically deas
to me DEMONSTRATIONS the name OF
the man was to marry. He--he fell
on Flanders fields. The date on the
stone was so long ago I thought per.
haps no one remembered. and since
could not go to my own beloved's rest.
Ing place, thought could seem near.
err to him on this memory day II ]
came out here where his name was.
But the little old lady was thinking
Of her own lover-husband, who had
fought In the Civil war, and who was
still a young, handsome lad. to her.
"Ah, that's It," she breathed, IL
makes them seem nearer. Oily folks
can't understand my remembering and
grieving still, but the poet spoke truly
when he said:
The heart that has truly loved never
forgets.
But as truly loves on to the end
and ] never have forgotten during all
the years."
And so they stayed there for long
hours that flew by on wings, while
they talked little and dreamed.
At last the grounds became desert
ed. A flaming, riotous sunset hung Its
exquisite picture over distant hill and
reflected itself In the shinmering Mer.
rimac. With start the girl arose.
Its very late: You met y faint"
she said. let me help you to your
| home. ! had no Idea we were here 50
long! But somehow the visit has
strangely touched me. seem more
hopeful my cross seems easier to bear
Perhaps"
Then she started. She grew deathly
pale. and trembled from head to foot,
for straight In front OF her was the
image of her sweetheart. A piercing
scream, and she fell forward In a dead
faint.
When she regnlned consciousness
she found herself IN his arms, with
the little old lady, whom he addressed
us Grandmother" bending close. The
words OF Antonio" Ia an old poem
came 10 her thoughts:
"Oh. ghost or spirit Of my buried love
] know not, care not which.
But he welcome, thrice welcome te
| this heart OF minel"
Jim JIM" she breathed. when al
last she could speak, "they told me
you were dead"
"And might Ms well be-" he 70.
turned. when they told me you had
broken your faith with me and mar.
ried.'
"Marrledf" she gasped. My dear
my dear What made you think
thaty"
Celeste R0yden broke II to me gen