The Crittenden press., 1920-08-24
MEMORY DAY
BY MARY M'poNouoH.

the teeming city.
She laid her offering OF flowers on
the mound and then sat beside II.
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-tlnted and glowing
with promise.
A little old lady, shriveled and fal.
tering, her skin brown and wrnkled
with the years. broke In upon her rev.
cries. She seemed surprised TO find
another grieying at her shrine, sur
prised TO find the lovely remembrance /
OF flowers. She brushed an aged hand /
across her forehead. as II trying 10 re-. !,
member the sweet-faced stranger.
Are you Margaret Ryan's grand. .
daughtery"
The girl rose and took the old adys .
hands in hers.
I'm Joan Myles," she answered .
with her wonderful haf-sad smile,
land | came from the city. spent II
vacation here last fall. I've always
liked TO wander alone through church. /
yards, and came across this tomb. /
stone. lt-lt seemed mystically dear !
TO me beCause-it-bore the uame OF
the man ! was 10 marry. Hc--he fell
on Flanders fields. The date on the
stone was so long ago | thought per.
haps no one remembered, and since |
| could not 20 TO my own belOveds rest
Ing place, thought could seem near.
er to him on this memory day II |
i came out here where his name WAS
But the little old lady was thinking
OF her own loyer-husband, who had
fought In the Civil war. and who was
Still II young. handsome lad to her
"Ah, that's IT," she breathed, at
makes them seem nearer. Nv folks
can't understand my remembering aud
grevlng StIll, but the poet spoke truly
/ when he said:
The heart that has truly loved. never
forgets
| But as truly loves on 10 the end
aud never have forgotten during all
! the years"
And 81 they stayed there for long
hours that flew by on wings, while
they talked little aud dreamed.
AT last the grounds became desert
ed. A flaming. riotous sunset hung It's
exquisite picture over distant hin aud
reflected Itself IN the shimmerlng Mer
rmac. With n start the girl arose.
IT'S very late. You must be faint"
she said. Let me help you 10 your
home. had no idea we were here so
long! But somehow the visit has
strangely touched me. | seem more
hopeful; my cross seems easier 10 bear
Perhaps"
Then she started. She grew dcnthly
pale. and trembed from head to foot I
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 regalned consciousness. /
she found herself In his arms. with /
I the little old lady. whom be addressed |
as Grandmother" bending close. The I
words Of Antonio" In nn old poem
came 10 her thoughts
"Oh, ghost or spirit OF my buried love
/ | know not, care not which,
But he welcome, thrice welcome TO
this heart Of miner
Jim Jim" she hreathed, when AT
last she could speak, "they told me
you We're dead"
turned. when they told me you had
broken your faith with me and mar.
rled
"Marrled?" she gaSped. MY dear.
my dear What made you think
,hati"
Celeste Royden broke II to me gen.
'ly IN kind. tactful letter. She was
beautifully thoughtful In those black
across lhe.ocean' days for me"
"And II was Celeste Roylrn who
broke the news 10 me % your falling
In Flanders She was lneIprcssibly
sympathetic and II was her advice that
should seek forgctfulness In another
city, away from the haunting memo
rlcS of you"
"And you are stlll Joan Mylcsr
The years seemed To slip from his
shoulders and something NJ hope
that he had thought turned to ashes
Shone forth IN his face. you've not
broken your falth1" II seemed almost
too wonderful not to be n dream or
fiction. Then n deep, flaming look ~
wrath came into his face.
as for Celeste" he muttered.
Never mind Celeste" Joan an.
swercd simply. jealous. unhappy girls
act unaccountahly nj times, aud since
we really have each other-slnce we're
going Ia be 30 beautifully happy again
let's forgive her"
And 10 think that you should have
come To grandfather's grave" he mar.
vcled. I'VE worried over grandmoth.
or staying 50 long Had I not come
In search II her. might never have
found You again. II seems odd. too.
that should have visited her now"
"'rruly the ways Of the Lord re
wonderful" spoke the little old lady
devoutly. Ills ways are not always
our ways, shun't have many more
years left TO me to take care NJ this
precious grave, hut know now that
you two. who have found happiness
here, VIII never forget H."
Tendeily they helped the sweet old
soul, who had not forgotten And 80,
on Memorial day---thpt DEAR bitter.
sweet time when the world pnuses To
dream OF departed perfect days" with
their haunting memories that bless
aud huru"-lOHn and Jim stnttpd life