The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-08-05
MEMORY DAY
o. NARY n'oosoues.


She laid bsr Offering Of flowers On
4 the mound sud then saf beside IL.
dreaming dreams Of another mound in
I fisnders-perhaps uncared for. per
haps uBnotieed dreaming dreams u
other and happier May times. when
life se-med rose-tinted and glowing
with promise.
A little old lady. shriseled and fall
tering. her skin brown and wrinkled
/ with the years. broke Ia upon her rev
cries. She seemed surprised 10 ind
another grieying al bef shrine, sur
prised 10 fnd the lovely remembrance
OF flowers. She brushed an aged hand
across her forehead. as IL trying 10 re-
member the sweetfaced stranger
Are you Margaret Ryan's grand
daughterf"
The girl rose and took the old lady's
I hands la hers.
I'm Joan Mylfs," she answered
with her wonderful half-sad smile.
and came from the city. | spent
vacation here lpst fall. I've always
! liked TO wander alone through church
/ yards. and l came across this tomb
stone. lit seemed mystically dear
l 10 me because-it-bore the name OF
| the man ! was to marry. He-he fell
on Flanders fields The date on the
stone was 50 long ago | thought per
haps no one remembered. and since
could not go 10 my own beloved's rest
ing place. | thought | could seem near
er tashim on this memory day IL l
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 a young handsome lad TO her.
"Ah. that's H." she breathed. ut
makes them seem nearer. Ny 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 a little and dreamed.
At last the grounds became desert
ed. flaming riotous sunset hung its
exquisite picture over distant hill and
reflected itself in the shimmering Mer-
rin.ac. With a start the girl arose.
cts very late. You must he faint"
she said. Let me help you TO 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 to bear
Perhaps"
Then She started She grew deathly
pale, aud trembled from head to foot,
for straight in front of her was the
image of her sweetheart. 4 piercing
scream. and she fell forward in dead
faint.
When she regained consciousness,
she found herself in his arms, with
the little old lady. whom he addressed
as Grandmother" bending close. The
words OF Antonio" in an old poem
w hNA AhVhShAHs
ooh, ghost or spirit of my buried love
| know not. care not which.
But be welcome, thrice welcome 10
this heart of mine.'
Jim, Jim" she breathed. when at
last she could speak. 'they told me
you Mere dead"
And ! might as well be-" he re-
turned when they told me you had
broken Your faith with me and mar
RED
"sIarriedln she gasped. MY dear.
my dearl What made you think
thatT-
Celeste Royden broke It to me gen.
tly IN kind. tactful letter. She was
beautifully thoughtful in those black |
across.the-ocean' days for me"
"And II was Celeste Royden who |
broke the news 70 me of your falling |
in Flanders She was inexpressibly |
sympathetic. and Il was her advice that |
should seek fof-etfllness IN another /
city. away from the haunting memo
ries OF you
"And Won are still Joan Myles2" /
THE years seemed 10 slip from his
shoulders and something Of hope
that he had Thought turned 10 ashes
shone forth in his face You've not
broken your faithf' Il SCENE almost
too wonderful net 10 be dream or
fiction. Then deep. flaming look Of
wrath came into his face
As Tor Celcste,- h. mutie-ed
Never mind. Celeste" lean an
swered simply "Jealou, unhu ~ girls
acf unaccourtshly ~ times. and since
W. really have each otlier-slfce we're
going 70 be 50 beautifully happy again
lets forgive her
and 10 think that you should have
come 70 grnuafathers grave he mar.
ve.ed. I'VE worried over ri ldwoth-
- staying - iong. Had fot rone
ia sareh 81 her m.sl ueser have
found yal again. II seems odd ton.
that J sbma'l iaxe visited q e upW
-Trig thr ways ~ the lri are
worderfui.- spoke the little ia lady
deyoutif Ellis ways are no. always
our ways shan't have ms mere