A Memorial Day Story

Ida Stewart trippèd ligbtly along with her bookB in her arm, and was a jotaed by a body somewhat oitóer tliau herself. This seemed au every-day occurrenee, but the bright color in her cheeks sliowed that it was also a pleasure to her. "Have you got your problems, Cliait ?" she aeked. "AU but the secoud, and I ean't for the llfe of me Bee iiito it." A nierry laugh answered him. ■I know ifs 'obscuro,' as the professor says, and I studied it a long time. I guess if we walk fast we wal have time before school to look tover It, and I can sshow you how I got it." "Thanka; you're awfttlly good. Soon they were fléeply absorbed in the mysteries of algebra. ainton Alston, with nis raven hair and almost swarthy complexión, show'ed his Southern origin, and the pasfcionatc flash of his black eyes indi'cated his temperment. Ida liad not the golden hair that poets i-ave over, and yet, ns that euntoeam tonehee it. 1 do not know what color to cali it; but lier eyes are cernainly blue and her complexión fair; her dainty mouth and chin indícate Iresoïution; slie is thoroughly selfneliant; jou cannot imagine her giving up anything she Had set out to ac'oomplish. ainton Alston's liomc was in the South, and he had beeq very happy Hm his lather's plantation; but that 'gentleman at last roused up to the fact that the educational advantages vere not such as his son should enjoy. "My dear," lie said to his Avife one Hay, "we must eend Clinton north to toe educated." Mrs. Alston was really not very strong, and all the surroundings had fostcred her delicacy uutil she had lapsed into a chronic state of seimiinvalidisnn, and it was an established household fact that she "must not "be agitated." Now this ivas the most agitating subject that could have been propoeed to her. Clinton was her i dol, and to bc separated fro,m him -was a dreadful idea. She exelai,med,- "What do you jnean ? Send my Bon ïiway froim me ?" '"UB, Ihat is just what I do anean. The boy is growing up an ignorant, 'spoilod tellow. He really knows nothïng that will fit hijn ior lus position to life, and your foolish indulgence adUcd to his ignarance will ruin hvmI Latend to send lúm to his únele in Xew Hevea.. He will have every advantage there." Saying this, he wisely withdrew, leaving Mrs. Alston to recover from the shock, with the assistance of her ïnaid. So Clinton was soon settled as a member of his uncle's faniily. Mrs. Stewart lived near, and her raotherly heart yearned for the lonely boy, who had so ïnuch to learn of life as it is in the great world, bo he was of ten at her house and seëmed almost like one of her om boys. But they were eomeiwbat older than he, and had scant patience with the haughty Southerner, but Ida became his chocen friend. 'Together they studied, but lier energy and quick-wittedness were a constant spur to his indolent temperment. They had kept together in their studies imtil he waa prepared to enter Yale, and so was she if that august institution ever opened its portals to a fe,male student. Mrs. Alston had spent several summers in the Xorth with Cainton, and Qiad won ïnany by her beauty and i-efinement, and awed some by her ele'gance. Of course Clinton introduced 'her to hls dearest frSejids, tne Stewarts, aal her eyes, enlightened by much tworldly wisdom, saw sometliing that had not occui-red to tho most interested. But Blie was too wise to betray lier knowledge; and when Clinton said ircquéntly, "I dpo't know what I would have done away from you without Mrs. Stewart and Ida," she gracefully assented, and iuwardly "made a note oí it." Ida was pretty and a very nice girl, but no fit mate for her sou; moreover, there was an heiress oi beauty and family near lier home whom she had long desigued her son to inarry. One day she tsaid- 'Clinton, I want you to promise me faithiully that you will not make any matrimonial engagement until after you have been at home a year." ■Jlotlier mine, what put such an idea dnto your head '.'" "No matter, d&rllng; it is a wliim of inine; only promis,'." Strikiug un attitude, lie gave the required projntee in higWy dramatic fctyle. At last liis colloge days were over, and he was to return to his Southern home. As he stood in, Mrs. Sfewart'B pleasunt parlor íor ilie last time, and üieldlda's haiul in his, lie realized somethiug of wliat .slu' liad lieen to him all these years. "You luiA-e beun niy inspiratiou to all imijrovement, nd I feel that you have ánade me whai. 1 am. 1 can ïiever íorget you, Ida." H-ow he longed to ask to conftinue her g-ood influence, but like a clog upon him hung the promise to his jnother. A dozen times in the past year he lytd been on the verge of telling her h is love and asking lier if lie was correct in his hope that she reretorned it. He íelt hi4nsell to be in ti íalse position. She liad many adjnirers, and while she was cordial to all, there seenied a warmer greoting 4-eservcd lor htm. He realized the blesshig within liis reach and yet beyond it, and cursed the day when lic, si boy, boimd himsoli by such an uuwary promise. Ida, -witli womanly preception, ielt Bomething euniSB, and when at parting, he said, "Ida, will you correspond with mie 1" ehe replied, "No, I think it would be -better not; if you want to Bee me very miich, you con come North in a year or two and we can tompare notes." So lie lelt her, fully iutending to return and win Ida if he could, as Boon as bc was tree from that hateful promlse. Such a wcli-omo as awaited liim at "Euduin." li is own home ! His father was proud of tlie success of his experiment and even his mother acknowlödged that hits years oí study in the North liad been of benefit to him. 'I -vvanted you Juet to ourselves to-day, but I don't wish you to feel bored by us oíd people, so 1 1 have invited a party of young people to epend a wcok or two with us." The next day the guests arrivcd, and a merry party they were. Mrs. Alston had boon wise in her selection, and with a little management she secured Miss Sutherland, the heiress of "Rosedale," as a compauion for Clinton. That young lady was much pleasOd witb the haudsome stranger, and Cxerted all her fascmations to charm him. On liis part he was flattered by no mucli ittoiitiom, aiul made a charming host. Hfe mother arranged every detail, and was really "the power bchiml the throne," but with rare tact she made it appear that every traw scheoiie for pleasure originated vith Clinton. He seqmed completely fasclnated by his lieautiful companion, and admir'ed cqually her skill in hOTBemanflhlp a rul her bnlliancy in conversation durmg their inany ridee together. The last cveniaM? of their stay had ■come, and the party werc seated on the brood piazza. The talk turncd on the approaching election. "It is as certain as fate that if Lincoln is elected thoro will be war. The South wiill not stanpd it, and I belleve the North anticipates it, too," sald Mr. Braden. "Wliat is your opinión. Mr. Alston ?" "Such a possifoility as war has nevfer oceurrel to ine, nor do I think it is thou&ht of by the Northern people. Such a crisis would bc greatly to be depiored." "A truce to grave politica! discussioiis; Iet us cnjoy ourselves in the present, and one and all, to 'Rosedale' next week, to stay as long as possiMe." Of course Miss Suthorland's invitation was accepted, and the sound of gayety was kept up. There were times when Ida Stewart's pure face intruded between this imperious beauty and Clinton Alston, but he silenced its pleadings by the thought that the year for wMch he wis bound had not yet expired, and gave himself up to present enjoyment. The eiecti.an took placo and following closely upon that event the work ol Becession bogan. Military campantes were rapklly organized, and preparations were puehed forward to sustain their positlon. Several oi his friends called on Clinton Alston. "We take it for gr&nted, Alston, that you are with vis in this, but we want your active prsence; wül you join our company ?" 'I uu not siure that I am with you, Xolson. I think the movement nnwiisc, and irom my residence in the Xorth, I thimk it Tincalled ïo-r." "Very well, sir; then we are to uderstand your sympathies are not with us '?" "Not in this military movement." As was his custom, Clinton rode over to ser Miss Sutherland. and found her busy embroidering a banner to be presearted to the iirst regiment that iilled up its complement. "Have you joined any company yet V" shv Bweetly inquired. "No, and I doubt if I do." "You cannot mean that; the true state of aflatas is eomparativedy new to you. Of course yoii had distorted ideas 4a the Xorth, but you wlll soon come out on. the right side." 'The question is, which is the right side. I do not yet see that it -vould be right for ine to turn truitor to my country." "My state is my eountry and where Bhe leads I iollow I" said the enthusiastic girl, as she shook. the completed banner. Clinton's iree expreeeion of his views bore its naturai fruit, and he became almoBt aai outcast; the fact that hia talher was known to be an ardent tsecessionist alone saved him from utter contení jjt. Time poseed, regiment ait?r regiment liad gone to the Beat of .war, and mili Clinton Ifagered at home. ïhe state of his ïather's health was one excuse. He had been stricken with puralysis, and was a helpless iuvaIkl. Tlw most of the .slaves had takon the ïirst opportuiiity to go in search of Ireedom, so it required considerable ability to kw[ things at all cumfortalilc. Mts. Aiston had risen to the timos, and had ihrown all her energies iuto the cau.sc1. N'o one but Jierself knew bow she niiíisod her "Abigail," and the luxuriee she had always been aecustomed to; but she never complained. The new8 oí a disaster to tlieir iorces had reached theni, and Mrs. Alston exclaimod. - "The time has come for every man to do his duty. I cannot see, Clinton, how you can be quiet. I hope my non is not a coward." ■■Mother," he cried, "even you dare not cali me that !" Just then an officer called, -vlio feaM,- "Mr. Alston, I have been commisskmed to recruit a regiment of eavalry in thds section, and I have been directed to cali on you as likely to aid me; indeed, I can offer you a captain's commission if you. do. I need ohly add that the time is near -when there'-will bc no choice in the matter." Sniarting from Uis mother's bitt-er iwords, and fresb fro.m Jliss Sutherland's taunts, he proinptly accepted the situation, and thus Clinton Alston enbered the Confedérate army. Among the many who grave a prompt response to President I.iiu-oïns all tor troope were Mrs. Stewartfs two sous. No doubt of juéttoe of their canee troubted thom; calmly they arranged for taie comfort of tiu-ir mpther and sister, and then marched off to the front. Ida was equally patriotic, and was very anxious to go as hospital nui-se, but her mother would not allow her to do so. However she was very busy sewiiig and kmtttagfor the Sanitary Commission, and toto each article she tncked a bnght, cheery note, Bdgned by her initials, "I N. S." The battle of Antietain wesfóugbt, and following close on the public report caane a telegram: "Harry is in the hospital, dangermiBlv .wounded; come." EDWIN STEWART. Mre. Stewart was unfit to go, but Iüa etarted at once, and thus her wieh was sadly granted, and she was on her way to the battle-fields. At first ehc turned faint at the horrors she saw, but she rallied and passed on to where poor Harry lay with liis life ebbing away. He knew lier, and she had the privilege of tending him, and giving him tliat taste of home which ja so dear to every nian's heart. She had clowed hlB eyes, and his body had been carried out, when a party detailed lor burying the dead on the field entered, bearing a wounded CoaÍRderate. '■We ioinul this maai among the dead and brought hiin in." The surgeon turned to Ida ïor assistance, and as she lianded him the baaidage she had prepared, she looked at the "subject," and to her amazeanent found tli ewide-open eyes tartoig at her. ■Ida," said the wcak voico. Theu, indeed, she lelt that the }na, nwho liad held her heart in. liks hand, lay before her. Do not Bpeak to me," she cried; "just íiow I closed my brother Harry's eyee; lie was slain, perhaps, by you !" She tumcd away, and in a few ïiours was on her way home wlth Harry's remains. But alter his burial he persuaded her niother to let her return and nurse in the hospital. When sh cwcnt back Bh eglaneed instinctively at the eot where CUnton Alston had lain, bnt it was vacant, and she naturally thonglit lie was ilcail. ome goods from the Sanitary Commission wer ebrought in one day. A pair of BOCks were given to one inan, nd as he took them, he said: "I hope there's soinethiiig from inspiration here; yes, there is. Iisten "boys;" and to Ida's utter surprise she heard one oi her own little notes read, and then the eoavalescent soldier put it carefully in his bosom. "Why do yon say it is from -inspiration' ?" asked Ida. "Why, ycm eee, ma'am, she signed them 'I. N. 8.,' which, I take it, is short for inspiration, and tliey have Lnspired niany a poor fellow. I wish I could see that woman and thank her." The war wa.s over, and the 30th of May, the day appointed on which to specially honor our héroes, was with us. In the boautiful cemetery ot Arlmgton, a lady was deeoratlng the soldiers' graves, and alter placing the last of her ilowers on a Confederate's grave, Bhe stood in serious thought. A gentleman had been closely observing her for some time; lie now stepped lorward and said,- "Ida, you surely remember me. I would noi' have dared to speak to you aguim, but 1 saw that you decked a toeman'e grave, and so I liad courage to hope you could pardon me." I have always thought that you died when I lelt you in the hospital." "Xo, I did not, as tyou see; but after I was exclianged, I went home and fonnd my fatlier dead, and desolation everywhere. I succeeded in getting mothcr to lialtimore, where she had a Bister. She died there a year ago. I lost everything, and had to go to %vork without any capital but my brains and hands. I never miss these Memorial days; and, Ida. I too, deck the graves of both blue and gray. Let us do it togethcr now, and every year hereafter, - "Till over the earth a sliout of freedom shall arise, Which as the earth grows old, shall swell the anthems of the skles." - Selected.