Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

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THE CLEMSON COLLEGE CHRONICLE. 345 loved ones as just punishment for the course that he had elected to pursue. But with the whitening hair and return of childhood — a blessing vouchsafed to old age — the feeling that inspired Goldsmith came over him : Where ' er I roam, whatever realms to see, My heart, untroubled, fondly turns to thee. Dr. Hudson found the old homestead and many of his relatives and friends. His parents had long since passed to rest, and only a sister and a brother remained to greet him. His claim to be Royal Hudson was treated as absurd. Why, said his brother, Roy has been dead over twenty years ; he was killed in battle and lies buried in the family cemetery. Dr. Hudson proved to their satisfaction that he was their brother, and the reunion was complete. No word of reproach from either embittered its sweetness. He found some of his old college mates and they for- gave all the past and received him again to their hearts as one given from the dead. It was not so with Arthur Rembert. He could not recognize the slender, girlish boy in the sturdy gray haired man. Roy Hudson had no beard or gray hair, said Rem- bert unwilling to give up his old friend and recognize the stranger. Don ' t you expect a man ' s beard to grow and his hair to get gray? asked Dr. Hudson smiling. But, persisted Rembert, Roy went serenading with us, and-I knew all his secrets. Yes, I remember those serenades and the happiness we had and the love affairs of all the fellows. But, asserted Rembert, as convincing evidence, Roy could sing.

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344 THE CLEMSON COLLEGE CHRONICLE. the loss of relatives and friends, but honor unsullied, and a consciousness of duty performed. He chose the latter, and entered the southern army. He had made his choice deliberately and no misgiving was felt when the estrange- ment came. Cast out by relatives and friends had been the lot of many another northern and sometimes a south- ern boy. When even his old college mates gave him up there remained one tie to the happy days of the past. That tie was the constant love of Nonie Rembert. This hap- piness would have been sufficient for Royal but he never knew that she remained true to him. Indignant parents severed the last cord that bound him to his childhood home. He was left alone. Royal Hudson served his adopted country throughout the war ; and when the Southern Cross was furled around the broken staff, he was among those noble men who strived, while hot tears rolled from hunger-furrowed, hopeless faces, to catch a last glimpse of its tattered but honor enshrined folds. The soldier returned to the scene of his early labor and took up the thread of life. The school was opened and prospered. We will not follow him through the years that immediately followed in which he advanced rapidly in his chosen profession. Suffice it to say, that through all the new honors conferred, the same gentleness of manner and the same ideal of duty remained with him. When the events just chronicled had grown dim through the more than a score of years that had elapsed, an old, white haired man, grown old in the service of education and crowned with the greatest honors that learned societies could bestow, decided to visit his child- hood home. When a young man he accepted the estrangement of

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346 THE CLEMSON COLLEGE CHRONICLE. How do you know that I cannot ? Well, let me hear you. Dr. Hudson began singing one of their old favorite col- lege songs, and the voice that had commanded on the battlefield, had helped the young mind to master difficul- ties, and had held societies spell bound with learned dis- courses, had lost none of the youthful sweetness. But he could not finish; the arms of his friend were around his neck and tears were in the eyes of both. Their reunion was sweet. How is your sister, Nonie ? asked Dr. Hudson. She has been dead several years, but come home with me Roy. They entered the parlor and Arthur took from the table an old album. It opened at Royal ' s picture. The pic- ture was covered by a letter. Arthur handed the letter to Royal. She remained true to you to the last and never mar- ried, and when she died left this letter to be placed over your picture. It would not be improper for you to read it. As Dr. Hudson opened the letter a flaxen curl fell into his hand. He read the letter and silence came over the friends. Memories crowd thick upon him. He recalls to mind a girlish figure and a wealth of flaxen curls. The letter falls to the floor but the heart reads on. And there in the deepening twilight he seemed to be clasping a hand, and feeling a great love constraining him while a sweet smile played about his mouth and eyes. A sigh broke from the parted lips as the curtain was drawn upon the past. EDGAR M. MATTHEWS, ' oi.