The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-06-10
Justice Was Slow,

her bright face clouded and dropped
bit.
"See here, Natty, it makes me WISH"
he said between his set teeth, " almost
that there was nothing like Memorial
day. How is fellow 10 go up to Town
Hall and carry wreaths and march in
the procession to the tune of the bands
and everything, nearly killing himself
to do honor to the soldiers in the Civil
War, and think Of Hetty Dunscombe
sitting there in the corner of that little
brown house, stuffing her fingers in
her ears and hiding her face so as not
to hear or see anything?"
"And all of the year 1 have to bear
it, thinking of Hetty Dunscombe,
dreading Memorial day, and now it has
come" said Natalie between her sobs
Rex came up suddenly to her side,
and, laying his hand on his sisters
shoulder, said:
cit has come for the last time. l
about Hetty's grandfather and fix it
once for all, so that the town shall not
have to say every time Memorial day
comes around that there is one grave
which Brier Hill cannot decorate with
any eOrI OF selI-reSpeCC.
"Natty," and Rex leaned forward
and whispered, 81 don't believe that
Hetty Dunscombe's grandfather ever
ran away on the edge of the battle in
all this world. So there!"
ooh, Rex" cried Natalie, show can
you say 30? Nobody would ever be-
lieve your story, if you do make it
good one. 1t is twenty years -
"Now, let's make committee of
two, and, instead of picking flowers,
making wreaths and marching in the
procession, spend the time in seeing if
we can't get some news about Hetty's
grandfather and let's make it our offer
ing to Mrs. Dunscombe, and Helty's
dear old grandmother, and to all the
little Dunscombes, big and little"
finished Rex, with whoop of delight.
That afternoon after school Pastor
Bean had two callers in his study He
left his Sunday sermon, stuck fast in
the " filthy" pushed up his spectacles
over his forehead and asked them to
sit down, then folded his hands, match
ing his fingers and thumbs neatly to-
gether, and waited for them to speak.
Mr.. Beam" said Natalie, feeling as
if her last hour had come, {" wish, we
both wish, and guess everybody else
wishes And here she stuck fast, I'M
able to go on with another word
Rex then plunged in.
"Mr. Bean" he said, cit seems too
bad for Hetty Dunscombe to be crying
her eyes out Memorial day. Doesn't
it?"
Pastor Bean gave a loud ahem and
looked helplessly at the young people
while his brow darkened.
cit is a very solemn thing" he said,
"for person to commit sin, and tC
break ones word is bad enough, but tc
be deserter from the army when oul
country was in peril is terrible, and fol
black sin no one ought to lay wreath
on John Dunscombe's grave on Me
mortal day."
ooh, Mr.. Bean! Suppose it was
your father or grandfather"
"My dear Natalie" exclaimed thu
pastor, starting back, "you don't sup
pose for minute that my father O.
grandfather would have run away on tn,
edge of battle?"
"Oh, no, no." said Natalie in con
fusion. "Of course don't suppose SO
but then he might. You would fee
dreadfully. l know you would, an
Just think of Ben and Polly and you
little Ned crying almost to death owe
Memorial day. Oh, Mr.. Bean! Do let
find out if Mr. Dunscombe did really ru
away from his company"
Pastor Bean cOughed, took out hi
large, red bandanna, wiped his fac
several times, his spectacles tumblin
off in hio that ~ w
some time before he was finally r.
stored 10 order enough TO resume til
conversation.
"Well, well, WE'LL" he said, arousin
out of his reverie to meet the waitin
eyes of the young people that wei
fastened on his face. "Of course
will do all can -
But, Mr.. Bean" broke in Re;
and now all his timidity seemed to ha,
rushed away, and he felt as bold as
mountain lion, "you see we have n,
much time to lose. Memorial ds
comes next week, and you know v
have lots to do if we find out that JOB
Dunscombe, after all, did not ri
away"
"Heyl" exclaimed the old clerg
man. "Of course he ran away"
g But we don't know that" said III
boldly. He stood quite close now
the minister's chair.
"Dear mel " said the old cleryma
swell, I'll think about it, and may
we can do something"
The old clergyman got out of h
chair suddenly and reached for his ia
hat. When he got it on his head,
felt quite himself again, but Natal
and Rex, feeling sure that if they 10
sight OF him then.the opportunity won
never come again, followed close afte
and as soon as he stood on the fiat doc
stone opening out from the study tn
trotted after, REINFORCED by the Bet
family inclusive.
Parson Bean looked up at the O.
and down at the ground and on eth
hand. He had always said that