Connecticut western news., 1896-05-28
JUSTICE WAS SLOW.

JUSTICE WAS SLOW.
 "Hetty feels dreadful, doesn't she, now Decoration dny is oomings'
 "Yes, and I don't wonder" And 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 Decoration day. How Is fellow to 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 anythingY"
 And all of the year I have to bear it, thinking of Hetty Dunscombe, dreading Decoration day, and now 1t has come, said Natalie between her sobs.
 Rex came up suddenly to her side, and, laying his hand on his sisters shoulder, said:
 Ut has come for the last time. I am just going to find out the truth abo0z Hctty's grandfather and fix 1t once for all, so that the town shall not have to say ev ery time Decoration day comes around that there is one grave which Brier Hill cannot decorate with any sort of self respect.
 "Natty," and Rex leaned forward and whispered, II don't believe that Hetty Dunscombe's grandfather ever ran away on the edge of the battle In all this world. 50 there!''
 ''Oh, Rex," cried Natalie, "how can YOU say sop Nobody would ever believe your story, if you do make 1t a good one It is 20 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 iet's make it our offering to Mrs. Duns- ombe, and Hetty's dear old grandmother, and to all the little Dunsoombes, big and little," finished Rex, with whoop of de- light.
 That afternoon after school Pastor Bean had two callers in his study. He left his Sunday sermon, stuck fast in the ''flfthly," pushed up his spectacles over his forehead md asked them to sit down, then folded his hands, matching his fingers and thumbs neatly together, and waited for them to speak.
 "Mr. Bean," said Natalie, feeling as if Ter last hour had come, "I wish, we both wish, and guess every body else wishes''- And here she stuck fast, unable to go on with another word.
 Rex then plunged in.
 "Mr. Bean," he said, "it seems too bad or Hetty Dunscombe to be crying her eyes ut Decoration day. Doesn't itP'' Pastor Bean gave loud ahem and ooked helplessly at the young people, while is brow darkened.
 lo,, Ir for person to commit sin, and to break mes word is bad enough, but to be de- ,erter from the army when our country vas in peril Is terrible, and for black sin 10 one ought to lay a wreath on John .)unscombes grave on Decoration day." "Oh, MT. Beanl Suppose it was your .ther or grandfather"
 My dear Natalie," exclaimed the pas ,r, starting back, "you don't suppose for minute that my father or grandfather sould have run away on the edge of bat l lep''
 "Oh, no, go," said Natalie in confusion. Of course I don't suppose so, but then he | night. You would feel dreadfully. now you would, and just think of Ben | nd Polly and your little Ned crying all | lost to death over Decoration day. Oh, | Ir. Beanl Do let's find out if MT. Duns- | ombe did really run away from his oom- | my"
 Pastor Bean coughed, took out his | ,rge, red bandanna, wiped his face sever times, his spectacles tumbling off in his | .ervousness, so that it was some time be- | ore he was finally restored to order | snough to resume the conversation. | "Well, we'll, well' he said, arousing ut of his reverie to meet the waiting eyes | f the young people that were fastened on is face "Of course will do all oan''-
 "But, MT. Bean," broke in Rex, and low all his timidity seemed to have rush. d away, and he felt as bold as mountain
 ion, "you see we have not much time to
 ose. Decoration day comes next week,
 md you know we have lots to do If we
 md out that John Dunsoombe, after all, | id not run away"
 ! "HeyP' exclaimed the old clergyman.
 Of course he ran away"
 But we don't know that, said Rex | ,oldly He stood quite close now to the | minister's chair.
 Dear mep' said the old clergyman.
 We'll, I'll think about it, and may be we ,sn do something"
 The old clergyman got out of his chair suddenly and reached for his tall hat. When he got it on his head, he felt quite himself again, but Natalie and Rex, feel ing sure that if they lost sight of him chen the opportunity would never come again, followed close after, and as soon as he stood on the flat doorstone opening out from the study they trotted after, re- enforced by the Bean family inclusive.
 Parson Bean looked up at the sky and down at the ground and on either hand. | He had always said that he loved children and young people and should never be sc tired but he could see the youthful mem bers of his flock.
 But he was getting little too much oi them now, and he wished the whole seven of them back in their respective places giving him a good safe distance between them. First, like flash of lightning came these ringing sentences: Why have you not done this beforef" Next, "Why can't you do it nowS'
 In moment he said, "Well, young peo
 ple," and he smiled as he turned around ron them, we'll do it.
 light" cried Rex. "When ths | minister says he'll do thing, he'll do 1t Come along, now, all of you.''
 'tWhatever am to doS'' he said to him
 self in dismay, communing deeply. "Her l I have given promise to these young peo
 pie to do what can 28 years after the wa to free John Dunsoombe's name iron shame. Whatever am l to do?' He went down to the postoffice as
 matter of form, having nothing to g
 down for, as the morning mail had alread
 been delivered to him, and 1t was goo
 three hours before the evening mail woul
 be in, and as he casually passed two o
 three remarks to the old postmaster sittin
 ln the back room he fell into two or thre