The Monitor-register., 1896-07-03

imagined that the aggressor could press
his point beyond the cemetery gate.
Now, with his hat knocked off and his
bag of peanuts scattered in the face of a
customer, he struck out in a rage.
Jim was spry, and. lodging the blow,
stood planted for a second attack. 1t
might have gone i'll with him then, despite
his brawny person, for the peanut boy
was twice his size; but just at that
moment there was an unexpected diver
sion in the rear Two small urchins,
alert for spoil, caught the favorable
instant to make a raid on the stand. 1t
is hard to satisfy the claims of honor and
of trade at the same time. The peanut
boy was at disadvantage. He caught the
sound of the scuffle at his back. and was
forced to the sad alternative of foregoing
satisfaction of Jim or losing his whole
stock in trade. He turned, with an oath,
and the boys scattered. He knew too
much to follow them, for he had dis.
missed his substitute and feared that in
his absence a fresh detachment would
complete the raid. But Jim seized his
chance. In the moments start after the
thieves that the peanut boy instinctively
made, he had snatched the flag and was
dashing coward the cemetery gate.
In a moment he was out OF danger of
pursuit. He was on the broad. supIit
path within the calm OF the burial
inclosure. Jim's spirit was lifted. The
circumstance of the day had pitched his
mood at the heroic, SO that instead of a
sneaking sentiment for Friend. he already
felt proud of his relations with the second
lieutenant and victorious for rescuing his
honor. He was playing a romantic part,
and was prepared that things should turn
out for him as they do for the ~favorite
hero. 1t surprised him little, therefore,
that a young lady in mourning should be
standing by Friends ~headstone, burying
the grave in great branches of lilacs
Jim caught sight of her as soon as he
rounded the dOgwood bush. His imagi.
nation took fire at once. She was
Friends sister or perhaps his love, and
he, Jim the hero, had created a living
bond between himself and her. Jim for
got that Richard Friends sister or his
love would be gray headed by this time.
and that this young lady was not likely
to have seen the light when the bullet
ssilled Friends heart. But this is the
way with romanoers. Jim proceeded
with a song in his heart like "Lo, the
%conquering hero comes" tho trying to
comfort himself with modesty, and not
to wave the flag as he longed.
The young lady heard his step behind
on the gravel and looked up. There was
an instantaneous fash of recognition in
her eyes, and then, to Jim's utter con.
founding, she moved her hand and with
an imperative gesture and cried: Bring
it herel" Jim stood still, opened his
mouth, but said not a word. "Bring it
here!' cried the young lady again, with
rising heat.
Jim stumbled forward. He did not
look at her, but he stopped and planted
the flag in the midst of the lilacs. When
he rose he was very red, and somehow
his tongue felt tied. II didn't take it, )
he stammered. at was the Teller out
there with the peanuts. l was bringing it
back" He stopped, and indeed a more
courageous fellow than he would have
faltered, for he encountered the young
lody's look, and he knew his case was
hopeless. He turned away, g%rumbling
81 didn't take it," and made his way
sullenly home. The glory had gone out
of Memorial Day and the world was a
common place, after all.
That afternoon he sauntered out to the
baseball field in a very sulky humor,
feeling as if it did not matter whether
Brady's or Hopkins's won the day. A
boy can sink no lower than that in
cynicism. But after a while he warmed
up to the game, made a very good hit to
his own surprise, then a splendid run in
the glory of success, and came 10 among
many cheers.
The air was full of dusty sunlight
when the game was over, for it was late
afternoon; and when Jim reached the
cemetery the sun had set and left just a
luminous and peaceful sky. Evening
was fresh upon the grass and on the
trees, and the birds fell to singing in the
calm. Jim felt the sweetness of a
restored temper. Falling to a soft
whistle, he walked on toward Friends
grave. There it lay fragrant in lilacs
and underneath the colors of the rescued
flag. He just stopped a moment and
said, half aloud: "Never mind, lieuten'
ant, You knew it was fair and square,
Then he went on his way whistIing COM
fortably.-Lndependent.