The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-05-27
JUSTICE WAS SLOW.

eyes, and / don't wonder" And her
bright face clouded and dropped "a bit.
'See here, Natty, it makes me wish, Z"
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 anything?"
"And all of the year have to bear 1t,
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:
1T has come for the last time. am
Just going to find out the truth about
Hetty's grandfather and fix 1t once for all,
SO that the town shall not have TO say ev-
cry 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, Il don't believe that Hetty
Dunscombe's grandfather ever ran away
on the edge of the battle in all this world.
So therel"
"Oh, Rex" cried Natalie "how can
you say soS Nobody would ever believe
your story If you do make it a good one.
1t is 90 years
"Now, let's make a 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 offering to Mrs. Duns-
combe, and Hetty's dear old grandmother,
and 70 all the little Dunscombes, 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 filthy,
pushed up his spectacles over his forehead
and asked them TO sit down, then folded
his hands, matching his fingers and
thumbs neatly together, and waited for
them to speak.
"Mr Beam" said Natalie, feeling as If
her last hour had come, II 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, lit seems too bad
for Hetty Dunscombe TO be crying her eyes
out Decoration day. Doesn't itp'
Pastor Bean gave a loud ahem and
looked helplessly at the young people, while
his brow darkened.
at Is very solemn thing" he said,
"for person to commit n sin, and to break
ones word is bad enough, but to be "a de-
serter from the army when our country
was in peril Is terrible, and for black sin
no one ought to lay wreath on John
Dunscombe'. grave on Decoration day"
"Oh, Mr.. Beam Suppose it was your
father or grandfatherf"
my dear Natalie" exclaimed the pas
tor starting back, "you don't suppose for
a minute that my father or grandfather
would have run away on the edge of bat
tleY''
"Oh, no, no." said Natalie In confusion
"Of course don't suppose so, but then he
might You would feel dreadfully. l
know you would and just think of Ben
and Polly and your little Ned crying al
most to death over Decoration day. Oh,
Mr.. Bean! Do let's find out If Mr.. Duns-
combe did really run away from his COM
pany."
Pastor Bean coughed, took out his
large, red bandanna, wiped his face sever
al times, his spectacles tumbling of in his
nervousness, so that IL was some time be-
fore he was finally restored to order
enough to resume the conversation.
well, well, WE'LL he said, arousing
out Of his reverie to meet the waiting eyes
of the young people that were fastened on
his face. "Of course will do all CAM
"But, Mr.. Beam" broke In Rex, and
now all his timidity seemed to have rush
ed away, and he felt as bold as mountain
lion, "you see we have not much time to
lose. Decoration day comes next week,
and you know we have lots to do II we
find out that John Dunscombe, after all,
did not run away
"Heyi" exclaimed the old clergyman.
"Of course he ran away"
But we don't know that" said Rex
boldly He stood quite close now to the
minister's chair.
Dear mep' said the old clergyman.
"Well, I'll think about 1t, and may be we
can do something"
The old clergyman got out Of his chair
suddenly and reached for his tall hat.
When he got 1t on his head, he felt quite
himself again, but Natalie and Rex, feel
hhS ouio shho "a ehcy Aoob oiShb VI
then the opportunity would never come
again, followed close after, and as soon
as he stood on the fat 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 SO
sired but he could see the youthful men,
bers of his flock.
But he was getting little too much Of
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 haze
you not done this beforeS" Next, "Why
can't you do 1t nowp"
In a moment he said, "Well, young peo-
ple," and he imiled as he turned around
upon them, well do It,"
"All right" cried Rex. when the