The morning times., 1896-05-24
THE ROSES SECRET.
Peggy FarIey's Romance of Deco
ration Day,

Greet as to all which came within it's
ken. Times change-maDneFs with them
why not flowers as well? Possibly 1t
is natures kind provision. Otherwise
but a story should begin always at the
proper beginning.
Somehow, in spite OF the murfIed drums,
the arms reversed, the line oil Scared
and grizzied veterans, now grown pitt
fully short and thin, there was distinctly
a holiday air about the Gro wd which
streamed into the ragged cemetery. In
deed, there could not help but be-for
the lilacs, snowbaIls, bridal wreath aud
Towering almond were all riotously in
blossom; the syringa cIumps green mir
acles OF swelling white buds. Within the
week late spring had grown suddenly
toward; the winds were warm aud scented
like the breath OF June, aud the birds sang
in full highsummer chorus, warmed aud
melted by the golden heat of May.
In he face OF that, youth could rot be
sOrrO wful, even though it came out TO
mark the lands old desolation 1t was
mainly those too young to remember that
time, save as a vast, vague cloud OF
storm and distress, who came 10 line
behind the veterans, to deck their com
radeS graves. Not a man in the fire
new Graysville Cadets, marching as es-
cort To the old soldiers, was over thirty
And though for long. men and matrons OF
sober years bad counted 1t their priE'
ilege to bring hither flowers aud greens,
upon this day the work had fallen wholly
to the girls and younger women.
Their light frocks and fIutteriug rib
bons, massed or singIy, seemed TO repeat
and aCceutuate the tints OF the flowers in
bloom there in the cemetery, and the knots
and wreaths a nd lose handfuls they bore
in their baskets or heapei Iu the hollow or
the arm But nobody was quite So fLuch
the days embodiment as Peggy Farley,
who had on white gown, fine and cling
ing, broad blue sash and a sLeaf 0f red,
red roses made fas5 TO her belt She was
easily the pretsieSt girl in GraysvllIe the
, best liked, too, for all she had certain little
wiIlful, proud ways. over against them
were TO be set the kindest heart. the readI-
est hand, lips wholly free from guile.
Everybody had reioiced over her engage
| menL TO young Grahane, the fine, tai cap
tain of the cadets. He had women friends
| in legion, ana yet not one had hinted that
| lie was a sacrifice Likewise Peggy's
! adorers, masculine, from seven to seventy,
agreed that, while he was not quite good
! enough for her he came Us near il Is NOR
tai man was likely TO be found.
SO when the euga cement was broken,
| with no word said in explanation on either
! side, gossip ran riot, nor were there lack
| ing shrewd folk to uote that the break
| came Just a week later than Miss Bar
| bara Grahame's return to the old hone.
| She had been five years away seeking
| vainIy TO escape her arch enemy, rheuira-
| tisru Naturally her temper had not i'm
! proved. Besides. it had been known always
| that she had really loved but two things
| her brother Johns memory aud her own
! way, though it had pleased her 30 Imagine
| herself devoted to her nephew.
Capt John Grahame. the elder. had not
| died 10 battle, albeit he slept we'll 10 the
| head of the Cemetery's soldery- He had
| come home from the long fighting with
| bullet in his chest but had grown within
| year of peace so much his Cwu SELL
| handsome, hearty, sunny-tempered, that
| he had married rejOiCingly the sweethedH
| he had left behind him. When young john
| was born il seemed there was nothing left
| 20 wish for-but almost in the first Joy OF
| fatherhood the end came. The bullet had
| touched a vital spot-with a smCthered,
| gasping cry, red torrent gushing from
| his mouth. the gallant gentleman rem
| UtTeu up his epui.
| HIS widow sobbcd liteOuSly, but in
| wear was cousoled-a twelve mCnth later
! married again Then Miss barbara adopted
| little John, sa wing ETimly as she took him
| upou her knee: John, you are never to
forget it is through the wickedness Of those
| rebels you are fatherleSs, aud worse than
| motherless."
She was not OF the throng today: her
old enemy had her hard and fast in his
| clutches If she walked at all. II was by the
| help of Crutch and cane and she was mar
| velOusly sensitive about appearing thus
| in public. Neither would she take the car
| riage nor be wheeled in her bath chair.
But she had stripped garden and green
house for the flower bearers. Three. whose
baskets she had filled, were talking eagerly
together as they sSod listening 10 r-e
minute guns that marked the close or set
ceremonies
II asked if these were not especially for
her brother. and oh. the look she gave
mc!'' one pretty creature said
1T was petrifying." said her mate, land
only fancy her saying: 1 wish you children
| of today would understand it is the cause.
not the individuals, that one hCnOTs. Give
nv brother his share-but no more Ny
hero my martyr. is no worthier OF reTnen
brance than the million like him who died
for the right
do you know. am certain as can be she
| is at the bottom of that the third said
nodding family toward the place wherC
Peggy and Capt. Grahame, in unlooked-for
/ encounter We're saluting each other witt
elaborate if tremulous Indifference.
.'Oh. that couldn't be! Why, Miss Barbara