Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-06-07
AT THE HEAD OF
THE PROCESSION
BIZ ANNIE HAMILTON DoNNELL.
"Always have I rid at the head o the

"Always have / rid at the head o tn
procession an I'm always a-golng to-!
Captain Ephriam Enty waived hi
empty right eleeve violently in empha
sis OF his words. His large, smooth
| face was red with wrath. The meel
little face Of his wife echoed his indig'
nation family.
"Sb, sh, Ephr'im," she murmured
oothingly, 'you'll get all het up"
II am all het up. I tell you, Rhody,
I'm not a-going to give up my place to
20 new upstart Of toldier, that never
tit in q battle"
"He was in the war, Ephr'im--he
was in it clenr from the beginnin' an
he amt never been with anything
snce."
II amt sure, hey' I amt surei"
Numbered the captain. "Well, II he
fit, where's his scarsi What's he got
to show for iti-that's what I want to
know. Where's his crutches or his
that"
The empty sleeve dropped eloquently
efore Rhody Enty's frightened face.
She hid it suddenly in the faded blue
folds and sobbed softly. She could
never "get over Ephr'im's empty
sleeve.
The thrifty little village OF Dixyille
was, once year, az any rate, feryently
patriotic. On the thirtieth of May they
marched in solemn procession to the
tune Of the Bltile Hymn, and strewed
flowers on their dead heroes graves
lavishly, unstintingly, with awed, SER
ious faces. The thirtieth OF May was
one Of Dixvllle's greatest days. At the
head of the line rode their living he
rces. The Oldest had honorable pre-
cedence, and Captain Ephriam Enty
was the oldest. His place, on his lum-
bering old gray horse, at The very head
OF the solemn row of townsfolks, had
never been disputed. For one day in
her uneventlul, monotonous year, Rhoda
Enty was an honor woman by virtue
Of her wifehood an the fact that she
was permitted tc l"II the Posts battle |
Scared flag while tie graves were be-
ing d coatel. Ii was all the glory |
she asked for.
Bul inns year there were some slight
RIB dings disturbance, as May
.ept il o h + twenties, and close to
er THU teeth ,lny. Already at the meet
M uf the OLD soldiers TO arrange the
for the celebratiCa, there
al cen hi is of trouble, in the won't
sdly peac, 'l gathering. There had
even been few-a very few-hot
words. |
"We've fot to stick by our rules,
Did Uncle Basil had said rather excited
y, t. JUMPING his cane at every word.
'We'v OF to stand by 'em, 1 Tell you!"
n its H. r,le tor the oldest vet'ran to
cad the rercessioD, then the oldest
' .t'ran's got tol Because we'd all a
sight ruther have Eph amt any excuse
tor breakin' rules. If the Lord didn't
see fit to send him along till three years
after he sent Joseph Patten, why that
| mt our fault--nor it amt the Lords
sither. / guess He knew what He
Vas dcin." |
All but Uncle Basil stood. BY Captain
Ephriam, however. II wouldn't seem
ike Memorial Day ut all unless Eph rid
It the head, with the wind Aappin his
Empty coat sleeve. they said. That
Empty sleeve added touch of pathetic
lisn ty to the Occasion-ttey were all
,roud oft. 10.
Little feeble, lottery Joseph Patten--
low would he look sitting astride a
lorse gay with the trappings Of WARP
Ten months before. Joseph Patten
md his invalid wife had moved into
HaHsx5g4TIH7a: