The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-05-24

with the warm, odorous biscuits and
put on her sunbonnet.
"Where you goin' to, Rhody?'
"Me? o, I'm just goin out on nm
arrant-you go right ahead an eat,
Ephr'im."
But what you goin' to do with
them biscuit?-that's what / want to
know" persisted Captain Ephraim,
laughing.
Rhoda Enty's little figure in its
calico gown faced about in the door
way. "Well." she said unninchingly.
"then I'll tell you. I'm goin to take
'em over to Joseph Patten, for his
supper-an' I've got some preserve in
this saucer, an I'm comm back after
q pitcherful o. tea" She held the
plate and saucer with firm grip and
smiled across the kitchen ut Ephraim
stoutly.
Then something else happen ed. To
Rhody's amazement Ephraim pushed
back his chair and crossed over to her
with the teapot in his hand.
"Ill go along with you and tote the
drink" he said, good humoredly.
eth save you maxim another trip,
an shouldn't relish my supper all
alone, anyway. II won't take us but
a minute to run over'n back"
They went away together on the
little 'arrant' of mercy. Instructive
ly they both began where they had
left off in the Battle Hymn, just be-
fore supper was ready.
They went in, through the kitchen,
to tho half-open sitting room door.
Then they hesitated, looking at each
other doubtingly. A strained, eager
voice came out to them. II sounded
broken and strange to their ears.
"They don't believe I a., Lord.
They don't believe it l can see it
in their faces that they don't. They
think I'm pretend;n. o, Lord, pre-
tendin. Can't you make 'em believe?
/ want that u.ore than the gold round
my hat more than / want anything
else but her. It's breakin's my heart
because they don't believe-why,
Lord, an fit all through the war
Thou knowest did bore the fevers
fn' dampness an hunger an I'd have
bore the bullets an the knife IL they'd
come, too. 1 could have bore them
easier than the weakness an pain
that's lasted oil these years. Why,
Lord-dear Lord, never thought of
flinchin' wouldn't tell anybody but
you-but / never did, 1 never did,
Lord! liked i'll wanted to fghtw
There was moments utter still
ness, and while it lasted Captain
| Ephraim and his little wife held their
breath. Then, when the eager sob
bing voice began again, they hurried
softly away.
| Memorial Day was very near. There
was one more meeting OF the commit
tee of old soldiers, and Captain
Ephraim attended it as usual. There
was no anger or heated discussion in
that meeting. All the last arrange
ments were made and the minutim of
the days celebration attended to. 1t
was noticed by some of the old SOL
diers' wives how serious and gentle
the veterans were when they came
homo. Rhoda was unsurprised.
The great day itself dawned in n
setting of red, white and blue, as it
should. Dixville awoke and rejoiced
at the brilliant East and the white of
the apple blossoms and the blue of
the sky overhead. The whole little
town was alive with patiotism and
zeal. At ten the procession formed
in front of the town hall. and went
winding away through all the streets,
that were bright with flags. The
borrowed band played the Battle
Hymn finely.
AT the head of the little line rode
Joseph Patten on Captain Ephraim's
old gray horse. He was little and bent
and weak, but no one noticed that.
They all noticed how straight he sat
and how his face shone-and how his
brass buttons and the bit OF gilt cord
around his hat caught the sunlight
splendidly. He was coated in army
blue and nobody chose to see the coat
was much too big and the sleeves
were turned up at the wrists. If
anyone gibed, it was never known in
Dixville.
Behind the leader marched the
other "boys," and one of them wore
brown coat with an empty sleeve.
There were no brass buttons, but the
sunlight caught the eyes under their
gray brows, above the ordinary coat
and how they shone!
"Glory, glory, -Hallelujah, "tranped
tho old soldiers feet triumphantly--
"As we 90 marching on"