Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-05-24
H0 ARK!
III That high. clear. vibrant note,
~ striking through the silence like u

III That high. clear. vibrant note.
~ striking through the silence like
sword o. sound!
'"There!' cried Jack Earrowsby.
They're starting up. That's Kippcrton's
FIFE. He's going to play Columbia"
NO" decided old McClelland. "He's
Just a-tunin' up. don't remember to
have ever seen 50 many folks comm into
town. Jest look ut that Kansas hill. an
along by the railroad track. Like rs not
they'll be full fifteen hundred at the
grove"
Sure! They've got the flag strung
acrost the street. It's gittin' wore"
1T oughtn't to. 1t amt out but Deco
ration day an Fourth OF July. But the
winds is hard on it,"
1t was fair day-a fine daily. day
fit for the flag to float high, for music to
resound, for prayers to arise, for the loyal
living to honor the valiant dead. day
OF blue and gold-of soft breezes that
claimed no kinship with fierce midsummer
winds. Rain had fallen in the night, and
even yet upon the roadside grass it gilt
tered, a delicate, brilliant Web fine as
lace upon lady's gown.
'There's John BarristOn gittin' out Of
his old buggy" commented Harrowsby.
II wonder he amt ashamed to own such
a lookn' trap, with all the money he's
got"
Eyes. an here comes Thorns carriage
from the other way. Thorn's the only
farmer around here that keeps one.
don't say he amt right to git some com
fort out'n his life"
The Thorn surrey rolled down the
street. On the front seat sat heavily
built, auburn bearded man. Beside him
was white-biouscd hoy. On the back
seat was Il pleasant faced woman, and
beside her slender young girl, white
clad from her head to her feet.
MIR. McCelanL shook his head. ",rhey
spend too much. They'll wind up in the
poor house"
"Oh, guess not" laughed Harrowsby
"Any one who picks up Ed Thorn for II
fool is goin' to drop him mighty quick.
He can afford to spend some. Or course
Barrston is with as much again"
Don't look like H." clicked out the
undertaken
1t didn't look like it. One would never
have imagined the gaunt old creature,
fumbling over his broken rope harness at
the side Of his ranlshackle vehicle. the
rossessor Of more worldly wealth than
the prosperous appearing man driving by
at ease with his handsome family. One
likeness. however. in common they had.
Both wore the army blue.
"They'rc both good haters." went on
the speaker. Them two men come to
this country pretty soon after we did.
One of 'em must be here nigh on to thirty
years. an they've never spoke a word to
each other in all that time. From the
same town back East. I've heerd. an
fit in the war together regiment
zane comp'ny."
Mr.. McClclland nodded. ~ remember.
Thorns come several years after. An to
think Of them two eatin' the same dinner,
an drivin' to the same funerals, walkin'
in the same Fourth Of July procession, or
like now in this here Memorial day pa
radc-even havin' the same politics, an
never as much as civil word between
'cm. ] wonder what caused it,"
"A woman. I've heerd said"
THE towns film fast"
1t was filling up fast. On every road
leading down into the peaceful valley
trickled people on foot, on horseback, in
huggies. and in wagons. There were burly
farmers. greeting neighbors, talking of
crops and weather. There were women
with children in their tired arms and
clinging to their gowns. some alert, more
stold, but almost all in their nppea rance
of premature age and WEAKNESS, giving
evidence of overwork and latent depres-
sion.
The Grand Army hall was only the up
per floor of an abandoned and dilapidated
building. used as furniture shop before
the town hoom had burst. But the men
who came down the rickety steps scaling
the outer wall were the units who made
the magnet Of attraction. These men
formed in line on the broad strip of the
street, Intervening between their occa-
sional quarters and the livery barn. The
stirring notes of the fife rang out, and
the beating Of drum throbbed upon the
air.
The blue-clad ranks formed. There was
the bent old body. the square. firm face
and the floating white hair of the father.
Beside him trampcd his son--spare, sin
envy. upright. but perceptibly lame in one
leg--the leg which had been presented at
Shiloh with II much-prized bullet. And
one was pounding. and one was blowing,
each with vigor and enthusiasm.
Up the main street they marched. per-
baps two score veterans in all. the colors
of their country and their post ahead. the
music rising bravely in their midst. And.
side by side. rs it CHANGED. in the parad
were the two men between whom for :,
many years a bitter grudge had lain un-
hnried-John Barriston and Edward
Thorn.
The summit OF the incline was reached.
and the wooden church which rose from II
sweep OF rocky soil. Horses and buggies
were hitched all along the rough fence.
The foreground was crowded with people
waiting to see the veterans pass In. Then
there were prayers and hymns and ad-
dresses. The latter were delivered from
behind the dividing rail where pictures Of