The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-10
AND TRUE
Ry E. Louise Liddell.)

Ry E. Louise Liddell.)
1t had been dull, lifeless sort of 6
day, but now the sun shone forth
in the western sky, and the splendor Il
its departing rays We're caught and re-
flected in the rapidly dissolving clouds
Here and there, beneath the scurryint
masses OF vapor. were revealed patches
OF brilliant blue. betokening fair wealth
er on the morrow.
Lucinda Dresser, standing in the
doorway of the weather beaten old cot
tage. that nestled in a setting of vivic
green foliage, shaded her eyes with
her hand as she looked out at the sun
set radiance.
You see. it's cleared of, after all.
he said, turning to her mother, who So
by the kitchen window. knitting worl
in hand.
ut does beat all. Lucindy, what 6
hand you are for predictin' the wealth.
err" returned Mrs. Dresser. "Now.
was lookin' for a real stormy SPELL
wall, l am somethin' ov q weather
WISE" admitted Lucinda, with q com.
placent smile. You see. I took notice
ov the chick-weed openin' out, an
that's a sure sign ov clearin'."
Were you calculatin' on goin' to the
cemetery tomorrer?" asked the olde,
woman. after a slight pause.
IT was thinkin' ov It," replied Lu.
cinda. You l1ow amt never missed
a Decoration day."
81 know It," returned her mother
'but thought, SEEM you want feel
in very well, you might stay home fol-
once. You know you git tuckered out
so easy. An besides, it's nigh onto
thirty years that you've gone eg'lar."
Lucinda looked mildly obstinate. II
jest couldn't bear not to 60" she re-
sponded Thine don't make no diff
renee in my feelin's.''
Mrs. Dresser signed family as she
heeled off her stocking. Being an emil
ly appreciate her daughters constancy
to the memory of her soldier lover,
who had been laid to rest in the old
churchyard more than a quarter Of a
century Before.
Who'd although she'd KEEP single
all these years on count ov Eben Dale?
thought the mother, IAN specially when
she want willin' to be married fore
he went away!"
The good woman sighed again as she
thought how different everything might
draw a pension as Eben's widow. Or, II
only she would have married Moses
Adams, as she might have done, years
ago. For, since Mr.. Dresser's death,
the mother and daughter had had none
too easy time to make "both ends
meet" To be sure, they never suffered
for anything; they owned the little
house in which they lived; and there
was modest amount Of money to
their credit in the village bank, rem
nant of the small life insurance carried
by William Dresser; then they had a
tiny garden that supplied them with
vegetables; and Lucinda's hens were
q source of small profit. On the whole,
they got along fairly well.
"But 'tafn't like hevin' man to
pervide for you," the widow often re-
marked: and she always looked with
more or less regret after Moses Adj
ans, when he drove past In his pros
perous-looking market wagon or the
family carry-an that was usel on spe-
cial occasions.
Moses wife had died the year before,
and the widower WEES already showing
an inclination to renew his former pro-
posal to his hrst love.
"Ef only Lucindy would act reason
ble,", Mrs. Dresser said to herself, as
she watchadi her daughter stepping
briskly about, making ready the simple
supper, "she might be 'ngaged to Nose
eny IN1uulIS5 SuS . JcSS Spy Q SSSAi
am don't begin to look her age.
And, INDEED, Lucinda's serene face.
with it's peach bloom complexion and
mild blue eyes, bore but few traces OF
the ravaRass Of time;' while her plump
little figure had lost none of the curves
of early youth.
Early the following morning the spin
ster was, up and engaged In prepara-
|tions for the visit to the cemetery. The
well-worn black briiliantine dress was
brushed; the strings Of last
lace bonnet were pressed and
smoothed,. and q big bunch of fragrant
blossoms, freshly plucked from the lit
tie flower garden, stood ready IN
pitcher Of water. And now, the little
woman was arranging q generous
lunch in the well-worn reticule which
had been her companions OF similar DC.
casions for many q, year. It pieasee
her loyal soul to provide refreshments
sufficient for two. and In the imaginary
cOmpantonship Of her lost love to dis.
pose Of her share Of the feast. The re
mainder generally found a consumer IN
some hungry urchin: before the day was
It was about ten O'Clock when Lee
cinda had aempletedl her preparations
and started, to walk the half mile that
interviewed between her home and thu
cemetery. Already she could hear the
village band In the distance, and it,
martial strains stirred her heart will
tender regret, not unmixcd with chas-
tened pride.
( Presently she came In view of the mu.
sicians, and the procession following
composed chiefly Of q few struggling
veterans, the ublfc-spirited citizens o.
the town, and q line Of school children
bearing diminutive flags and punches