Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-28
ROYALTY TRUE,
BY Manda L. Croker

This was the third of July? Yes;
gray lichened post, she stood by the
gate, gazing down the old clay road
in the blinking heat.
Tomorrow would be the Fourth; yes,
but she was not thinking Of it as the
anniversary of independence, as
in all the countryside knew that Marie
Sweetland meant to keep the day diff
ferently from most people.
She was patriotic; she had proved
that year ago down in Cuba, but she
had proved more. And she means to
be right royalty loyal all her life to
the love enthroned.
People said that she was not the
same vivacious Marie since she re-
turned from Santiago that she had
been hitherto. There was more than
neighborly gossip in this observation
for had she not left her heart with
the occupant of cot No 20? But no.
body knew, not even he; so Of a neces-
sity there it would end.
At the foot of the long hill the old
clay road crossed rustic bridge; and
all it could do to keep the troops of
willows and alders alive that huddled
along its sides and bent over for a
cool breath
bend just beyond the bridge. Yes;
that was father and Cell. Father
would always be a soldier and a boy,
and she smiled a little, thinking of
other soldiers, as Cell arched his neck
to the music of several tiny flags flap
ping from his bride
The elbow slipped off the lichened
post. They are late" she said fold
ing her hands in her big apron after
the quaint fashion OF her own, "but
father is getting old and it takes him
longer to make the trip nowadays;
then Cell is older, too"
Another thought flashed through the
blinking heat: And | am older, tool"
With a sigh she turned back toward
the house, still musing. They had
brought him in terribly wounded on
the Sd of July and the next day she
stood by his cot The handsome suf-
ferer Of No. 20 seemed sensibly nearer
this evening; her heart gave a great
throb and stood still. But, of course
it could not be, as she did not even
know his name and he had not OBJ
tanned hers, He simply knew her as
nurse Marie" and she knew him as
mo. 20"
Nevertheless, she gave him her heart
when he looked up, his plendid eyes
full of agony racking his poor wounded
body, and in a pleading voice said:
Pray that l may live for mothers
sake!"
And, with the noise of battle in their
ears his hand sought hers, and two
prayers assembled as one.
But old Cell had logged around the
drive to the dining-room entrance, and
her father was full of the plans for the
morrow. My! Sara" he said to the
mother, who was looking after the I'M
loaded parcels, we're going to have
Fourth without parallel in this neck
o the woods. The Union City band
has come after all, and, as l am on the
committee of entertainment, I'll skir-
mish down to the depot and get one
of EN- for the night. It's all right
isn't it. Sara?"
20, yes, yes" answered she, glad for
an opportunity to get in word. Did
you get any letters?"
No not this time he replied, as he
turned old Cells head toward the
country depot and left mother and
daughter looking proudly after "one
of the committee
No letters" OF course not. Marie
expected him to say just what he did
Thoughtfully she began the prepara-
ton of extras for tea.
Well she was glad of one thing, that
it was stranger this time, and for
once she would not have to entertain
that detestable Harvey Nellis Father
and mother had tender chord in their