Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-29
Mrs. FRAsER'S TRIUMPH
Story Of Monument Fund

MSALD Mrs. Fraser came out of the
N house, closed and locked the door,
~ then hid the key under the mat on
the front porch. This done, she stood
moment irresolute, and finally went slow
ly around the aide Of the house to look once
more that the pantry window was locked.
patiently: "Bo come now, grandma" she
called. "You have tried all the doors and
windows twice already-and there's nobody
coming to steal things, anyhow. Everybody
has gone to the hotel to see the procession
start. Do hurry up; we'll be awfully late,
and do want to see Mary Ellen Whitcraft
in her new white dress. Don't you think
Mary Ellen is little short to be Columbia,
grandma"
Maybe So" Mrs. Fraser's voice was
absent; she was buttoning her gloves as
she walked. cts six years since went to
the Decoration day ceremonies, Della. The
last time was the day when Mrs. Mason
said to Becky Doolittle that she'd think
"a sort OF hesitate to put myself at the head
of the monument begging committee when
Robert was only lieutenant and her hus-
band was captain. Becky was mad, can
tell YOU"
ma. Oh-h, did you see Tom Granger on that
splendid big horse? He's SO little that he
looked lonesome"
II resigned that day." went on Mrs.
Fraser, "and wouldn't take my resignation
back, either, though Maj. Talbot wanted me
to. needn't apologize if Robert was only
lieutenant; he was good enough to die
fighting for his flag"
well, they haven't got the monument
yet, grandma" Della said, soothingly. "Peo-
pie don't like Mrs. Mason, and Miss Becky
says they need $500 yet for the monument,
and they only wish they had some excuse
for asking Mrs. Mason to resign from the
committee, for they won't get it while she's
at the head of it."
"Well, she won't resign. I've known Al
mira Mason for 40 years and I never yet
knew her to give up anything she's set her
heart on. Mercy, how hot the sun is; it
never used to be SO hot and sticky on Dec
Grafton day."
III isn't really hot now, grandma.
Couldn't you walk little faster. l have
that piece to recite at the cemetery, you
know, and don't wan. to be late and have
to hurry-it takes my breath So" She began
for the seventeenth time to go over the
lines of the poem in her mind, though she
already knew it so well.
~ don't know why came to-day" Mrs.
Fraser said, complainingly. GIVE always
waited until the day after Decoration and
gone out to the cemetery with my flowers
it kind Of pleased me to think that Robert
had them fresh when the others were faded.
I just believe I'll go back now, the cat
might get in at the attic window and eat
Dicky."
II shut the attic window" said Della,
promptly.
"Then the house1l be too close. Why,
here comes Becky Dooli.tle fairly running!
I hope the house hasn't caught fire, or any
thing like that. What on earth is the mat
ter now, Becky?"
"Mrs. Mason" gasped Becky; haven't
you heards"
"she isn't dead, and me just running her
down."
dead, indeed" Miss Becky tossed her
head. "she's married-at her age, too! Be-
fore I'd do such a thing!"
| Married! Who tor"
TO Albert Lamb; that's who She came
in to tell me. and 1 gays: We'll, then, Mrs.