The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-05-30

minute and turned her face toward
the window. 1T seems most too bad,
don't it?" she said meditativcly
When she's done SO much every
year, and thought so much about it."
I don't know as l think it's too
bad said Mrs. Kemp "Of course I'm
sorry Phebe Ann is sick, but when it
comes to these flowers she's always
covered Sylvester's grave with, Dec
Grafton day, guess there was a great
deal OF 1t for show. 1t would have
seemed different If he had been in the
war, but I've thought good many
times, when I've seen Sylvesters grave
with more flowers on it than any OF
the soldiers, that Phebe Ann had a
little eye to what folks would say, for
all she felt so bad
There's the band!" cried Lucy.
1t was very warm day for the sea-
son-almost as warm as midsummer.
The windows were wide open. TIE
two women and the girl leaned their
heads out and listened They could
hear far-away music. Two little girls
with their hands full of flowers ran
past.
They're just forming down at the
town hail." SAID Lucy. annie Dole
and Lottie are just going"
They came over here for flowers
this morning." said her mother, "and
| told 'em | hadn't any to give. All
had was lilacs, besides that little
early rose bush, and they'd got all the
lilacs they wanted of their own, and
there was only just three roses on that
bush, and could not bear to cut EN-.
The procession amt coming-the mu-
sic don't sound mite nearer. It
won't be here for an hour yet
Il don't s'pose Phebe AIMS husband
will lift his finger to help us, even IL
she should be taken away, and he
left without chick nor child in the
world" said Mrs. Kemp.
Phebe AIMS husband was her own
dead husbands brother, but she never
spoke of him by his own name.
81 wonder how much Phebe AIMS
husband has got?" said Sarah Cook.
We'll, | guess he's laid by little
something. They must have, with no
family"
"Mebbe he will do something If it
ever happens that he amt under any
body else's thumb"
ut won't make any difference now
He's laid under the thumb so long that
he's all fiattened out of the shape he
was made in. He used to bow kind
of sideways behind Phebe AIMS back
when ! met him, but he don't do that
now. | met him face to face the other
day, and he never looked at me. Z
don't know what poor Thomas would
say if he was alive. / wonder what
Lucy is picking lilacs for? LUCY"
What say?" Lucy's sweet, thin
voice called back Her smooth, fair
head was half hidden in great clump
Of lilac bushes by the gate. She was
bending the branches over and break
ing off full purple clusters.
What you picking those lilacs for?"
II just thought I'd pick few"
What for? amt going to have
any in the house! They're too sweet
they're sickish!"
IL amt going to bring them into the
house." said Lucy. She let branch
fly back and went across the yard with
a great bunch of lilacs in her hands.
81 wonder what she's up to?" said
her mother.
Lucy returned just before the pro-
cession passed. The cemetery was a
little way beyond the house. Her
mother and aunt, and neighbor who
had come in stood at the windows
listening eagerly to the approaching
music. Lucy Joined them. The pro-
cesison filed slowly past: The Grand
Army men, the village band, the min
listers and local dignitaries, and tho
rear-guard of children with flow ers.
An accompanying crowd thronged the
sidewalks.
i've just been saying to Sarah that
Phebe Ann won't have Sylvester's
grave decked out much this year."
said Mrs. Kemp. Her voice was pleas
anter and more guarded than before.
81 heard Phebe Ann was pretty
low" said the neighbor.
Phebe AIMS husband went softly
behind the nurse to the bedroom.
Phebe Ann looked up at him and beck
oned imperatively. He went close and
bent over her. What Is 1t, Phebe
ANN" said he.
rs it-Decoration day." she whis-
pered with difficulty. for she was
growing very weak.
"Yes, it's, Phebe Ann" said her
husband.
"Haye you got--any flowers for