The Red Cloud chief., 1901-06-07
owLetitia Kept Decoration Day

rNbOu SUN lOT ~ HlOltlfHt hIllll nt WYE
became accustomed to the gloom but
her tongue did not have to wait.
Cousin Liza" she began.
The woman, who was standing be-
side the table cutting a boys jacket
out Of an old coat, looked up for a mo-
ment and then bent again over her
work. IT'S you. is II. Letitla7" she
said.
"Yes'm," answered Letitla. She made
her way around the table and stood
beside her cousin, waiting until she
could speak. She knew by long expe-
rience when II vas wise to do 80. At
last she drew a long sigh OF relief;
there was very little margin left, but
Cousin Liza had got 1t all out with
out piecing.
Now, Cousin Liza" she said. hap
PLY.
We'll, what Is II. child?" answered
Cousin Liza, carrying her work to the
window and beginning to haste up the
seams
Letitia drew a little stool to the
window opposite her cousin. The light
fell full on her happy face and shining
eyes.
IT'S just the loyeliest thing, Cousin
'Liza!" she said. You see it's this
way: Next week Is Decoration Day.
There's always been Decoration Day, |
guess, but | never knew about 1t be-
fore. So Miss Carries going to give us
a holiday, and In the afternoon we're
going to put flowers on the soldiers
graves. We're to form a professions.
and the girls will wear white, some
with red ribbons and some with blue.
los to make red, white and blue, you
see. and the boys will wear tiny flags
In their ~buttonholes; and the minis
ter's going to meet us at the cemetery;
and therell be singing-we practiced
some today-and isn't 1t lovely? | I'm
30 glad we have Miss Carrie this year;
she thinks OF the incest things!"
Cousin Liza shut her lips tightly.
She dared not look at the radiant little
face opposite her.
II don't approve Of 1t at ALL" she
said stiffy. Il think Carrie Adams has
too many ~new-fangled notions. 'Taint
proper to my mind"
All the happy light faded out of
Letitia's face. but she did not say one
word. Cousin Liza looked at the
child, battling so silently and 80 brave
ly with her disappointment. and her
voice grew sharp with the pain Of 1t.
II never did see why men should get
all the honor" she said. 81 guess the
women had Just as hard fights at home,
and nobody ever thought Of honoring
them"
Letitia looked up wonderingly.
why, Cousin Liza, did they?" she ex-
claimed.
You Jest ask Bathsheha Briggs and
Nancy Anderson; l guess they'll tell
you"
Letltia sat OF her stool thinking very
seriously. Just outside the window
was a lilac bush, covered with cones OF
purplish buds; as 1t swayed In the
wind, Its leaves make a fickering
tangle Of sunlight and shadow at Lett
tia's feet. Suddenly her face bright
ened; she went over to Cousin Liza
and leaned ~coaxingly against her.
Cousin Liza" she said, III can't
go with the others to decoration. can
| 90 over and see Miss Page and old
Mrs. Price and ask them about war
They amt men. you know"
added. seriously.
Cousin Liza looked uncomprehend-
ingly at her for a second-she had al
ready forgotten her own excuse; then
a grim smile touched her lips. We'll.
yes. ! guess you can" she said.
"Oh. thank you 20 much, you dear
Cousin 'Liza!" cried Letitia, kissing
her enthusiastically. I'm going up-
stairs now; III be SURF to be back time
enough to pick up the pieces and set
the table"
After she had gone Cousin 'Liza's
work dropped into her lap and her
forehead ~roughened as II with pain.
There's no use fussing," she said.
Il dunno how we're going to get
through, anyway; and | can't get the
child a white dress. And she shan't
go without II! | amt going to have
people say can't support her! She's
got to give II up, that's ALL" She bent
over the coat again. but there was
some trouble with her eyes. Once or
twice she rubbed them impatiently;
nobody guessed what she suffered in
refusing Letitia things like other
girls"
When Letitia came back she was as
bright as II she did not know what
disappointment was. She got down on
the floor and carefully picked up all
the Rawlings and pieces, her tongue
going merrily all the while, At supper
she glanced out OF the window 20 the
lilac bush.
When do you suppose Il will
bloom?" she asked.
"a guess likely by next week" an
swered Cousin Liza.
Letitia smiled c~ontentedly, but said
10 more.
The ext morning she started for