Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-05-24

u "a KIN hear the drums a-beatin', Jo
Ay Sarah Parkman stood in he1
humble doorway, leaning her head little
farther out in the May dusks, in listening
attitude.
Whats that ye hear, Sairee?"
A Thin, angular man came out of the cabin
and stood beside the woman. Tapping the
corncob pipe he held in his right hand
meditatively On the tbutnbnail of his LETT.
he bent his gray locks to the breeze.
What was it that ye heard, Sairee?" he
repeated, softly.
Drums a-beatin'," she answered crisply;
they're gettn' ready for Decoration to-
morrow"
As if in emphasis, the wind blew briskiy
up from the quarter indicated by they,
and the roll of drums came plainly to the
old mans ear.
"Hurrah! hurrah for the old flag, Sairee!
And he began marching up and down the
white path running to the wicket.
Lets go termorrer; say yes, Sairee!
He put out his bony hand through the
shadows until it rested on the ample shoui
ders of his wife.
"Josiah!" sac said, warningly. "When
ye have served the kentry like st. Paul, il
fastin's, an perils, an marchin's, an fight
in, and then wasted all your hvin' on agents
an lawyers to get the pension due ye nigh
onto 20 years, and whit better Off:
What! Shall we go over to Mentone to
morrow and parade around with them as
don't want us or don't miss us9 / guess
not! We've said we wouldn't mix in ag'ir
sence that day young drunken Dudley car
ried the flag instead o lettin' you; and
SO far we've kept our word" Having thus
delivered herself, Mrs. Parknlan looked
over the head of her husband away into the
irfinitesirnal and shut her lips tightly.
You said that, Sairee,' he protested.
feebly "an' we've kept your word; but
somehow l kinder feel if I'd like to &C
termorrer. I'm a-gettin' older every year,
Sairee, an nebbe, by an by, 1 won't be
hyar to CO."
The lank arm fell from the wife's shoul-
der and Josiah went back into the shad.
owy cabin from whence her remark had
called MIN. His blood, usually slow and
sluggish, seemed warmed again by the fire
OF the sixties, and ran quickly through hi.
veins, calling up his latent strength. Whis
Ting the Star Spangled Banner gayly a:
when a boy, he began knocking around and
frsmbling about among the primitive fur
n;ture in the semi darkness. Sarah heard
him whistling and frnlbling, and knew he
was bent on going "terlnorrer.
IF hadn't mentioned them confoundec
drumsH she said, half angry with herself
''why, he wouldn't a got the war fever to
| night"
For a moment she stood irresolutely de
batting the question. Il wouldn't mind il
all through these years OF pinchin' and wait
In he could have had a bit O. that pen
sion money. [ should think after he's
turned every chip from Maine to Californy
to get it, such doin's would "a took all the
hurrah out O him; but it HASN'T Well!
I'll go tomorrow, If 1 die by 1t, jest to please
| Josiah!"
What ye doin'!" she asked a little later
! going inside and directing her question ts
f: the man whose patriotism was rising fast
| to the stimulation of Yankee Doodle"
! 80, nutnin.'' The tune dropped lons
| enough for the answer to his wife's ques
4! ton, and then began again on a higher
! key, gathering momentum as 1t went
!. But when she lifted the tallow dip anc
looked around, Josiah was deep in tt,
/; @chist O. drawers as was onct his mothers
and she knew what he was doing.
Amt them beauties, Saireey" holdin,
Up to view suit of blue and big hat witt