Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1901-05-30

had come in stood at the windows
listening eagerly to the approaching
music. Lucy Joined them. The pro-
ceslson filed slowly past; The Grand
Army men. the village band. the min
listers and local dignitaries, and the
rear-g guard of children with flowers.
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.
Il heard Phebe Ann was pretty
low" said the nCighbor.
Phebe AIMS husband went softly
behind the nurse to the HCdrOoni.
Phebe Ann looked mp at him and beck
oned imperatively. He went close and
bent over her. What is it, 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.
"Iave you got-any flowers for
Sylvester's grave"
NO, I amt. amt thought OF II.
Phebc Ann, with your being so sick
and all"
"Go-get some" she painted. Her
motioning hand and her eager eyes
spoke louder than her tongue.
Yes. will. | will. Phebe Ann.
Don't you fret another mite about II.
The nurse followed him out OF the
room.
81 can't go to the green house" he
whispered agitatedly. Its five miles
away"
Land, get any kind OF flowers"
said the nurse. Get dandelions and
buttcrcups. II you cant find anything
else"
The old man took his hat down with
a bewlldered air and went slowly out
OF the yard At the gate he paused
and looked around. There were no
flowers in the yard; there were several
bushes, rose and phlox. but it was too
early for them to blossom. over at
the left stretched a field and that was
waving with green and gold. Phebe
AIMS husband went over into the
field and began pulling the buttercups
in great handfulls and the grass with
them. He had all he could carry
when he left the field and went SOL
EMMY down the road.
Sylvester's grave was at the farther
side of the cemetery. The old man,
with his load of buttercups and grass,
made his way to it. The soldiers
graves were decorated with flags and
/ flowers, but the people had gone. The
| cemetery was very still. When John
Kemp reached Sylyester's grave, h-
| started and stared. There was a great
| bunch OF lilacs on the grave and three
/ charming, delicate pink roses in Il
/ vase.
II wonder who put those flowers
| there" he muttered. lie laid the but
| tercups and grass down on the grave;
then he stood still. II was over TWEEN
/ ty years since the boy Sylvester had
been laid there-a little soldier who
had fought only his own pain. Il
wonder who put those flowers there"
John Kemp muttered again.
/ He went out of the cemetery, but
instead OF turning down the road
toward his own home, walked hest
tatingly the other way toward the
house OF his r-in-law-Thomas
wife, as he always spoke Of her.
Lucy's face was at one open win.
dow, her Aunt Sarah Cooks at the
other.
Lucy" called the old man, stand.
ing at the gate.
Lucy came out to him tremblingly
Sarah Cook ran to tell her sister; sh.
thought Phebe Ann must be dead.
DO you know who put those flow
ers there" asked the old man in q
husky voice.
Il did" said Lucy Her face flushed
81 thought there wouldn't be anybodi
to see to it, now Aunt Phebe Ann /:
sick" she explained timidly.
Her uncle looked wistfully at her
his eyes full OF tears. sylvester wa
dreadful sufferer" he said.
Lucy did not know what to say. Sh
looked up at him, and her soft fac
seemed TO take on distressed lines ltk
his.
The old man turned abruptly ant
went away. "Phebe Ann is sinking,
he said. indistinctly. as he went
Lucy's mother and her aunt rushe
TO the door to meet her. is Pheb
Ann dead" Sarah Cook called out.
mo she amt dead"
What did he want to see you for?
asked Mrs. Kemp,
Lucy hesitated; a shamefaced loo
came over her face. What did h
want" her mother asked, impers
lively.
He wanted to know who put som
flowers on-Sylvester's grave"
Did you?"
: yes m"
What did you put on"
Some lilacs and-roses.
You didn't pick those roses"
20, mother the lilaCs didn't seel
quite enough! Aunt Phebe Ann ha
T always done so much" Lucy salt
Her mother and her aunt looked {
each other. Il shouldn't have though
you'd have picked those roses witho,
saying anything about it," said HI
y mother. but her voice was emba
raised rather than harsh. She wei
q back to the kitchen and proceedt
= with her work OF making biscuits 4
supper. The sewing was all fnishe
e Lucy set the table. After supper thu
h went out in the cemetery and stroll,