The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-30
BY MARGARET B. sHIPP.
KITTY"
A Decoration Day Story.

A Decoration Day Story.
 Don't step there. Kitty! That's grave.",
 Its only Yankees grave said Kittys with light indifference. "No' body eHen knows his name" 'He sMHs shot from ambush one night, a week before the surrender wasn't he? It seems to me I've heard the story"
 Don't knowv I'm sure.' answered Kitty. Don't let's waste time talking about him on your last day at home. self. and sighed. Eighteen months be- fore John Plummer had enlisted for the Cuban war but had been invalideo home. He went instead to the western part of North Carolina, where he quickly fell in love with Kitty Clinard' a pretty. dimpied girl of 19. They mar ried, and settled in his Pennsylvanis home. but the old stirring was in John blood, inherited from line of fight ing men, and he could not rest con- tent.
 "It's no use. Kitty. one can't fight this thing. I must go to war. Father, grandfather. great grandfather. fought in three wars. and couldn't face them II charhCu tuiS. uiuh ! eo to N~O' so I must go to the Philippines.
 Kitty cried over this decision. but she was soon consoled by promises of wonderful pima cloth, tortoise-shell combs and surprises" as well as by the prospect of a visit home.
 Johns departue brought a delight full sense of importance. They drove to the station in the one hack the viii lage afforded, and the driver refused the fares. Ali the village people were there to say goodbye. As there was no brass band conveniently near, old Uncle Nose brought his fiddle and the crowd sang My Country, Iris of Thee and Dixie"
 Kitty felt very proud and patriotic and stopped at the Beehive on the way home to buy an Alpine hat with crossed rifles in front. From San Francisco John sent hel square of Chinese embroidery witf which she covered a sofa pillow. 'It looks real Oriental" she said, survey. ing 1t with pride.
 Indeed 1t does. honey. The old par Tor II hardly know itself by the time John comes home. with all his fine fur
 Three months slipped away. Kilt, was rosy and placid, and the mos marked change In her habits was tha for the first time in her life she reat
 other news in the papers besides Per sonal Mention"
 Her mother. who always petted her now spoke often of "the tryin' tim' of separation" so that Kitty did no notice that her mother was unusual. solicitous one day at dinner. Drink little mo buttermilk, Kitty honey. it's right fresh from the spring house."
 Kitty drank 1t with just the anima pleasure that the kitten on the porcl
 iapped hers.
 Why. mother. you ain't eating { thing!"
 Her motber pushed back her chair and came over to her. We got hart youngk Your pa said let you eat you dinner first
 "John ain't hurt?" asked Kitty. pal | ing. Her father shuffled over and lait his hand on her head. Hes killed daughter. To think in my old age
 should see this sorrow\ come to m, baby"
 Your Uncle Ali telegraphed us, whimpered the mother. "He knew w took the weekly paper. and he saw tn news in one of them dailies." Kitty burst out crying, her littl
 body shaking with sobs, her words in
 mothers lap. "Poi chile. DO littl l thing! I ain't seen her cry so sine the day they was going to that bil picnic and 1t rained." "Yes. but it cleared in the end, se5Sea Kitty. Kitty ..and and wore ny pin dress and had such a good time. Ant
 now my happiness is all over. Oh. wish was dead!"
 Hush. honey, that's agin the Bible, And her father. who was a strict tee totaler brought little medicine-bot tie full of whiskey. Give the chil, a today. Marthy. mebbe it'll stedd,
 her. po' little girl"
 Daughter, here are the Kent girls. "I don't want to see them," sai, Kitty apathetically.
 You orter. Kitty. They're your owl first cousins, and you ain't seen then
 yet"
 All right. tell them to come" sail l Kitty with lstless acquiescence. Her mother went to the door, hesi tated and came back. Kitty, don you think you might give 'em som | of your things? It's been a mont | now that you've had on your black | and I'm afeard they might think yo bit close. It ain't like you were ral DO and had to sell them to buy you mournin' with ,' added Mrs. Clinar argumentatively, end I think you'I feel better for gettin' all them colore clothes out of your way" All right" said Kitty again. "Wai till I get them out and I'll call Lo1 and Sally"
 She had been inert, dazed, silent since that first outburst. The strang terror surprised her vaguely. ease-lov ing child that she was! She quivere, with pam as she opened drawer afte drawer. She rocked back and forth fearless. her pliable face contorted "Oh. it's wrong that just dresses mak me feel so bad" she cried, not know ing that it was the emblem of her fin ished youth that was striking hard a her heart. She took a hat gay witt nodding peoples from It's box. and la. in its place the widows bonnet ant veil.
 Now. if John comes home, hay nothing to wear except these ugl, black things" she said to herself, am snatched from the pile on the bed