Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-05-28

farther out in the May dusks, in listening
attitude.
whats that We 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
meditatiyely on the thumbnail of his left,
he bent his gray locks to the breeze.
"What was it that We heard, Sairee!" he
repeated, softly.
Drums a-beatin'," she answered crisply;
they're gettin' ready for Decoration to-
morrow"
As If in emphasis, the wind blew briskly
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.
Let's go termorrer; say yes, Sairee!"
He put out his bony hand through the
shadows until it rested on the ample Shout
ders of his wife.
Josiah" she said, warningly. when
ye have served the kentry like ST. Paul, in
fastin's, an perils, an marchin's, an fight
in, and then wasted all your livin' on agents
an lawyers to get the pension due We nigh
onto 20 years, and are no 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 us? l guess
not! We've said we wouldn't mix in ag in
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 Parkman looked
over the head of her husband away into the
infnitesimal and shut her lips tightly.
"You said that, Sairee," he protested,
feebly, can we've kept your word; but
somehow kinder feel as if I'd like to 20
termorrer. I'm a-gettin' older every year,
Sairee, an mebbe, by an by, won't be
hyar to go!"
The lank arm fell from the wifes Shout
der and Josiah went back into the shad-
owy cabin from whence her remark had
called him. His blood, usually slow and
sluggish, seemed warmed again by the fire
of the sixties, and ran quickly through his
veins, calling up his latent strength. Whis-
ting the Star Spangled Banner" gayly as
when a boy, he began knocking around and
fumbling about among the primitive fur
| niture in the semi-darkness Sarah heard
him whistling and fumbling and knew he
was bent on going ''termorrer."
IF | hadn't mentioned them COMPOUNDED
drums!" 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 if
all through these years of pinchin and wait
in he could have had 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 ii hasn't! Well!
III go tomorrow, if die by it, jest to please
JOSIAH"
'sYhat We doin'?" she asked little later
going inside and directing her question to
the man whose patriotism was rising fast
to the stimulation OF Yankee DOODLE
90 nuthin'." The tune dropped long
enough Tor the answer to his wife's quss-
ton, and then began again on higher
key, gathering momentum as it went
But when she lifted the tallow dip and
looked around, Josiah was deep in the
"chist o drawers as was onct his mothers"
and she knew what he was doing.
Amt them beauties, Saree!' holding
up to view a suit OF blue and big hat with
G. \. r. on the front in gilt letters.
I'm agoin' to air EN- up kinder. to-
| night" he continued, wistfully, Ser we
aire a-goin' termorrer, amt we, SaireeW
She folded her hands in her apron and
sat down before she answered him; then
she said: u reckon so, Josiah, you're such
fool!'
The next morning when her husband was
busy "hitching up" Mrs Parkman stood by,
remerking: IF We had your pension, now.
we could be leete forehanded to-day.
We could a-had real surrey to carry US,
| and the luncheon; we could a-had flowers,
too. But" she added, disdainfully, I'VE
amt takin' any flowers, an they'll say
there comes ole Parkman in his one boss
shay"
But Josiah was Strengthening the tugs
and only sighed in reply.
When the rickety old chaise stopped with
q rafting jerk near where the columns were
forming, the post adjutant came over to
them with smile like the morning sun.
We've been waiting mite" he said, as
he shook hands with them both
"Waitin'?" echoed Mrs Parkman, WYATT
in for what?"
"Why! for Josiah to carry the flag" he
answered, meekly; che promised me Sat.
urday, he you'd"
Josiah B. Parkman!" exclaimed Sarah,
warmly; but that individual slid out of
the chaise and deeply interested himself
In tying Dobbin to staple.
GIVE big notion to not march step!"
she said, stoutly; "but then Josiah'd feel