Gilpin observer., 1901-05-23


ing off full purple clusters.
what you picking those lilacs for?"
II Just thought I'd pick few"
What for? I amt going to have
any in the house! They're too sweet
They're sickish!'
r 81 amt going to bring them into the
house." said Lucy. She let branch
fly back and went across the yard with
a great bunch of lilacs in her hands.
Il wonder what she's up to-" said
her mother.
Lucy returned just before the pro-
cession passed. The cemetery was a
little way beyond the house. Her
mother and aunt, and a neighbor who
had come in stood at the windows
listening eagerly to the approaching
music. Lucy Joined them. The pro-
cesison filed slowly past: The Grand
Army men, the village band, the min
listers and local dignitaries. and tho
rear-guard of children with flow ers
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.
81 heard Phebe Ann was pretty
low" said the neighbor.
Phebe AIMS husband went softly
behind the nurse to the bedroom.
Phebe Ann looked up at him and beck
oned imperatively. He went close and
bent over her. What is 1t. Phebe
ANN" said he.
SIS it-Decoration day?" she whis-
pered with difficulty, for she was
growing very weak.
"Yes. tits, Phebe Ann" said her
husband.
Sylvester's grave?"
mo. | amt. l amt thought of 1t.
Phebe 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. I will, will. Phebe Ann!
Don't you fret another mite about it."
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
buttercups. if you can't find anything
else"
The old man took his hat down with
bewildered 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 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
emnly 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 Sylvester's grave. his
started and stared. There was great
bunch of lilacs on the grave and three
charming, delicate pink roses in
vase.
II wonder who put those flowers
there!" he muttered. He laid the but
H..
then he stood still. 1t 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
tatingly the other way toward tho
house of his terin-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; she
thought Phebe Ann must be dead.
DO you know who put those fiow-
ers therc?" asked the old man In q
husky voice.
81 did" said Lucy Her face flushed.
Il thought there wouldn't be anybody
to see to It, now Aunt Phebe Ann Is
sick" she explained tlmidly.
Her uncle looked wistfully at her.
his eyes full of tears Sylvester was
a dreadful sufferer" he said.
Lucy did not know what to say. She
looked up at him. and her soft face
seemed to take on distressed lines like
his