Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-05-30
who come out Of them bear scars they
CARRY RI thoir oyx,yoeu

with energy:
well, Abner Pettis may have been
1t, though. He was a soldier in the
army, mark my words. did something
to be ashamed of, and his family
would not have him put in the lot with
those whose name he had disgraced.
Let us ask some one in the village
about 1t, Robert. If 1 am right, then I
you surely cannot object to having
this removed"
The professor drew a deep breath
and buried his face in a handful OF the
fragrant clover that he had been pull
ing absentmindedly while he talked.
mouth crept the determined expression
that she had cause to know so we'll.
When she saw that, she realized that
she had run up against an iron will.
rigid, inflexible, not to be bent by love
or broken by time.
mind that we will not ask any one in
the village. Let the dead past bury
its dead. Many man is honored by
his fellows as a hero who is coward
at heart, and there may be some cow
ards who would wear the proudest
laurels and sit on the thrones If the
true story of their lives was known"
80 there's no credit in facing can
mons mouth?" said Cynthia sarcas-
tically.
Credit, yes. It takes brave spirit
the mouth of hell. but that $ only for !,
one mad, excited day, when one may
be swept along by torrent and have
no chance to choose deliberately what !
he shall or shall not do. Can't you see
Cynthia, what a finer, nobler kind of
courage 1t is that turns away day after
day from fierce temptations. not even
yielding to the satisfaction of fighting
them, sure as one may be of coming
off conqueror in the end?''
She scrambled to her feet.
Are you going to be quixotic Rob-
ert?" she asked, brushing back her
rufiled curls and looking particularly
young and girlish as she stood before
him. You can't forbid me to ask
questions. and when l learn the ro-
nance of Abner Pettis, aged 20, which
Is sure to be quite commonplace, you'll
have to hear 1t. Hank! 1t that mu-
3 sic?"
The sounds of fife and drum were
blown distinctly to their ears from the
winding road, of which they could
catch glimpses here and there through
the trees below.
''Oh, yes, she pursued ut is Ne
mortal day. The procession must be
going to the cemetery. 1t sounds as II
1t We're very near
She ran to the brow of the knoll and
peeped again.
Robert, they are turning down our
lane What does 1t mean?"
She looked over her shoulder at him.
all excitement her lovely face flushed
her golden hair flying In the breeze.
> Lennard rose UP and saw that she
' was not mistaken. Louder and louder
grew the music. The stars and stripes
Z cleaned among the boughs, advancing
9 steadily toward them, and presently
out into full view across the meadows
Icfy Tod nrty nv
i of soldiers attended by swarms Of chill
dren and idlers.
: They are coming herei" cried Cyp-
: thia, astonished. Then a sudden illumi-
nation burst upon her.
q Robert, 1t is Abner Pettis! Buff
r. he was n coward Why do they decorate
h his grave?"
y The professor made no reply. but
n drew her back where they were screen
h ed from observation by the huge messy
# trunks of the elms, and the hustle and
q stir Of the miniature procession ascend
n ed the slope. paustng with a shrl
d flourish of bugles about the solitar,
J. grave. A hollow square was formed
The officers stepped forward and drop
J. ped garland after garland of white ant
/" purple lilacs over the long gree
n mound. One older than the rest in
shabby uniform took from a lad in tn
Ut ranks a basket of lilies of the valley
n. which he placed carefully In front O
a. the headstone. lingering for a momen
,e before 1T, lost in thought, while Gym
thia's sharp eyes fancied they say
l. meaning chances exchanged among TIL
ar bystanders. Then the tattered flag wa
e. raised high in the air and waved abov
e. the grave The music broke out AGAR
lie piercing and waking the echoes wit
nj MY Country, IT'S of Thee and tn
st ceremony was over.
The little company marched off in TIL
he same irregular order in which it ha
nd come, treading down the long gras
he and stumbling comically over the rock
&c. and stones that were scattered throug
nc the pastures below. One person out {
re all the crowd remained behind, SO al
OF sorbed and preoccupied that he did M
NY notice the professor and his wife steI
al ping out of their hiding place benin
the trees. This was a gray haired ma
l.. soldierly and upright in bearing, hand
ID. some still, who stood bending his III
X covered head before the discolore
ne ne. mar BILE. His lips moved silently II
~ back was toward them. They saw II
a stalwart shoulders shaken with grie
and as the noise of the passing proce
ng sion was dying away in Tie distance
'es threw UP his arms in splendid ge
IL ,,. ture of despair.
iie "Cireater love-" he muttered broker
ly," hath no man than this, that he Ii
i.y down his life for his friend! Abner. CT
s',e YOU hear me? Have you ever hea
~ me?"
nv, me Taking out of his pocket huge cla
M M knife, he knelt down and cut ava
-, -, stroke upon stroke, the thick growil
Nd green things from the base of t
NV stone Ptilessly clear in the light
day that cruel brand was revealed.
"COWARD!"
"Why should 1t be hidden?" tn
'o heard him say to himself. 1T is
- >. crown of glory.
=, Then, with one last. long look at t
. .p smiling landscape outspread befe
'ie him. he turned and strobe away II
fts the rest.
. ... The Lennards were left alone up
+ ee the hilltop. The air was faint wi
" the spicy smell of lilacs, and far off
the distance the afternoon shadows
bis lengthening over the land.
ful
ack Where Heroe. Sleep.
ms They died for country. Meath the soml
vn They lie in silence, heroes all.
- Where the soft winds murmur and
- grasses nod:
us They died for country at their countr
rom call
ing Deck with flowers that sacred mound
her In solemn gratitude. On hallowed grol
Ye stand where brave men sleep, sal
q. ed throng.
" Your fearful tribute and your solemn 81
YES, Shall prove the fervor Of nations wo
ont The glory of the sacrifice they made.
we And as your chant arises, soft and low
,out Upon the grave Gods gentle sunl