The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1901-05-30

What you picking those MACS fcrz
"I just thought I'd pick a few
What for? 1 amt going to have
any in the house! They're too sweet
they're sickishi''
Il amt going to bring them into the
house, said Lucy She let a branch
f. back and went across the yard with
a great bunch of Hlacs in her hands.
Il wonder what she's up top 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 Sy1vester's
grave decked out much this year.
said Mrs Kemp Her voice was pleas
anter and more guarded than before
q 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
IL,
Ann?'' said he
rs it-Decoration day?" she whis-
pered with difficulty, for she was
growing very weak
Eyes. it's, Phebe Ann" said her
husband.
Have you got-any flowers for
Sy1vester's grave?''
No I amt. 1 amt thought of it.
Phebe Ann, with your being sick.
and ALL
e'Go-get sonnet" she painted Her
motioning hand and her eager eyes
spoke louder than her tongue
Yes, I will, I will. Phebe Ann!
Don't you fret another mite about it,
The nurse followed him out of the
room.
q can't go to the green-house!' he
whispered agitatedly. Its five miles
| away!''
Land. get any kind of fowers."
said the nurse. +'Get dandelions and
buttercups, if you can't find anything
else.''
The old man took his hat down with
a bewildered air and went slowly out
i of the yard. At the gate he paused
! and looked around There were no
i flowers in the yard; there We're several
/ bushes, rose and phlox, but it was too
/ early for them to blossom. Over at
/ the left stretched field. and that was
4 waving with green and gold. Phebe
AIMS husband went over into the
/ field and began pulling the buttercups
1 in great handfulls, and the grass with
them. He had all he could carry
when he left the field and went SOL
I 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 Sy1vester's grave, he
/ started and stared. There was a great
/ bunch of lilacs on the grave and three
i charming, delicate pink roses in a
vase
II wonder who put those flowers
there,' he muttered. He laid the but
tercups and grass down on the grave;
+ then he stood STILL It was over TWEEN
ty years since the boy Sylvester had
! been laid there-a little soldier who
had fought only his own pain 81
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 hesi-
tatingly the other way toward the
! house of his sister-in-Iaw-Tho
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 trembIinglv.
! Sarah Cook ran to tell her sister: she
thought Phebe Ann must be dead
do you know who put those dow-
ers there?" asked the old man in a
husky voice
Il did, said Lucy. Her face flushed
Il thought there wouldn't be anybod :
to see to it, now Aunt Phebe Ann is
sick" she explained timidly
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
The old man turned abruptly and
went away 'Phebe Ann is sinking .
he said, indistinctly. as he went
Lucy's mother and her aunt rushed
TO the door to meet her. rs Phebs
Ann dead?" Sarah Cook called out