Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-06-01

ing of full purple clusters.
sWhat you picking those 1ilacs for?"
ST Just thought I'd pick few
.eWhat for? 1 amt going to have
any in the house, They're too sweet
they're sickish!"
81 amt going to bring them into the
house" said Lucy. She let a branch
fly back and went across the yard with
a great bunch of lilacs in her hands.
81 wonder what she's up tot" said
her mother.
Lucy returned just before the pro-
cession passed. The cemetery was
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 the
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 it, Phebe
ANN" said he.
els 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
Sylvester's grave?"
mo, 1 amt. I amt thought of It,
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.
eyes, I will, I will, Phebe Ann!
Don't you fret another mite about it."
The nurse followed him out Of the
room.
'T can't go to the greenhouse" 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
a bewildered air and went slowly out
of the yard. At the gate he paused
and looked around. There were nc
flowers in the yard; there were several
bushes, rose and phlox, but it was too
| early for them to blossom. Over al
/ the left stretched a 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
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 Ths
cemetery was very still. When Johr
Kemp reached Sylvester's grave, h,
started and stared. There was a grea
bunch of lilacs on the grave and thret
charming, delicate pink roses in 4
vase.
ct wonder who put those flowers
therei" he muttered. He laid the but
tercups and grass down on the grave
then he stood still. 1t was over TWEEN
ty years since the boy Sylvester hat
been laid there-a little soldier VIII,
had fought only his own pain g
wonder who put those flowers there.
John Kemp muttered again.
He went out of the cemetery, blu
instead of turning down the roa
toward his own home, walked hest
tatingly the other way toward tn
house of his observation-disclosures
wife, as he always spoke of her.
Lucy's face was at one open win
dow, her Aunt Sarah Cooks at tn
other.
LUCY" called the old man, stand
ing at the gate
Lucy came out to him tremblingly
Sarah Cook ran to tell her sister; sh
thought Phebe Ann must be dead
DO you know who put those how
ers there?" asked the old man in
husky voice
Il did," said Lucy. Her face fushet
st thought there wouldn't be anybod
to see to il. now Aunt Phebe Ann
sick" she explained timidly.
Her uncle looked wistfully at he
his eyes full of tears Sylvester wa
| a dreadful sufferer he said.
Lucy did not know what to say. S.
t looked up at him, and her soft fat
r seemed to take on distressed lines lii
] his.
/ The old man turned abruptly ar