Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1901-05-25

had certain triumph in it, but il
ended with decorous sigh.
Il guess there won't. either" re.
turned her sister, Mrs. Kemp. 81
guess Phebe Ann is too sick to think
much about it," Her voice sounded
like Sarah's.
Lucy Kemp dropped her sewing for
minute. and turned her face toward
the window. 1T seems most too
bad, don't it?" she said, meditative-
ly. when she's done so much every
year, and thought so much about it,"
81 don't know as l think it's too
bad said Mrs. Kemp. "Of course
I'm sorry Phebe Ann is sick, but
when it comes to these flowers she's
always covered Sylvcster's grave with,
Decoration day, l guess there was n
great deal Of it for show. 1t would
have seemed different if he had been
in the war, but I've thought a good
many times, when I've seen Sylves-
ter's grave with more flowers on it
than any of the soldiers. that Phebe
Ann had little eye to what folks
would say, for all she felt so bad"
Il don't care anything about the
show" said Sarah Cook, "but do
think such an outlay on flowers to
put on grave is wicked. when there's
folks that's her own kith and kin
in actual want. It's rs much as 90
years since Sylvester Kemp died. and
there amt been year that Phebe
Ann amt laid out dollars on flowers.
I guess if we'd had the dollars right
here. il would have been more to her
credit"
'Well. amt never complained nor
begged" rejoined Mrs. Kemp. "No-
body can say 1 have, whatever hap
pens. There's the rent money due.
and that new dressmaker has come
to town, and the works falling off,
and l don't know what's goin' to be-
come of us. but I amt complained
nor begged"
"There's the band!" cried Lucy.
1t was u very warm day for the
as warm as midsum-
mer. The windows were wide open.
The two women and the girl leaned
their heads out and listened. They
could hear far-away music. Two lit
tie girls, with their hands full of
Covers. ran past.
"They're just forming down at the
town hail." said Lucy. "Annie Dole |
and Lottie are just going"
"They came over here for flowers
ibis morning." said her mother, land
told 'em ] hadn't any to give. All I
had was lilacs, besides that little
Early rose bush, and they'd got all
5he lilacs they wanted of their own.
Ind there was only just three roses
IN that bush, and could not bear
% cut 'em. The procession amt COM
music don't sound a mite
,earer. 1t won't be here for an hour
ret"
The three seated themselves and
ell to sewing again. The two older
swung out their long arms
With stern persistency. Their faces
we're harsh and sad, and had sim
larity of feature as well as express
ion. Lucy, the young girl, bent
weakly over her work. The room
vas full of the faint band music and
he perfume of lilacs. She wished
n her heart that she could put on
Ter best dress and go out with the
,ther girls, but she said nothing.
They sat in the kitchen. The floor
vas swept clean, and there was no
ire in the polished cooking stove; it
vas early in the afternoon. Pres
.ntly Lucy looked up. Mother"
'aid she. "cain't / stop sewing and
'un outdoors a minute?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"Just outdoors a minute"
Lucy was II, but she seemed like
. child in her manner toward her
mother. .~
81 don't care" said Mrs. Kemp.
81 s'pose the child gets dreadful
,ired sewing the whole time, she
'aid TO her sister, after Lucy had
zone out. Sometimes I feel kind
If worried about her."
"She won't get tired sewing much
onger, nor we, neither, II we don't
nave more work come in" retorted
her sister, grimly. 1--WE amt got
mite ahead. We've got to 60 on the
own, for all see." She said "town"
With a scornful fear, as if it were an
enemy to whom she must surrender.
81 don't s'pose Phebe AIMS hus-
oand will lift his finger to help us,
wen If she should be taken away,
ind he left without q chick nor child
n the world" said Mrs. Kemp.
Phebe AIMS husband was her own
lead husbands brother, but she
never spoke of him by his own name.
"I wonder how much Phebe AIMS
husband has got?" said Sarah Cook.
.syroIl oruasa he's laid nv n little