The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-06-03
FOR A !, I. J.
LIVING, HERO Ii !.
COLIN c. COLLINS.

| rom MALL Stf6oI Cdul0 Juo bGTdlu
of martial music. Four-year-old
Nellie Bromley clapped her hands
and demanded that she be taken
to see the parade, but her mother
only caught her tiny form to her
heart and tears glistened on the
golden head like diamonds in some
fairy coronet. Every shrill note of
the fife. every drumbeat, was a
stab.
Was it only a year ago that she
, had been persuaded by all her
townpeople to ride in the process
sions The orator of the day had
feelingly spoken of her as this
young widow who gave her best
to her country and who shall ever
be our care" It had been terri
BILE ordeal to the delicate, shrink
ing woman. This-this loneliness
and oblivion were tho easier to
bear. And yet it was hard to have
them forget him SO soon.
Us Jack Bromley had been among
the unidentified dead at San Juan.
There would be no wreath on his
unknown grave to-day.
Yet he had been Silverton's only
hero of the Spanish war. The town
had no militia, but when Jack went
to Carson and Joined a regiment it
was not slow irtaking due credit to
itself. Only Judge Bromley was
missing from the crowd that saw
him off at the station. He had not
spoken to his son since the day he
cursed and disinherited him-the
day he married Alice Chase. He
could say nothing against sweet
Alice, but she was the daughter of
Hanson Chase. his enemy, whom
even in death the judge still hated.
When the sad news reached Silver
ton, be gave no sign Of grief. He
made no offer of help to the widow
and iEtimated grimly that govern.
ment pension would make very good
life insurance. She, poor girl. said
proudly that she would never ask for
government relief She had sent her
husband forth with a brave smile.
Now, when they told her that he
would never come back, she bowed
her head in submission. His sacrifice
and here had been accepted. She
would fight as bravely here athomea as
he on the distant field. Only
to him had come rest, while 70 her
o God, the days of heartache and the
nights of weeping. But no shadow
must fall on Nellie's golden head.
The little mouth must bAfed, so she
began to do water color work for
city store,
At first the work had hot seemed
hard, for she was surrounded by an
atmosphere of love and sympathy.
Everyone wanted to help ''our he
roe's wife" Charity lost it's sting
when cloaked under the tender mn
istrations Of this neighborly affec-
ton.
But before this second memorial
day came they had forgotten her.
Hero worship had lost its novelty.
Then Willie Langtry, who had vol
unteered for the Philippines, had
been brought home to sleep among
his own people. Here was an actu-
al shrine for devotion.
Those who gave thought to
Edith idly argued that Judge Brom
ley was more than able to support
his sons wife and daughter. II she
did not ask him, it was no affair of
theirs.
She did not ask either from him
or any man. Pride had prom pied
Ter independent words 10 the first
days OF her bereavement, and now,
when she found the struggle almost
beyond her strength, pride closed
her lips. So she worked silently at
the decorative work furnished her
by the father Of an old school friend.
The house was Jack S and this in.
sured her home. Her work paid
for the rest. Only Ford, the giver,
knew how pitIfully small the rest
was, and Ford--well, there was only
one man Ford told.
The music grew fainter as the
procession moved on to the cemetery.
Finally it died away. The tears, too
had ceased to fall as mother love
brought comfort to the wounded
heart. What II the world had forgot.
ten? She had Nellie left-Ncllie
with her fathers bonnie blue eyes
and crisp curls
Suddenly she started mp in sur
prise. The Bromley farm wagon
stood at the gate aud the 0Judge
himself was hitching the horse.
What could it mean? She went to
the door just as the grim old maa
came stamping up the steps.
kind er surprised to see me.
amt you?' he asked. Well them
fools is taking things out to the
cemetary and l kind er thought
twas time ! was dong sone deco.
rating myself. Ford told me the
other day how hard you had to
hustle and it struck me it would do
a heap more good to DECORATE your
pantry a bit than to put flowers
on dead men 'sgraves. Then folks
Is 80 took up with dead heroes tn ey
kind or seem 10 have forgotten the
living Ones
what do you meau2" she stan,-
mered.
ut means just this, he answered
stout1y: 'Your pa and me weren't
friends, aud l took it hard that
John should have you. But you've
make a good fight aimee, and I'm
proud Of your pluck. If you'll for |
give an old man, why-why"-IIis
voice was choked, but his open