Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-07-03

he said, gravely: "The Fourth of July
speech for Smithvilc is a secret as deep
as the foundations of freedom, but strilS
ing an attitude, sit will reveal itself about
two O'Clock p. IN. on that day, and don't
you forget it,
IN o. she said, frightening and hest
Eating. She was puzzled at the triumph
written all over her husband face in great,
suns!ainy capitals. But once more salts
fled with Benzie's planning, though she
could not say why, she turned away and
lett him writing to beat everything.
I've Fourth OF July dawned up the east
ern ri,n, and flashed to the zenith for
Snithvilc, as usual, but it was not dcs
lined to go a-westcring quite so usual as
heretofore.
The two anvils and the one little brass
cannon, a relic of the sixties and rib of
the majors Grafton, had done their duty
in jubilating and were left to the silence
Of the deserted streets, while the crowds
had disappeared in the direction Of the
grove, as the weather was 'fair."
The subcommittee had worked faithfully,
and the picnic grounds were spic and span
with new seats, stands and score of con
velicnces, not dreamed Of hitherto. The
most noticeable of these was the speakers
stand. profuscly draped in bunting and
guarded we'll at the corners by the stars and
stripes. There was plenty Of room for
the Smithville band and the head commit
tee back of the speakers chair, which was
araped in the American colors.
But busy and jolly as everybody seemed
to be, they remarked the fact that Benzie
Robins did not appear Had the commit
tee 1uarreled? Had the two sleek grocegs
snubbed the big-hearted farmer? No one
could tell, unless it was the committee, and
it was as rcticcnt and solemn MS an oyster.
About noon, however, it leaked out that
from the city, and could not be present
speech. bringing his company with him.
a little before two o'clock, and when the
band had disposed itself on the platform,
and was beginning series of little mu-
steal toots to call the people together, Ben
zie Robins and his aristocratic company
came out to the grounds.
s'NIy cousin and my cousins husband he
observed, with highborn flourish, intro
dueing the strangers to the committee.
The splinter new rustling silk of Mrs. Rob
ms and the shimmering satin of the cousin
augurcl anything but haysecd addition to
the elite of Srnithvlle. Then there was
no other way than to invite the third
member of the committee and his party up
on the platform.
Mrs. Robins reddened visibly under the
ordeal of being thrust before the public,
but the visitors took their respective places
with an ease of manner to be coveted.
But Benzie, the man of plan, fairly ontdid
himself in his new tailor-made suit and soft,
foppish hat, as he strutted around on the
honorcd boards, very affable and very con
descending. somehow, for Benzie.
The committee could not quite make it
out. Perhaps he was ashamed of having
"Aunked," and now meant to make up
for lost time Small matter, however; they
had had their way to dot, and Maj. Dow
hing was safely seated in the speakers
chair. 1t was everything to them to have
bossed The job, and Benzie was welcome to
strut, if he chose.
After the prayer had been offered by the
chaplain and wonderful solo rendered by
the singer of smithvile, the chairman OF