The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-07

house." said Lucy. She let a branch
fly back. and went across the yard
with great bunch Of lilacs in her
hands.
II wonder what she's up to-" 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 neighbor who
| had come in, stood at the windows lis
tening eagerly to the approaching mu-
sic. Lucy Joined them. The process
sion filed slowly past: The Grand
Army men, the village band, the min
listers and local dignitaries, and the
rear-guard of children. with flowers.
An accompanying crowd thronged the
| sidewalks.
"1'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.
II heard Phebe Ann was pretty low"
said the neighbor.
Eyes, s'pose she is. I should have
gone up there, but she aint been in
side this house for ten years, and
aint going to push in where l aint
wanted. hear she's got Mis- Baker
with her. SO she's taken care of.
couldn't help thinking this morning
how much she'd always laid out on
Sylvester's grave. Well. mebbe twas
a comfort to her. I amt never thought
so much of anything of that kind, be-
cause my husband and all my folks
are buried away from here, and l amt
had any chance to do anything about
their graves. Aint that Phebe AIMS
husband now? That looks like his
| horse"
Eyes, 'tis." said Sarah Cook.
1--WE great mind to run to the
door and inquire how she isl" cried
the neighbor. excitedly.
"Why don't youo" said Mrs Kemp.
The neighbor ran to the door and
called out. She was stout woman
with a shrill voice.
How s-Phebe-Ann?" she clam
ored.
The horse was pulled up, and an old
! mans face peered around the buggy
wing. Glow is Phebe Ann this after
noon?" the woman said again. Mrs.
Kemp, Sarah Cook and Lucy were
| listening at her back.
Sinking" replied the old man. in a
| hoarse voice. Then he drove on. The
woman called something else after
him, but he paid no attention. He had
! to pass the cemetery, which was now
thronged with the living, in bright
! groups, standing among the flower
strewn graves Of the dead. The music
had ceased. A mans voice sounded
out loudly in the hush. Phebe AIMS
husband, John Kemp, leaned forward
and shook the reins over his horse,
| then drove past rapidly. Ee kept his
face turned away from the cemetery,
and his forehead was scowling dis
tressfully.
He had half-mile to so before he
reached home. He left the horse in
| the yard and went into the house on
tiptoe. through the house to Phebe
| AIMS bedroom. AS he peered stealth
lily, the nurse, who was sitting beside
the bed, looked up and put her finger
| to her lip. There was just a glimpse
of pale, sharp protilei among the pill
lows. Phebe Ann was asleep on her
| journey to the grave.
Her husband went out, put up his
horse, and sat down on the doorstep.
! He looked idly out over the fields
After a while he heard the village
band again. 1t sounded quite near.
They were marching back from the
cemetery. Suddenly the old man felt
a hand on his shoulder. "She's walked
| up" the nurse whispered, "and she's
terrible worked up about its being
Decoration day. You'd better come
| in"
Phebe AIMS husband went softly
behind the nurse to the bedroom. Phe-
be Ann looked up at him and beck
oned imperatively. He went close and
bent over her. What is 1t, Phebe
| ANN" said he.
"Is it-Decoration day." she whis-
pered, with difficulty, for she was
growing very weak
Yes, 'tis, Phebe Ann" said her hus-
band.
Have you got-any flowers for-Syl-
| vesters grave?"
| mo, | aint. I aint 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
yes, l will, l will, Phebe Ann!
Don't you fret another mite about it"
The nurse followed him out of the
| room.
Il can't so to the greenhouse he
WhiSnprpd ayitatpd1y "Tt's five m los
away"
Land. get any kind Of flowers!" said
| the nurse. Get dandelions and but