The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-30
FOR A LIVING HERO
BY COLIN S. COLLINS.

and sympathy. Every one wanted to help
"our hero's'' wife. Charity lost its sting
when coaked under the tender ministrations
of neighborly affection.
But before this second Memorial Day came
they had forgotten her. Hero worship had
had volunteered for the Philippines. had been
brought home to sleep among his own people.
Here was an actual shrine for devotion.
Those who gave thought to Edith idly
argued that Judge Bromley was more than
able to support his sons wife and daughter.
If she did not ask him. 1t was no affair of
theirs.
She did not ask either from him any
man. Pride had prompted her independent
words in 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 Jacks. and this in
sured her home. Her work paid for the
rest. Only Ford, the giver, knew how pitt
fully small the rest was. and Ford-wen,
there was only one man Ford told.
The music grew fainter as the procession
moved on to the cemetery. Finally it died
away Tho tears, too, had ceased to fall as
mother love brought comfort to the wounded
heart What if the world had forgotten?
She had Nellie left-NeIie with her fathers
bonnie blue eyes and crisp curls -
Suddenly she started up in surprise. The
Bromley farm wagon stood at the gate, and
the Judge himself was hitching the horse.
What could it mean? She went to the door
lust as the grim old man came stamping up
the steps. ..-... ~. ...--
kind er surprised to see me, amt your"
he asked. well, them fools is taking things
out to the cemetery, and-and | kind er
thought twas time I was doing some dec
Grating 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 mems graves. Then folks is so took up
| with dead heroes they kind er seem to have
forgotten the living ones"
What do you mean?' she stammered.
! cit means just this" he answered stoutly:
your pa and me weren't friends, and took
| it hard that John should have married you.
| But you've made good fight since, and I'm
proud of your pluck. If you'll forgive an
/ old man. why-why-' His voice was choksd
| but his open arms were more eloquent than
words.
She paused irresolutely, but only for mo-
ment Then she stepped forward quietly, and
| his arms closed around her. AS his bearded
cheek rested against hers he caught the
whisper, For Jacks sake" and knew that
through the dead the living had been united.
| When the supplies were put away, the two
sat in the little parlor. AS his big. brown
| hand closed over hers he told her how his
| heart had yearned to share his grief with
| her, but how pride had held him back till
! Ford's tale Of her privations had conquered
| his stubbornness. Hot tears rolled down his
cheeks, and 1t was the girls tender voice
! that comforted.
| Again the music sounded-the parade waa
| coming back-and the whistle Of the after
| noon train added its shrill notes to the IA
| milar air Of marching Through Georgia. )"
| But the two the big sofa had ears only
for lost voice and thought only for mem
| cries of the past.
Little Nellie. playing happily on the porch.
/ heard the music stop short and burst OF
cheering go up. Then the band struck up
again, but it could not drown the cheers.
Then down the street they came-the Horri-
con hose the Rescue hook and ladder, the
Grand Army veterans and the Masons Nell
lie flying into the parlor with cries OF
"Come, Gomez" and the two reluctantly
stepped out the porch. With her hand
on the judges arm Edith looked bravely up
the street Then she swayed and would have
fallen if he had not supported her. A wild
cry burst from her lips. On the shoulders
Il Of four men was a strangely familiar figure,
and with a blare of brass never before
equaled, the Silvertonr :cornet band played
when Johnny Comes Marching Home" -
Edith Strengthened up and stood there,
TRANSPORTED, waiting till they would give him
to her arms. The old man at her side cried,
my boy!" Then low to himself, Il am glad
r I came before he did, for now have new
) daughter as well a son.