Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-02

other members have asked me to renew
our offer for your beautiful silk flag"
at seems like sacrilege to even handle
that flag" Mrs. Lowry answered, her
voice perceptibly saddened. 81 never
take it from the box except to place it
in a new one, when the old ones worn
out I've taken such good care of it"
"And We'll take just as good" Mrs.
Patterson interposed with businesslike
alacrity. She scooped out the contents
of large fat pea-pod with great vigor
as she continued: It'll never be taken
out but for the Fourth of July and for
visits of the President, if one ever comes
to this sleepy little town. l don't think
you ought to let a good chance like this
go by Mrs. Lowry"
81 do need the money" the other aaid
There was no emphasis in her tone, and
her eyes were dreamy; though to Mrs.
Patterson they seemed to fasten them
selves on the latter's crisp lawn founces
that peeped from beneath the stiff
straightness of an ample white apron.
"I'l tell you what l know from long
experience" said Mrs. Patterson moist
ening her lips self-complacently. 1T
pays to dress; and more so at our time
of life than any other. / tell you, Mrs.
Lowry, you with that young grandson of
yours around-I hope you won't think
| I'm meddlin'-but | tell you, you really
| do need a new dress for visitin' and
church, and such things. If l had nice
boy like Fred around my house l don't
know but what l think it'd pay me to
| invest in a grenadine, over silk founda-
ton"
1T might pay YOU" Mrs Lowry spoke
with some mild and unoffending acerbity.
When you make up your mind to
thing, that's the end; but with me it's
only the beginning of another change OF
mind. But one thing, l have always up
10 this time been firm about, that's that
flag. l made it''-Mrs. Lowry's voice
broke, and she caught nervously at
fold of her gown-"I made it for the
Captain, and, though it never waved
over a battlefield, his dying fingers han
died it"
Even the matter-of-fact Mrs. Patter-
son stopped at her work and caught her
breath with prolonged sigh The other
said, as if in a dream, You've often
heard that old story from the soldiers
who came back"
Mrs. Lowry arose, and stood silent
a moment. The pea-shelling operation
continued, but the grating, and clicking
of the lawn mower, next door, suddenly
ceased. AS suddenly, Mrs Patterson
spoke sharply, leaning far out from her
chair:
Does that grandson of yours know Of
the splendid offer we've made you for
that fag?"
Il haven't told him yet" was the re-
spouse.
We'll just tell him when you go
back" Mrs. Patterson commanded.
Hell look at it in a sensible light |
know the boy we'll enough for that He's
no dreamer The ladies and I'll be over
after the flag at o'clock"
Dusk was falling as Mrs. Lowry walk
ed slowly around the graveled path. And
as she swung back her own gate, the
squeaking noise that she seldom noticed
Jared her unpleasantly. The long han
die of the mower was lying half across
her path and the open doorway was
merely an oblong of empty darkness.
The old lady stepped out on the lawn to
) see if there was light in the boys bay
window. She could just make out two
heads that seemed to be on level NOV
ing across the muslin curtain
She had left her neighbours with the
intent to find out at once in just what
light her grandson would see the saCri-
fee of the endeared memento. The com
mittee had certainly offered a sum out of
all proportion to its intrinsic worth.
Though it was made Of silk and in almost
perfect condition, it was the association
that had inspired veritable crusade
among the ladies representing local pat
riotism for the purpose of obtaining it for
the Blairsville Woman's Relief Corps.
The company of which Captain Lowry
had been chosen captain by reclamation
was organized here, and the popularity
ne gained in camp and in action was q
> sentiment shared by the soldiers with
their wives at home and had come tC
| dwell hazily even in the consciousness OF
the more romantic Of the old soldiers
= daughters And so it is not matter OF
e surprise that Captain Lowry's flag made
: by his wife's own loving fingers should
I. be coveted by every member Of the corps
Mrs. Lowry recalled with a faint smile
, how much more successful the neigh
: boring town of Kttanning had been in
r securing mementos of the company or
g ganized there. They had one or tive
e well-rusted swords, several battered caps
e and a few framed commissions and hon