Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-05-28
HE took his life

HE took his life
capable Of one heroic aim, ant
brew it in the thickest of the fight
BIT matter? Since Aurora failed
Inn first!"
II. B. Browning.
ban Charters, stepping out into the
rl and silveriness of dawn and
sighed-and then smiled at sight
HE riches spread before her.
gain it was Decoration Day, an oc
lon which in this little western
b was one almost of festivity, SO
DIT was the gathering from the sur
hiding farms, so gay the girls in
DR. new summer finery, so stirring
martial music of the local band
en the pathetic sight of the handful
bid soldiers, marching in depleted
Sks to the cemetery on the hillside
emphasized the pleasure of the
&Ig, who found in the holiday en-.
ment at once innocent and reVer.
diss Charters walked down the
Do gravel walk between the low
ken barberry hedge. She held daint.
i aside the skirt OF her crisp, white
upper, lest 1t be touched by the
No twigs on either side. Her spirited
"a brown head turned to left and
LII as she mentally calculated the
Nal wealth of her little garden. None
uld have dreamed that over that
IRkne radiant head thirty summers had
$sed, so girlishly slender was the
Yet and graceful figure, so smooth
white brow, so luminous the long,
hsy-purple eyes under the slim
ck brows. She had swung the
&ket from her arm and was shipping
m the great SNOWFALL bush at the
"a Of the path its first contribution,
en voice came piping to her from
er the gate.
mis- Chart'ris, you got mas dress
&he?"
Just finished II at IL last night,
&ly!" She smiled at the freckled
Jed boy as she moved to go back to
b house. She returned, carrying a
1hdle wrapped in newspapers. There
don't crush it, laddie!"
The boy fingered, shamefacedly. He
Is not bad looking boy, barring the
8ckles. He kept casting furtive
Ances at a second-story window IN
Se little cream-colored cottage, where
v blinds were still drawn.
f'Is-is she--" a Jerking thumb
ficatlng the house, "goin' with you
n the cem'try?"
'Rosine?" Miss Charters was ruth.
$sly shipping Off every robin which
$d presumed to show it's blue head
\ the long bed border. 80, she will
4! Her mother is buried there, you
low. Rosine will go with me-"
Tim goin', tool" blurted Billie. Then,
though overwhelmed by the mag.
fude Of the admission, he skipped
Fay, his mothers dress crushed reck-
Fsiy against his throbbing heart, and
e bare feet, as yet guiltless Of tan,
'cking up a dust which hid his fiery
pushes. "An' I'll wear my new
Pthes," chanted Billie. I'll wear my
psf clothes-an' collar!"
It was royal burden Jean Charters
I'd gathered when at last she laid the
Fears in the basket brimful Of blooms.
pere were trailing sprays Of white
pa gold springa stars, peonies, pink
pd crimson. and white; honeysuckle,
nber and rose, and carmine; blush
'ses, pale and velvety; sweetbriar,
Plicately, yet intensely fragrant, and
any single flower which, courier
&C. had blessomed in prophetic beau
|. Back of the glitter!ng window
ass Of the little home she approached
pre- the glowing house plants which
ere soon to be transferred to the gar
%. These, rising tier on tier, glow
q geraniums, fragrant heliotrope,
Tilliant hibiscus, golden mignonette,
ere destined with their harder breth-
n to yield tribute to death.
Aunt Jean--Auntie Jean!" rang a
esa young voice "Pm dressed
ora dressed me! o, may help you
the fiowersf And how soon may
9 30 on the hiIl7"
Jean laid her basket on hail chair
st in time to catch in her outhung