Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-06-26

all proportion 10 its lntTlnbic woElns
Though 1t was made Of silk and In almost
perfect condition, 1t was the association
that had inspired veritable crusade
among the ladies representing local pat
riotism for the purpose Of obtaining 1t for
tha RIairsyille Woman's Relief Corps.
The company of which Captain Lowry
had been chosen captain by acclamation
was organized here, and the popularity
ba gained in camp and in action was q
sentiment shared by the soldiers with
their wives at home and had come to
dwell hazily even in the consciousness OF
the more romantic of the old soldiers
daughters. And so 1t Is not a matter of
surprise that Captain Lowry's flag made
nv his wife's own loving fingers should
be coveted by every member OF the corps.
Mrs. Lowry recalled with a faint smile
how much more successful the neigh
boring town of Kittanning had been in
securing mementos of the company or
ganized there. They had one or two
well-rusted swords, several battered caps,
and a few framed commissions and hon
orable discharges with the Governor s
signatures having paled almost to ex-
tinction; and if the Blairsville corps
could but get possession of the gorgeous
silk flag, it could snap a metaphorical
finger at its rivals war relics.
my husband used to say" thought
Mrs. Lowry, that everything had a
humorous side"
She groped her way through the
rooms, seeking a match and wondering
why Fred had not taken time to light the
hall lamp. In a little while she was
standing on a chair gently lifting large
fat box from the top shelf of a cup
board. She thought she would spread
the flag over the backs of several chairs,
and after her sons visitor had gone she
and Fred would have it out between
them whether or not she was hopelessly
foolish, as Mrs. Patterson had more than
once declared with great candor to cling
so tenaciously to a few yards of red
white and blue silk.
AS the flag, thrown over the chairs, as
it was, shimmered in the lamp glow, il
began to simulate the pail of some
what elongated bier to Mrs. Lowry's
annoyed and saddened spirit. 1t was
but the work of second to spread II
out on the floor. Then the old lady sal
down to wait for her grandson's coming
She noticed the noise of a door opening
and imagined the steps of two young mer
coming along the hail. But when they
had reached the door and she lifted hel
tired eyes, not taking her chin from the
palm of her hand where it seemed to res
listlessly, she saw the man was MOI
young and a stranger.
"Well, mother" Fred always address
ed his grandmother thus, ''the Seventy
eighth is what Mr.. Mccoy has come t.
talk to you about" ....
"Yes, Mrs. Lowry, I'm looking up thu
records of my old regiment. I'm pen
sion lawyer f..
Mr. Mccoy was in the Seventy
eighth" explained Fred, boyishly con
scious that he had with word put thu
older people on an amicable footing.
Mrs. Lowry's face frightened a
though some soft light had been throw
across it. Her eyes wandered affection
ately to her grandson, and then bacl
to the lawyer.
"And perhaps you knew my husband 2
she asked.
Every man in the regiment, Mrs
Lowry, knew your husband, at least 3,
reputation. For gallant service and
willing life to his country, it is the leas
our government can do to offer you
! quarterly pension and all the back none
that is coming to you"
The old lady clasped her thin finger
nervously and said with excitement i
her broken voice: II never intended t
ask 1t seemed like mockery to claim
reward"
81 told Mr. Mccoy" the boy broke il
"that it would be hard to make you be
lieve a pension was not a bonus put o.
patriotism"
Mr.. Mccoy slowly unbuttoned his Goa
| and took a file of papers from his pocket
| ho q
lating to your husbands record. and ais
the application blanks. All we wan
now are two witnesses"
81 never Intended" she interrupt
ed absent-mindedly, thinking that wit
the back pay there would be no necessit
for parting with the flag. Fred coul
have his vacation. She looked across &
the boy. She thought of how bravel
he had worked his way through colleg
never taking more than a weeks holida
through the -loing sultry summers. Sh
noticed for the first time that some {
the roundness of his cheek had disal
reared, She could save him the wear
tourney through the lumber country;
her minds eye, she saw the endles
dusty country road; an occasional hous
on either side stretched before her, an
she pictured the boys MONDAY fatigu
And as her mind flew along in the imai
mary heat, Mrs. Patterson's voice can
in through the open window like CO.
breeze springing up Unexpectedly. 81
, was saying loudly enough for Mrs. Low
ry to hear: 1--WE can hang it just abo,
the alcove."
Its very kind" Mrs. Lowry sa
quickly, s'to take so much trouble.
think I would like to have you enter N
, name in the widows list. And I'll as
: my friends to be Witnesses tt
, dear old flag" she said under her breat
: kneeling down to smooth out a wrinkl
''I'll never sell you, never: but I'll leI
; you every year for the Fourth of Ju
t exercises. Olive Benton in San Fra
cisco Chronicle.