The Tomahawk., 1903-07-23
he's been turned dse1 about 40

/
timca in day-looking for jot-and
1 went round the house to the back
door, and glanced in at the window
The stove was took down. knew what
that meant. Mandy came out and
said: We're going to move over tc
Clay street early tomorrow, Pa.
"'Who's going to pay for carting Us
around?' says l, kind of gruff.
"'Why, Arabella!' answers Ma, COM
ing on us sudden, and opening the back
door. 'Arabella, your hard-worked
girl, and you doing nothing! And
she went in and slammed the door.
Then she opened it again and called
out: And I don't care whether you
come along or not!'
''Then I just sort of skunk out OF
the back yard gate, and walked away.
Mandy followed me as far as tie gate,
and I said to her: Mandy, tell your
Ma I am going to look for work.
eyes, and that's the last word VIZ
ever heard from you,' said Hills.
81 went right west, straight as bee
| line, worked as a farmland, railroad
hand, anything. Got to Nebraska, and
hired out on ranch. And l never
moved again, once on that ranch, til
| last month, and then did want to see
! Mandy. So I came back, and now /
wish't hadn't"
"Well,' continued Abner, brighten
| ing up, as the train slowed down on it's
| approach to the scene of the days
celebration, 81 am glad to be with you,
| comrade, and with the other com
rades. I haven't worn my old button
till to-day, in years" He lovingly
| fingered the bronze treasure on his
dingy brown coat. 81 believe I'll get
courage to look up Ma ndy now, and
I've got all of my savings for her.
Couldn't spend any money out on that
ranchi"
While the railway train had been
scudding over the rails, two young peo-
pie walked across the fields, from the
end of the electric road, on their way
to the Decoration day exercises.
"Let me carry that big bunch of flow
ers,'' said the man to the pretty girl at
his side.
"No, Tom," the girl protested, keep
ing her flowers in her own grasp, but
smiling upon the stalwart young fell
low with good deal of friendliness.
"You have enough to do to take care OF
that basket of lilacs. And they are the
most important. White and purple
lilacs seem just made for Decoration
day"
do YOU come out here every 30th
of May?" asked Tom.
eyes," answered the girl, land this
time am so glad you are with me.
Before, have come alone"
II can guess why you come" said
Tom, edging as near to his companion
as the peace and dignity of the state
and of the young lady herself-al-
lowed: g.. ), =. = ~
ing or Dead" said Mandy, ''but it is
because of him that bring flowers out
here every Decoration day. make it
point to put flowers on the graves OF
the unknown dead, or those with no
stone to mark them"
Her eyes filled with tears and she
turned her head away from Tom.
81 shall always be with you, after
this" said Tom. quietly and earnestly.
sAnd who knows but that your father
may be with us, too, another year!
Don't cry, am in hopes that you will
see him again, one of these days"
eff he should come, Tom, and we
should be in our own little ONE, would
you be good to him?"
81 will, Mandy, you may be sure of
that" said Tom, with a seriousness
that was convincing.
Just as the young couple reached the
foot of the mound on the little hill by
the soldiers monument, they heard
the throb of drums. They drew aside
and stood under the shade Of an elm, to
see the veterans march by.
"There's father" said Tom, as his
eve encountered, from distance, that
of Asher Hills. And then, at warn
ing gesture from the elder Hills, Tom
guided the girl who was with him, as
she still watched the little procession,
toward the screen made by a clnmp OF
lilacs and snowballs, near little foot
path which led away from the crowd
surrounding the monument, where the
formal exercises were to be ED.
"What is it, Tom,' she said. II was
going to hear the singing, and the
speaking"
"Wait minute" whispered Tom,
"here comes father, and who's that
with him."
Asher Hills had the stranger by the
elbow, and was steering him toward
the young people. At the edge Of the
little plot of grass where they stood
the two veterans stopped.
''Abner," the voice of Hills was low
and little tense, "look at that young
ster, that's my boy Tom. And the
girl
"Father!" In moment Mandy's
arms were around the wanderers neck.
= I, ,.ol h AITy,