The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-08-13
BENTON, LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST b. 1903
Your wife-she's been dead more
than year hasn't she 20

"Your wife-she's been dead more
than year, hasn'tshe?
$50 they say-Ive heard it from
strangers. l haven't let any of the
girls know l am back-I want to find
Mandy, though. 1 believe she'd like to
see me-"
"Of course she would! The others
are all married and living away from
the city, but Mandy boards with
Comrade Williams wife, and works at
the milliner's trade. Know that?"
Hul's face turned toward Hills, now,
and glowed with pleasure.
Come" urged Hillis-"ten your
story, We'll soon be at Rose Hill, and
there won't be any time. Then I'll tell
you more about Mandy. My wife
thinks lot of her."
"Of course l amt got any excuse"
returned Hull, in a husky voice, "and
l shan't try to make any. 1t was the
moving, mostly, the everlasting mov-
ing from house to house. The eternal
restlessness and fault-finding 1 could
stand, but the moving-Why, Ash, in
the q years we lived together we
moved more than GO times-I kept
count, after the first five years. got
kind of crazy-sort of unreasonable
over it-moving, always moving. I
worked-just day laborer was, you
know-and I brought every cent 1
earned home, and twas never enough.
And after awhile when the girls grew
up they went to work, and then was
less than nothing-used to sit out on
the back steps, there wasn't room for
me in our little place-too many big
strapping women"
But" said Asher, 'there was
Mandy"
Eyes, there was Mandy! She used to
come out and cuddle up to me, and then
I'd have minute or two of comfort" {"
"How was it you got up steam to
leave at last?" asked his sympat hiking
comrade.
"Oh, well-it was in the hard times
was out of work, and l came home one
day little out of sorts-peevish like
you know the way a man feels when
he's been turned down about 40
times in day-looking for job-and
l went round the house to the back
door, and glanced in at the window.
The stove was took down. Iknew what
that meant. Mandy came out and
said: We're going to move over to
Clay street early tomorrow, Pa
"Who's going to pay for carting us
| around?' says I, kind of gruff.
"'Why, Arabella! answers Ma, COM
ing on us sudden, and opening the back
door. 'Arabella, your hard d-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!'
Somehow, comrade, my heart
seemed to rise right up into my neck
and 1 choked. 'Mandy, slid her cool
little hand into mine. Herface was pale.
She was only IA years old, Mandy
but she had lot of feelings.
Then / just sort of skunk out OF
The back yard gate, and walked away
Mandy followed me as far as the gate,
and said to her: Mandy, tell your
Ma am going to look for work."
"Yes, and that's the last word we
overheard from you,' said Hills.
81 went right west, straight as bee.
line, worked as farmland, railroad
hand, anything. Got to Nebraska, and
hired out on a ranch. And l never
moved again, once on, that ranch, till
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 its
approach to the scene of the day
celebra tion, II am glad to be with you
comrade, and with the other com
rades. l haven't worn my old button
| till to-day, in years" He lovingly
| fingered the bronze treasure on his
| dingy brown coat. II believe I'll get
courage to look up Mandy now, and
I've got all of my savings for her
rCouldn't spend any money out on that
ranch!"
The little battalion formed. The
veteran musicians struck up an old
time marching tune, u wailing thing
for the flies, but sharply marked fol
marching feet by the drums. The
| colors were to the front, and with
heads high, and aged forms erect, the
line marched through the arched gate
way of the Place of Dreamless Rest
At first sight OF the soldiers graves
each marked by little flag. every vet
eran felt momentary heaviness this
gallant old heart, but on they al
marched between the rows of people
lining the graveled roadway which lee
to the soldiers monument. Marchers
and onlookers were silent.
While the railway train had beet
| scudding over the rails, two young peo
pie walked across the fields, from tn,
end Of the electric road, on their we
to the Decoration day exercises.
"Let me carry that big bunch OF flow
ers," said the man to the pretty girl 6.