The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07


the boy who was fortunate enough to
hear him talk thrilled with the quick
pride of strife and longed to shoulder
a carbine and march away to the mu-
sic of fife and drum.
For two years the towns had held
Memorial day services, but they had
been mournfully dispirited. Uncle
Tommy by sheer force of character,
had been marshal of the day, and
Uncle Luther and a few stragglers
from Amery had marched with the
parade but Captain Enoch and his
supporters stood by with gloomy for
bearance and offered no word of en-
couragement. There was really little
need Of Memorial day services, except
in the abstract. The cemetery, where
the discord of the two towns was
buried, lay on a bare prairie knoll, set
around with precise rows of spindling
cottonwoods that languished half the
summer with thirst and whipping
winds and dust-and it contained no
soldiers graves. But Uncle Tommy's
parades marched UP the road to the
cemetery gate and back again, and
Uncle Luther felt that the country's
dead, wherever they might lie, had
been honored
On the third year the old soldiers
met again thoroughly determined to
be harmonious. In ten minutes time
Uncle Tommy was humping on the
pine table with his cane, and several
other old soldiers were clinging to
Captain Enoch's coat-tails, while the
two men glared and threatened. And
then Captain Enoch executed we'll
planned flank movement, routed Uncle
Tommy and ran up the Amery colors.
4 few minutes later his faction, acting
with the right of might, had decided
upon all the important features of the
parade And to further rout Uncle
Tommy and his retainers, they ap-
pointed Uncle Luther to the honored
position of marshal of the day.
At first Uncle Luther was dumb
with astonishment. He had as good
right to be marshal as Uncle Tommy.
ment, and both had reached the rank
of corporal. Uncle Luther on one leg
and Uncle Tommy on two. But Uncle
Luther always had deferred to Uncle
Tommy as If he had been an older
brother, and it seemed to him hardly
short of sacrifice to appear as Uncle
Tommy's rival. So he struggled to his
feet, and held up lean finger to catch
Captain Enoch's eye.
Il rather have Tommy have the
place." he faltered; hes better fitted
for it than L be-
But Uncle Tommy was storming
down the room.
Keep it, he roared, and. he went
out, slamming the door after him.
Uncle Luther followed him a few
steps, wistfully, and then he dropped
back into his seat, and listened dumbly
while Captain Enoch and the exultant
revolters planned the details of the
parade.
ITS Amery's turn this year" gIoated
Captain Enoch
Uncle Luther walked up the road
alone. His step was brisker than usual
and there was a brighter CLEAN in his
~ NOOiu Hpl Ilelp Iee1nR proud
that he had been honored There were
other men in Amery who would have
served better in his place-he knew
that well enough. for he was old, and
he didn't walk easily-but he was glad
with the JOY of appreciation. For so
many years he had been an unnoticed.
crippled tinker, and when at last rec
ognition came to him, even at the ex-
nf
could not help exulting.
Well l fought fer it," he mumbled:
"an' 1 bled fer it. I'd a-given both nv
legs, if necessary; they know that"
Then, after a pause, he said aloud,
But I wisht Tommy'd got it,"
He opened the door of his little shop
and went in. His eyes swept the fa
miliar disorder of the room, the rusty
tools hanging on the wall, the blear-
faced old clocks, the pots and pans, all
the toys of second childhood. He was
glad to be at home again, for he was
worn out with the unwonted excitement
of the meeting. Outside the sun shone
on the green prairies. and there was
warm, puddly dust in the road; but
Uncle Luther's blood was thin and
cold, and he shivered in the damn in
terror of the shop. So he brought his
soldering brazier from the corner and
stirred the Goals into a bright glow.
Then he bent over to warm his hands.
Jonathan Dowell came down the lane
between his prosperous fields on his
way to town. Little Dick was with
him. When Uncle Luther saw them he
went to the door and beckoned.
Come in, Jonathan! Come in!' he
called.
His face shone with pride and he told
with feVerish eagerness of the new
honor which the day had brought him.
Nonsense" interrupted Jonathan
testify. Don't you know. father that
you're gettin' too old and feeble to take
part in such things? You amt able
to walk to the graveyard an back. an
you're only stirrin' up trouble between
the families. Uncle Tommy'll never
forgive VOun