The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-05-31

Matte Lewis, I remember. was mad
about him enlisting just when they
were ready TO get married. But Gram
told my husband he just had to &C
when soldiers were needed"
Mrs. Hubbard stopped using hel
handkerchief as a fan Land sakes
haven't you heard about that. Marills
Wilson? oh. yes. / see Grant real
often, and Mattie-Mattie is a cousin
of Hubbard's and I'm careful what
say to his people. but did give her 8
piece of my mind on Decoration day
'9S. Matte / says. you'll be sorry
for this some day. / says. And Matti1
says. trying to be easy: If you mean
sorry for wearing this new pink lawn
to-day, Cousin Hepsey. I'm sorry al
ready, for it's beginning to fade now
and it's only IL o'clock in the day.
Oh Matte always held her head high.
We'll, IL was hard on her. Grant en-
listing when she'd had her wedding
dress tried on. and the new house was
ready for them"
Yes, and all the harder because
she wouldn't talk about II. She just
says to Grant, quietly: ON. yes she
says. we can put OF the wedding und
after the war with Spain is over. &c
please you; and then we can put II
of for good to please me! And MOI
another word would she say 'xeept II
was a real nice day, but looked lit
tie like rain!"
II know. Y see. Grant thought hel
being a soldiers daughter she'd un.
derstand. but she didn't l saw hel
say good-by to him myself just like
she'd met him for the first time tbs
day before yesterday"
"M'hm. The old Cap'n he cheeret
till Grants train was out of sight tina
day. Said he'd never regretted tha
leg he left at Charlottesville till then;
but he thanked God he had a grand
SON to follow the flag! Well. Matti,
wouldn't answer Grants letters ant
she wore her wedding dress to :
church social, soon as 1t was finished
When Grant wrote the old Cap'n al
about San Juan. he just put on his c
A. r. suit and went over and read !
aloud to Matte, as proud as lord"
did Matte"
"She turned kind of white and say
she: 'How's your rheumatism to-day
Cap'ng says she. seems TO me yo'
walk like II was better Oh, yo'
| couldn't get a word about Grant ou
of Matte, When Grant came home
kind of pale and shaky after the fever
she Just said: Good morning. to hin
| and asked II he didn't think II wa
| warm for the season of the year
| Well. the old Cap'n was taken i'll jus
the day before Decoration. and Gran
| sat by him like his last friend was go
| ing. When morning came We stoppe'
| in on the way TO town; the Cap'n wa
lust alive then. We could hear hin
calling once: Follow the flag. boys
Follow the fiag,' an once he mumble
something to Grant about Matte.
| We'll, | was mad when l saw Ma;
| tie Lewis. all in white. cutting cak
and pouring lemonade at the city hall
| and | up and told her what peopl
| thought of her. | guess IL brought he
| to her senses. for she put down tha
lemonade pitcher and out she wen
When she got TO Millers. the oil
Cap'n seemed TO know her. but he jus
kept whispering: FOLLOW the flag.
Grant stood up pretty white. but Mat
tie was cool as a cucumber. That
what I'm going to do. Cap'n.' she say.
and give Grant her hand"
And so they were married?"
"Yes: right there by the Cap'n's bed
side. Here they come now-that
their boy carrying a flag TO put on th
old mans grave. He says he is goin
to be a soldier. tool"