Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-05-26
"Hows YOUR RHEUMATISM TO-DAY ?" !

Matte Lewis, l remember, was mad
about him enlisting just when they
were ready to get married. But Grant
told my husband he just had to 60
when soldiers were needed"
Mrs. Hubbard stopped using her
handkerchief as q fan. Land sakes,
haven't you heard about that, Marilla
Wilson? Oh, yes. l see Grant real
often, and Mattie-Mattie is cousin
Of Hubbard's and I'm careful what !
say to his people, but did give her
piece of my mind on Decoration day.
'9S. Matte says, you'll be sorry
for this some day. says And Mattia
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"
well, it was hard on her, Grant en-
listing when she'd had her wedding
dress tried on, and the new house was
ready for them"
Eyes, and all the harder because
she wouldn't talk about it. She just
says to Grant, quietly: ON. yes she
says, we can put off the wedding until
after the war with Spain is over, to
please you; and then We can put II
off for good to please met And not
another word would she say Except 1t
was a real nice day, but looked lit
tie like RANT"
81 know. Y see, Grant thought her
being a soldiers daughter she'd I'M
derstand, but she didn't. l saw her
say good-by to him myself just like
she'd met him for the first time the
day before yesterday"
MIN. The old Cap'r he cheered
till Grants train was out Of sight that
day. Said he'd never regretted that
leg he left at Charlottesville till then:
but he thanked God he had a grand
son to follow the flag! Well. Matte
wouldn't answer Grants letters and
she wore her wedding dress to a
church social, soon as 1t was finished.
When Grant wrote the old Cap'n all
about San Juan, he just put on his 9.
A. R. suit and went over and read 1t
aloud to Matte, as proud as lord"
Did Matte"
"She turned kind Of white and says
she: 'how's your rheumatism to-day.
Cap'n?' says she, seems to me you
walk like 1t was better Oh, you
couldn't get a word about Grant out
Of Matte! When Grant came home.
kind of pale and shaky after the fever.
she Just said: Good morning. to him
and asked If he didn't think 1t was
warm for the season Of the year!
Well, the old Cap'n was taken Ill just
the day before Decoration, and Grant
sat by him like his last friend was go
ing. When morning came we stopped
In on the way to town; the Cap'n was
lust alive then. We could hear him
calling once: Follow the flag, boysi
Follow the fiag!' an once he mumbled
to Grant about Matte.
well, l was mad when / saw Mat
lie Lewis, all in white, cutting cako
and pouring lemonade at the city hall.
and | up and told her what people
thought Of her. guess 1t brought her
70 her senses. for she put down that
lemonade pitcher and. out she went
When she got to Miller's, the old
-ap'n seemed to know her, but he Just
iept whispering: Follow the fiag!'
Grant stood up pretty white. but Mat
ie was cool as q cucumber. That's
What I'm going to do. Cap'n,' she sayS
md give Grant her hand"
"And 50 they were married."
Yes; right there by the Cap'n's bed
Iide. Here they come now-that's
heir boy carrying q Tag to put on the
I'd mans grave. He says b = going
. Be . Jnldisr. tool"