The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-05-27
;
ROS ES
Being the Story of a Happy
Decoration Day.
By MANDA L. CROKER.
By MANDA L, ocK
"ISn't Gapja ooi,r ~,

shoulder knots at a neat figure In gray
standing i'm the cente of the room. as
,sne asked the question. Her hostess
pursea up her mouth anysteriously and
at Miss Egerton.
"Ah!" The half suppressed excla-
nation of the curious Winnie was met
with a solemn shake of the head by
down the steps.
1T was on the occasion of the first
Decoration day, n all Clear Brook
was out periodically IN honor of the
brave departed. But Miss Genie, the
shy little southern girl. who lived with
in the exercises.
Miss burlington had come north at
the close of the war to make her home
with Aunt Helen: and no one knew
better than she why the dark-eyed
niece DID not Join the hower-laden
Then. this northern auntie knew of
something else; a strengthening
mound-that is. strange for a garden
hidden away in the farthest corner be-
hind the big syringa.
Yet 1t was there. fashioned by Miss
Genie's own hands. a memorial to the
brave but mistaken lover who fell at
Allatoona.
Although he had turned in misled
I from the stars and stripes to the
liz ltl Deel iONlllN IONAl TO
her to the last; for Mad he not
%staunched his wounds with his coat of
gray and kissed her picture as he faint
ly said: "Goodby. little sweetheart; 1t
is all over with me now!"
And no one ever gave it a thought.
either, why the girl was go partial to
gray gowns trimmed with blue, and
blue gowns trimmed with gray; that is.
no one but Aunt Helen. She had he-
ured 1t out after the uaerr1ng arith-
met1c OF a woman's heart, and under
stood.
Antony was wrong" Miss Genie was
wont to say, but he was true as
the heavens to what he deemed duty.
and to me" She always looked So
panied when she said this. that one
could almost see the shadow of car
mage on her face.
But she had put away the mistake"
and, in m OF a once more united
brotherhood under the old flag and he
memory of handsome Antony Packard,
she habitually wore blues and grays.
Il heard what she said" unused the
neat figure In the middle of the sunny
morning room; and two misty eyes
looked wistfully after the disappearing
ladies'. oh. yes: heard, but auntie
VIII keep my secret. / know"
A thankful confidence lighted I'D her
countenance as she turned away to.
finish the busting. for Miss Genie was
a real Ebenezer in the Burnham home.
BY and by she put on a broad
brtmmed hat. something after the style
of sweet southern days and pleasant
plantation custom. before there was a
confederacy, n went out alone in the
soft May weather.
The spring had been tardy and the
oid-fashioned roses We're still in great,
sleepy buds. the last few kindly days
OF warmer airs not having been suff-
Client for their unfolding.
But the plumy lilacs. white "a milk
and purple as royal attire, We're still in
bloom; besides. there were oceans Of
pansies and violets.
The lilacs are like-conqLering
piumes," she said dreamily, holding her
flushed cheek close to their wealth of
fragrance. and the pansies have such
innocent earnest faces'-looktnR down
lovingly at them-"but the all but open
roses here are most suitable and she
kissed the dawning beauty of Sharon
and the great double white"
Gathering q basket TO the OVERLOOKING
OF the "all-but-open" treasures and a
sprinkling of pansies and taking a wide
shallow dish and some water. Miss
Genie timed her feet to an old south
ern melody of childhood days-his and
hers-and marched slowly down the
garden path.
The birds warbled little tender notes
as she passed, and the bees droned in
lower monotone as the lonely process
sion OF one made its way to the corner
shielded by the friendly syringa,
Q course, he isn't here" she said
In tremulous tones. as she knelt to ar
range the offering, but he isn't there
either thinking of the cemetery where
now the peole were assembling, 80 my
flowers are as appropriate in this place
.as-anywhere."
Pressing the dish into the earth, she
filled 1t with water, and then arranged
Tho hlYStinD hl11G ca that fhny- oil
might "lok he~avenward," bordering
them with the other blossoms.
"Pansies," she murmered softly,
touching their surprised faces. Il leave
you. dainty little soldiers. on picket
duty. Keep off the enemy; these un-
are types of-of his life and-mlne;
full OF beautiful possibilities. but
broken off before the realization"
Then, bowling her 'head. she breathed
a prayer that even the pansies did not
hear.
The afternoon shadows were length
ening on the lawn and Miss Bufring-
ton sat on the steps, humming "Ameri-
ca" and mending wee Boobies flag.
The stwipes got tored from the stars.
didn't az" questioned the miniature
soldier, leaning comfortably on his
sedatc cousins knee.
Yes. Bobbie. the dear old flag has
seen lots of trouble" and her lips shut
tightly over q sigh, as she fastened the
last stitch uniting the 'stwipes' to the
stars again.
AN lots O wars an %things"
Yes, dear"
al Decoration day coined 'en % per-
sisted Miss Genie's young relative,
waving the mended flag thoughtfully.
Yes. Bobbie."
An folks put posies on so3ers' graves
cause thy're solly?"
Yes, 1 think that Is one reason" she
answered, looking ava over Boobies
head and seeing Aunt Helen coming
through the shrubbery alone.
Are you solly. too. Cousin Deena %
and the blue eyes were lifted %cur1ously.
Your m is coming, dear" she
replied evasively; and away went
Bobbie to meet his mother Inc pour
q grist of questions into the maternal
ear.
Who did She march With? Did Miss
Eddyton dit lost? Who carried the flag;
and who drummed the big drum? And.
could he go next time If he srowed a
whole lott"
But the maternal ear seemed seized
with sudden deafness. for Mrs. Burn
ham marched right through the swarm
of interrogatlves and almost over the
interrogation and, coming slowly up the
steps, sank into a rocker. dusty. wear
ord W. w. TIploosipo hor ho,,nat