Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-28

hair that had hardly gray
thread in it and that had not
lost its pretty trick of curling around
the temples. There were very few
lines on her face, none that discomfort
or weak repining had caused, and
there was D delicate rose tint on her
cheeks that had defied time in a way
not usual with rose tints. She was
fifty-six years old, though she did not
look it, not by ten good years; even
her enemies said that, or they would
have said il, if she had had any enc
mics. She was country bred. and ten
years in the city had not reconciled her
to the big apartment buildings which
her friends and relatives thought so
delightful. So she lived, like st. Paul,
in her own hired house In u charming
suburb. There was n dear little lawn
in front where, in their season, red
geraniums and double petunias bios
sOmed in the generous fashion of the
old home garden in York state" In
the rear We're rows of hollyhocks
against the fence and n grass plot that
was even dearer TO her than the one
in front. She said it looked honey. In
order to maintain her own establish
ment and not lose herself In the fam
lilies of nieces and second cousins she
rented out n couple of rooms. \ card
with the legend FURNISHED Rooms"
was, as occasion made necessary,
placed in a window that in a sidewise
fashion faced the street.
On the morning of this Memorial
day one of the two rOOmers unexpect-
eddy went away. The lady expressed
much regret at leaving without no
tice, but Miss Bassett said: Never
mind, my dear. If you are called to
go, some one else will be called to
come" Then with unruffled serenity
she set the card in the window.
AS was her custom, in honor of the
day she hung q cherished Old flag out
on the porch. She heard the music OF
n band In the distance and wondered
if it would pass her door; then. re-
membering her promise to q veterans
widow, she went ont to gather such
flowers as the garden yields to the
late May in the northern climate. lii
laos, syringas, violets, jonquils - her
generous basket made brave showing
as the waiting messenger took it.
VI AhGLiOl SAhNs SiAG oeAANs
thinking of the old village buryIng
ground where her soldier dead were
sleeping. She had pinned tiny flag
on her white gown just as she did, so
many years ago, when Company X
marched down the street of her little
native town. The young lady next
door, whose lover was in the Philip
pines, smiled at her from her own
porch, and the gay siXteen-year-Old
girl across the street said she supposed
Miss Bassett was one of the girls who
got left in 1864, that war grandpa
served in.
Then tall, fine looking, elderly man
with Grand Army button on his coat
and n rose pinned close to it, passing
along, saw the woman in the garden
and an instant later the card In the
window. He hesitated a moment, then
a moment more, and Miss Bassett was
saying in response to his question:
I'm sorry. sir, but take only Ia
dies. find it pleasanter. I'm sorry"
she repeated. noticing the button. land
you n soldier too"
Don't feel bad on that account.
madam. 1 was a soldier. but I'm not
bearing gun and knapsack now. Bust
ness keeps me in Chicago for month,
and it occurs to me that it would be
pleasant to spend n part of the time
away from the crowd. The city is
such horror
Indeed, it must be-" she responded.
81 think 1t horrid myself"
But you are so delightfully."- removed
suddenly-'you seem to have, n kindly
feeling for the soldier, madam. Prob
ably you remember the civil war: pos
sibIy you have sons in our army now"
Miss Bassett replied promptly, ignOr-
ing the last infection: Certainly 1 re-
member the civil war Why not?
was a soldiers daughter and 4 SOL
dier's sister,"
'Ah. then we might talk over old
times together. Perhaps you would
permit a tired veteran to rest awhile
on your pleasant porch"
Miss Bassett looked in vain for any
sign of WEAKNESS in the face or frame
of the man. but saying II think we
will find IL pleasanter inside; this east
porch is rather sunny" she led the
way into a little sitting room. Then
they sat down and talked like old COM
rades. They compared experience. She
told him of the father that fell in
battle. of the brother that brought
death home with him. He had been a
three months man. she said. then at
the second call re-enlisted and served
until his regiment disbanded. He left
the service with the rank Of colonel
and a bullet wound in his shoulder
Then he spoke Of the day his company
left home, OF the girls who waved
them gOodby as the train moved
away. Looking straight in her eyes,
he scid- There were the Hadley girls.