Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-05-27
OPEN
r ES
Being the Story OF a Happy
Decoration Day.
BY MANDA L. CROCKER.
BY MANDA L.
Isn't Genie going, toe? p

oNof
Winnie Egerton, Aunt Helen's guest,
paused to glance back over her pink
| shoulder knots at a neat figure in gray
standing in the center of the O as
she asked the question. Her hostess
pursed up her mouth mysteriously and
whispered, "Oh, not" looking straight
at Miss Egerton.
Ali" The half suppressed excla-
nation of the curious Winnie was met
with a solemn shake of the head by
Aunt Helen, and. together, they went
down the steps.
1t was on The occasion of the first
Decoration day, and all Clear Brook
was out periodically in honor OF the
brave departed. But Miss Genie, the
shy little southern girl, who lived with
the Burnhams, shrank from taking part
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 fiower-laden
ranks in memoir Of the nations dead.
Then, this northern auntie knew of
something else; Ia strengthening
mound-that is, strange for a garden
hidden away in the farthest corner be-
hind the big syringa.
Yet it was there, fashioned by Miss
Genie's own hands, a memorial TO the
ploHN pNb ih'HA"hNH wv viz q y
Allatoona.
Although he had turned in misled
duty from the stars and stripes to the
palmetto, he had been royalty loyal to
her to the last; for had he not
~staunched his wounds with his coat of
gray and kissed her picture as he faint
ly said: "Goodby, little sweetheart; II
is all over with me now!"
And no one ever gave 1t a thought,
either, why the girl was so partial to
gray gowns trimmed with blue, and
III gowns trimmed with gray; that is,
no one but Aunt Helen. She had fig
ured 1t out after the unerrlng arith-
metic 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 honor of a onee more united
brotherhood under the old flag and the
memory Of handsome Antony Packard,
she habitually wore blues and grays.
II 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: I heard, but auntie
wi. keep my secret. l know"
A thankful confidence lighted up 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
brimmed hat, something after the style
of sweet southern days and pleasant
plantation custom, before there was a
confederacy, and went out alone in the
soft May weather.
The spring had been tardy and the
old-fashioned roses were still in great,
sleepy buds, the last few kindly days
Of warmer airs not having been suffi-
cient for their unfolding.
But the plumy lilacs, white as milk,
and purple as royal attire, were still in
bloom; besides, there were oceans of
pansies n violets.
The lilacs are like-conquering
plumes," she said dreamily, holding her
flushed cheek close to their wealth of
fragrance, and the pansies have such
innocent earnest faces"-looking down
lovingly at them-"but the all but open
roses here are most suitable and she
kissed he dawning beauty of Sharon
and the great double white"
Gathering a basket 10 the overlooking
of the ALI b~ut-open'' treasures and a
sprinkling Of pansies n 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.
"Of 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
nov the peole were assembling. $50 my
flowers are as appropriate in this place
as-anywhere."
Pressing the dish into the earth, she
filed it with water, and then arranged
the bursting buds, 80 that they all
might "iok heavenward," 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-
blown roses, my sober little friends,
are types of-of his life and-mine;
full Of beautiful possibilities, but
broken off before the realization"
Then, bowling her head, she breathed
q prayer that even the pansies did not
hear.
The afternoon shadows were length
ening on the lawn and Miss Buffing-
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
sedate cousins knee.
Yes, Bobbie, the dear old flag has
seer lots of trouble" and her lips shut
tightly over a sigh, as she fastened the
last stitch uniting the "stwipes" to the
stars again.
IAN lots o. wars an things"
Yes, dear"
"An' Decoration day coined 'en?" per-
sisted Miss Genie's young relative
waving the mended flag thoughtfully.
Yes. Bobbie."
IAN folks put posies oil sojers' graves
cause thy're sollyp"
Yes, / think hat Is n reason" she
answered. looking away over Boobies
head and seeing Aunt Helen coming
through the shrubbery alone. y
Are you solly, too, Cousin Deena?'
and the blue eyes were lifted curiously
Your mamlna is coming, dear" SHE
replied evasively: and away went
Bobbie to meet his mother n pour
a 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 IL he growed Q
whole lot?"
But III maternal ear seemed seized
with sudden deafness. for Mrs. Burn