The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-29


Memorial day services, but they had
been mournfully dispirited. Uncle
Tommy, by sheer force of character,
had been marshal of the day, and Uncle
Luther and few stragglers from
Amery had marched with the parade;
but Capt. Enoch and his supporters
stood by with gloomy forbearance and
offered no word of encouragement.
There was really little need Of Memo
rial day services, except in the alb
stract. The cemetery, where the dis
cord of the two towns was buried, lay
on a bare prairie knoll, set around
with precise rows of spindling cotton
woods that languished half the summer
with thirst and whipping winds and
duSt-and 1t contained no soldiers
graves. But Uncle Tommy's parades
marched up the road to the cemetery
gate and back again, and Uncle Luther
felt that the country's dead, wherever
they might lie, had been honored.
On the third year the old soldiers
met again. thoroughly determined to
be harmonious. In ten minutes time
Uncle Tommy was humping on the
pine table with his cane, and several
OF the other old soldiers were clinging
to Capt. Enoch's coat tails, while the
two men glared and threatened. And
then Capt. Enoch executed a we'll
planned flank movement, routed Uncle
Tommy and ran up the Amery coiors.
A few minutes later his faction, acting
with the right of might, had decided
upon all the important features of the
parade. And to further rout Uncle
Tommy and his retainers, they ap-
pointed Uncle Luther to the honored
position Of marshal of the day.
At first Uncle Luther was dumb with
establishment. He had as good right
to be marshal as Uncle Tommy. They
had belonged to the same regiment,
and both had reached the rank Of cor
poral, Uncle Luther on one leg and
Uncle Tommy on two. But Uncle
Luther always had deferred to Uncle
Tommy as If he had been an older
brother, and 1t seemed to him hardly
short of sacrilege to appear as Uncle
Tommy's rival. So he struggled to his
feet, and held up lean finger to catch
Capt. Enoch's eye.
Il rather have Tommy have the
place" he faltered;, hes better fitted
for it than I he.'
But Uncle Tommy was storming
down the room.
Keep It'll" he reared, and he went
out, slamming the door after him.
Uncle Luther followed him a few
steps wistfully, and then dropped back
in his seat, and listened dumbly while
Capt. Enoch and the exultant revolters
planned the details Of the parade.
Its ATnery's turn this year." gloat-
ed Capt. Enoch.
Uncle Luther walked UP the road
alone. His step was brisker than
usual, and there was a brighter CLEAN
in his eye. He could not help being
proud that he had been honored. There
were other men in Amery who would
have served better in his place-he
knew that well enough for he was old.
and he didn't walk easily-but he was
glad with the joy of appreciation. For
so many years he had been an un-
noticed, crippled tinker, and when at
last recognition came to him, even at
the expense of his more fortunate
brother, he could not help exulting
well, I fought fer it." he mumbled;
IAN l bled fer it. I'd a-given both nv
legs, If necessary; they know that.
Then, after. a pause, he said aloud.
But l wisht Tommy'd got it."
He opened the door of his little shop
and went in. His eyes swept the
familiar disorder of the room, the rusty
tools hanging on the wall, the blear-
faced old clocks, the pots and pans,
all the toys of a second childhood He
was glad to be at home again, for he
was worn out and trembling with the
unWonted excitement of the meeting
Outside the sun shone on the green
prairies, and there was warm, 'puddly
dust in the road; but Uncle Luther's
blood was thin and cold, and he shiv-
cred in the damp interior of the shop.
So he brought his soldering brazier
from the corner and stirred the Goals
into a bright glow. Then he bent over
to warm his hands.