River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-05-25
A Scheme in
Decoration
By OLIVIA BARTON STROHM


With looks so shy,
Would cry: My eye,
Oh, isn't he a darling, the bold soldier
boyr"
So sang Lucy, as she arranged the
cakes and pies temptingly in the win
dow For the procession was to pass
that way, and things must look nice.
Lucy made extra effort to place the
best doughnuts in the furthest corner
for with this excuse she could see the
other bakery on the opposite side OF
the street. The clerk there was out
side, and at sight of the girl he waved
fiag-which, however, he suddenly
slipped behind his back, for at that mo-
ment his employer, Silas Briggs, ap-
peared, and as he entered the shop the
clerk obediently followed him, with a
final swing of the flag over his shout
der in the direction of the rival bakery.
LUCY" sharply called voice, and
the girl left the window. yes, Mis-
Briggs"
Go down the street Always, and see
If the other place is decorated yet.
thought saw that whipper-snapper Of
clerk buying some flags"
Lucy obeyed with suspicious alacrity,
but came slowly back. mot sign
of flag nor drape, ma'am, anywheres
about it. Ours looks just grand,
though"
II noticed" grunted her mistress,
that you stayed long time in the
middle of the street watching it. Re-
minds me of Bill Plato used to know;
every time he changed thing in his
show window he'd take chair out in
front and sit awhile admiring it."
Mrs. Jane Briggs advertised home
made cakes and pies, and had flourish
ing trade. Indeed, people said that
since she left her husband and started
in business in opposition, he had been
losing money Hard lines to lose a
wife and customers at once" they said
But nobody pitied Silas Briggs; ne
was reputed hard, narrow and morose.
1t was common gossip that his refusal
to contribute to Decoration day fund
was the immediate cause of the separa-
ton from his wife. "a man that takes
no interest in this day-a man that's
too stingy to help honor the graves of
those boys, blue or gray, is no man
for mel"
That was year ago, and in his shop
to-day there were the same dingy shut
tiers, the same weather-beaten door, the
same poor display in the curtainless
window.
An hour before the procession started
Silas Briggs announced to his clerk:
'I'm going out now, Jackson; now, be-
fore the mob gets started. Take care OF
things while I'm away"
Young Jackson followed him to the
door, where he mustered courage to say:
''Then you don't care about flags, Or
or-anything in front during the"
NO; l haven't a cent of money nor
minute of time to spare on such trash"
And his employer withdrew, banging
the door.
When, he was out of sight, Jackson adj
vanced to the sidewalk and waved his
flag. He fancied a wreath in Lucy's
window moved, but he was not sure.
A moment after he saw Mrs. Briggs go
out and disappear in the direction OF
the cemetery.
And then both bake shops were tenn
porarily abandoned, while the clerks
held a conference on the street, each
keeping an eye on their respective
doors.
Meanwhile Mrs. Briggs hurried along.
To a neighbor she confided: .'I'm in
hurry to meet the committee at the
GENTRY You know we arrange things
before the p'rade gets there"
But Mrs. Briggs did not confide to
anybody her first errand
In lonely part of the grounds was
a poorly-kept lot, with few leaning