Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

| expectant CLEAN in his eyes. The nrst
thing he did was 10 hide the money under
| the edge of the carpet beneath his bureau
That days mail brought him another
letter He turned white when he saw IT,
| for there was the same indfst1nct post
! mark; he opened it. sitting in the same
place as yesterday. But there was only
tiny printed slip inside, the announcement
| OF the death Of Mary Spring at the age OF
seventy wears from heart disease May -
! there was no place mentioned. The Mite
| sister had passed beyond already and met
Josh. The sergeants literal relkslous
| imagination could almost see the Two
consulting together.
| .tOf course, they want me to nave IL,
| he muttered Providence is in 1t.
| That day he went to his closet and took
| down his one well-worn suit of citizens
| clothes He examined his boots to see If
| they were strong enough to last him on
! his prospective journey: he looked over
| his collars. his few and cherished neck
| ties He sat down by the window, brush
! ing his coat and smiling hopefully at the
| great bouquet of blossominS apple Tree
! Just without.
| Presently he paused with his brush up
I1iffad in his hand II must go and see
the superintendent today about starting
| | don't believe I'll wait till Decoration
| day: the other men'll have to decorate
| Josh's grave. But I'll so out there to-
Poor Josh, he went on, brushing soft
| w NO stone 10 his head or name 70
| his" Suddenly he paused: the orush
/ fan from his hand the coat slipped TO the
| floor and the sergeant gazed heipiessiy> De
| fore him 1T isn't mine. he whispered
/ after a pause. I'D be a thief; it's his.
| it's Josh's, It's Josh's. It's all can DO
and I'd oughter do IT.
! The melodeon strains were hushed. the
/ wax flowers grew dim. the sergeant was
/ snffocating in the warm air Why dian
:. ! think of it before? Why didn't II,
/ The tears came into his eyes, ana TWO OF
! tham went slowly down his cheeks. he
draw ont his bandanna with jerk and
rubbed his face fercely and laughed dt
himself What a fool | am. he crled;
then. picking up his .coat. he fell TO work
on il vigorously. with no smile on ms
| lips. but with a nAed pun po9e S0l o
| his mouth. u;.
| That afternoon he visited the superin-
| tendent. as he had intended bur lnstead
of asking for a leave of absence Tor Some
/ time TO visit his sister In the west ne
| asked for a pass 10 town. Wnere DUST
ness matter needed his attention. When
| the sergeant came home that night MS
] face was iubilant He declared the nash
the best he ever tasted that ne notiCeu
| coming from town today what me 10,
several poor and unexpected jokes that
! delighted and treasured his cid comrades.
| In the privacy Of his own room the ser
eeant kept up his cheerful play. 10
think | should have found that nahdsolne
| ana all ready and that Josh.s grave
should be on top of the hill; and that in
scription, Twas an inspiration. an In,
! piration-'' Then the sergeant paused
| with an awe-struck. upward LOOK. Meo
| be it was" he said. gravely: 'mebbe II
vas" And he fell asleep that night IKE
| child with a smile on his lips
The sergeant's joviality seemed TO IN
crease as time passed and Decoration oay
drew near. He doubtless felt as graho
and glad as a statesman planning IN Sc
cret some coup-d'etat which shall as
tonish and delight his nation.
| On the twenty-ninth of May. when sew
| eraI men were arranging the bouquets
which had been sent in for the morrow.
one of them remarked. discontentedly:
| Just as though these old weeds and those
cotton flags were any good; why can't