Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-28

umphantIy a bout her. while the people
gasped, Leetown was a mine or his
toric wealth; Washington's headquar-
tiers, noted taverns where he had slept
birthplace of hundred heroes-Lee-
town had more than its share OF honor.
What do you mean by 'sacriie-
gious?" There was utter silence as
DR.. Liscom asked this question.
"I'Il tell you. sir! Theron Bassett
was my ancestor-he wasn't anything
but a drummer boy, anyway. and he
deserted from the army before the
battle of Long Island. He lived to be
ninety years old. and he died from sum
stroke. He's buried over to- Leetown.
and they're holding some kind of
powwow over his grave this very min
ute. ! do believer She snorted con-
temptuously as she faced the dismayed
throng.
1--WE were misinformed. then" cried
the first selectman, glaring angrily at
DR.. Liscom. who in turn fixed an
accusing eye upon the discounted En-
rights.
The reporter chuckled gleefully as he
scrubbed. and for a few minutes there
was no sound save the sharp breath
ing of the committee and the rustic of
turning pages jefferson Foster won
dered helplessly what the scribe might
be jotting down against his future
peace and dignity.
Yes. you are misinformed.'' returned
the woman sarcastically. This grave"
indicating the decorated mound with
sweep of her mittened hand. does not
contain the dust of any Of my ances-
tors, though it is the grave Of II
HERO. This first grave with the
weeping willow on the stone IS Great
grandmother Bassett's. the next is
Observation-Disclosures. and this one under
the wall. which you have made so gay
and this gentleman has been declaim-
ing over-this is the grave OF HERO.
great-grandfather's favorite dog. The
old man thought sight Of him. and
when the dog died he buried him here
under the wall. aud nobody knew any
thing about ii. He always said Hero
was as coed Christian as lots of folks
he knew
She went amid a dead silence. and 1t
riage wheels had settled again that
faint chuckie from the visitors broke
the constraint. DR.. Liscom covered the
situation with few words spoken
with a twinklinG eye.
Pond Point seems fated to play.
passive part in the history Of her coun-
try. So be it. Let us be content to be
good citizens. heroes in our humble
way. and perhaps we may so conduct
ourselves in time Of national distress
our descendants may honor our men,
cries even as we would honor the MEM
DRY of some great man! In the mean
time 1 move that we adjourn TO the
picnic grove"'
Amid loud applause the gathering
made its way to the grove. while the
reporter replaced his notebook in his
pocket and thanked the doctor for the
privilege of attending such an interest
ing occasion. and the good doctor and
other members of the committee Swal-
lowed hard when they saw the alert
young man sprinting up the road to
catch the noon train. for they knew
that the honor of Pond Point was at
the mercy Of his pencil.
In the churchyard Jared Wilson sur
veyed the decorated mound in silence.
Once he put forth his hand to tear the
flags and flowers from their place, but
he drew back.
eff he was i good dog the flags won't
hurt him any" he muttered as lie fol-
lowed the committee to the picnic
grove.
That fall when Jefferson Foster fail
ed to secure the nomination for repre-
sentative from his district he laid the
entire blame upon the hero Of Pond
Point.