The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-05-28

are you going to get them up to that
cemetery, I'd like to know? Hire
livery rig? Pocket money for May all
gone. Borrow from Daddy? Never!
Take them in the automobile instead
of the girls? never"
Katherine stopped on the sidewalk
and laughed aloud. What would the
girls say? And the boys? And Jack?
The girls eyes sparkled. 81 will"
she said. "and know of another who
will fill the empty seat. Old Mrs
| Davis, who hasn't been to Memorial
day celebration for years, and she a
| soldiers widow still wearing an old
rusty Grape veil in his memory. Poor
| old dear! And I know not one of them
has ever had an auto ride or ever ex-
poets to. And after the exercises
perhaps I'll take them spin down the
river road. 1 will! will! The poor
old soulsi I'll make 'em have one
royal afternoon or die in the attempt"
That afternoon was a dream of de-
light to the three old people and the
years fell from them like a garment,
so wonderful thing is joy to those
whom joy seldom visits. The color
came in Widow Davis wrinkIed
| cheeks, and her old eyes beamed with
pride as she looked across the rows
of graves to Henry's, where the little
| flag f1uttered and the great bouquet of
! white syringas and plumy lilacs lay
like benediction. The band played
its sweetest and softest, and the two
old brothers never knew that quiet
tears were running down their faces
as they listened
The generals speech was strong
and true. and brave and tender, and
when it was over, Silas and Jerry
could not refrain from hobbling up to
greet their old commander
When at last it was all over and the
people began to descend the long hill,
Katherine turned her automobile in
the direction of the river road She
drove slowly, so that her guests might
enjoy the exquisite view, and on and
on they went, miles out into the beau
tiful, free, open country. But on the
way home katherine gave them the
ride of their lives, and laughed to see
| the widows old face flushed like a
girls and her gray hair floating on the
wind, while the old crepe veil blew out
straight behind into the delighted faces
of the two old men, who were thor
oughly enjoying the swift pace 1t was
all very wonderful and beautiful. and
surely there was good deal in life
after all, they thought.
That night the general was the guest
of honor at Judge Adams at dinner
The judge and his wife had at the
eleventh hour given up their proposed
visit, and were glad and proud to en-
terrain so famous a guest.
The general looked across at Kath.
crime. My dear young lady" he be
gan in his stately. oldfashioned way,
1T does me good-more than can ex
press in mere words-to discover that
youth is not all frivolity and hippancy
in this generation. When l saw you
today giving pleasure and satisfaction
to those whose lives are poor and
lowly-when heard afterward of the
delightful outing you gave them on the
beautiful river road-why-I-I-"
| The general stopped and tried to
think Of the proper word, then smiled
| at Katherine, which was a great deal
better than finding it.
They told me all about it-Silas
, and jerry he said, when / called to
see them on my way here, and If ever
happier or prouder pair of brothers
| existed have never met them"