The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-01

SEB laC6. a ueEU IL Sleeplu III OuF
midst. Today we are TO honor the
bravery and daring Of our esteemed
citizen Theron Bassett. killed on the
field of duty. A year hence we hope
to erect a suitable monument to his
memory
There was a rustic Of excitement on
the outskirts Of the crowd where the
vehicle that had crawled up the dusty
road had halted. A woman's voice.
rising high above the tumult. angry
and expostulating. interrupted the &C.
lectman's speech. II tell you I'm go
ing up front! This thing has got to
be stopped"
A murmur Of indignation followed
the speaker al she pushed her way
through the crowd and finally emery
ed into the open space about the grave.
She was q tall, rawboned woman.
with strongly marked features and
iron gray hair drawn tightly back
from her forehead.
what do you mean by this disturb.
ance. MADAME" asked DR.. Liscom Sc
verely.
my names Bassett." she replied.
with a little clicking movement of her
teeth.
The reporter took a notebook from
his pocket and ~redectvely sharpered
q pencil.
..Bassett!r repeated the doctor, ar
fably. Then am sure you are q
relative of the hero whose dust lies
under this mound. We would have
included you among o honored.
guests had we known there was a liv-
ing descendant Of Theron Bassett.
who
"Hddlesticks:" interrupted the wo-
man rudely.
The reporter scrubbed busily in his
notebook. The first selectman's mouth
hardened.
what do you mean. madame" asked
DR.. Liscom patiently.
81 mean. that + just heard this norm
ing that you Pond Point folks were
going to hold a celebration over this
grave. and l came over here from my
home In Leetown to stop these sacri-
legious proceedings!" She looked tri-
umphantly about her. while the people
gasped. Leetown was a mine of his
toric wealth; Washington's headquar-
tiers, noted taverns where he had slept.
birthplace of a hundred heroes-Lee-
town had more than its share Of honor.
"What do you mean by 'sacrile-
giousy'" There was utter silence as
DR.. Liscom asked this question.
''l'll 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 sun-
stroke. He's buried over to Leetown.
and they're holding some kind of a
powwow over his grave this very min
ute. l do believed" She snorted con-
temptuously as she faced the dismayed
throng.
I'VE were misinformed, them" cried
the first selectman. glazing 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.
Eyes. you are misinformed," returned
the woman sarcastically. "This grave"
indicating the decorated mound with a
sweep Of her mittened hand. docs not
contain the dust of any Of my ances-
tors, though it is the grave of a
HERO! This first grave with the
weeping willow on the stone is Great
grandmother Bassett's. the next is
great-grandfather's. 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 a sight Of him. and
when the dog died he buried him here
under the wall. and nobody knew any
thing about 1t. He always said Hero
was us good a Christian as lots Of folks
he knew
She went amid a dead silence. and It
was not until the dust from her car
riage wheels had settled again that n
faint chuckle from the visitors broke
/. 4. -. q ~ 49,