Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1911-05-25
Ole White Rose
Of Peace

The warm May breeze was taking
unprecedented liberties with Mrs. Mer-
rick's spotless white curtains, blowing
them to and fro at Will, but Mrs. Mer-
rick Yves too busy to notice the fact.
She was in the kitchen ciiing huge
baskets with the blossoms which had
yesterday laden the lilac, rose and
SNOWFALL trees. She was an elderly
woman, gaunt and active, and she
talked to herself as she worked:
There, I've done it all as George
would have liked" she said, he al
ways held that priVates should have
the finest flowers and the most of 'em.
I did want to save them white roses
TOR his grave, but l couldn't make up
my mind to it somehow. I'll just lay
one bud over his heart and he'll I'M
derstand. They were his favorlte
dowers, those roses. and don't believe
there's another bush in the country
except the one Nancy has. Mother
brought 'em to us from Baltimore,
remember. Well, guess Nancy won't
donate any roses for Decoration day."
She laughed scornfully at the idea.
Nancy was her only sister, and both
Of them, newly married, had seen their
husbands march out when the first
call for troops came, but George Mer-
rick wore the blue and Richard Wilson
donned the gray. Both had come back
four years later. George to die within
a decade from the effects of his
wounds; Richard, with one coat sleeve
empty, to go to work where he had left
off, filling the farm, which was his
wife's. Each sister had followed her
husband, and the breach between them
had widened until they did not recog-
nize each other wh1n they met.
No, mine will be the only white
roses today" Mrs. Merrick repeated.
She started slightly as shadow fell
across the floor. There you are, Cap
tain Stone" she said, still STOPPING
over the baskets: I'm ready for you.
My flowers have done wonderfully this
year, and isn't it nice day, too? 1t
always seems to me that something
must be wrong if Decoration day isn't
clear!" There was no reply, and she
glanced up, startled. On the threshold
stood an elderly woman in purple
1ress. She was short. stout, motherly
and her face was scarlet.
Nancy" Mrs. Merrick cried She
sank into chair gazing at her unex-
pected visitor. Her first impression
was that some overwhelming misfor-
tune had befallen her and that her sis
ter had come to tell her of 1t.
Yes, En-, it's me. I'll 60 right away.
If you say so. I'm not one to go where
4 amt wanted but Richard said"
II haven't told you you ain't well
come. Nancy Wilson. Walk in and
take a chair. IL the flowers are in
your way Ill move EN-: they're for the
soldiers graves. / suppose you've
heard OF Decoration day."
I'll stay here, thank you. 1--we got
news today. / thought I'd tell you. My
own Albert. he-he's in Cuba; they've
made him q second lieutenant, he went
as private
'tA-a whatg''
"A private. When he went away in
the old blue uniform, i wanted you to
see him En-. but"
Albert Wilson TN the army--our
army? Why. nobody told sne.s Il
came over her, i'm d flash, that she had
forbidden her friends To mention hel
sister or ~Iler affairs in her hearing
Nancy having done the same In her
own case. Her throat was dry. ais she
said:
And what did Richard Wilson say
when he saw his son In the blue II
lie said" the guest drew herself up
proudly he said that as far as he was
concerned the war was over thirty foaal
years ago, and Ii he had forty sons
he'd give em all TO the union nov
Well. guess / must BIZ going Rich.
ard will be tired OF waiting
Nancy. oh. Nancy"
Err. sister Erns
They were weeping In each others
arms. Nancy spoke first:
En-. Wis always union nf heart
bur followed fay husband. 40 = woau1
- - susd. rye g0t every rose trozz