The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-05-25
In Two Chapters
! ADeeoration By---
I Day Story. MANDA L. CROKER

LII Llc next TOOTH lay lue roses diiu
lilies with the sweet-scented heliotrope
ne loved so we'll: then there were the
daisies, the pansies and sweet alyssum
as finishing flowers.
9Ec:@thefs on the wall, where the
streaming sunset light FURNISHED the
hilt, hung his sword, with which he cut
his way through in that deadly charge
at the awful battle of Shiloh.
Yes, there 1t was, where Abner was
strong when he marched blithely away
to the sound OF The merry martial music,
came home a cripple.
But she would always remember how
proudly he looked up to h stars and
stripes and touched the shining Shout
der straps when, with sorrowful ex-
clamation, she took hold of his empty
sleeve. And somehow h caught the
patriotic fire, and was prouder of her
one-armed soldier husband than she
had yer been Of the able-bodied Abb
ner. He had lived to celebrate several
Decoration days, and how much he
made Of them.
Since he had gone to rest in an.
honored grave h had always tried
to do the same for his sake. Today h
had a double incentive for being pa
triotic.
Mrs. Neville counted her life as in
two chapters, and felt that the whole
story pulsed to the sound OF fife and
drum.
We have touched on the first chap
ter, which reached It's blaze Of triumph
April Z, 1862.
But after the setting light had beau
titled the sword Of sixty-two, it fell in
golden halo OF a boyish, yet manly,
face beyond.
And the blending folds Of the Amert-
can and Cuban colors just above the
picture marked the second chapter
which today was In the hands of time
Ind circumstances. and was coming
out In story form as fast as they could
set it up"
She was thinking of this so deeply
hat she had entirely forgotten the girl
at her side.
The silver hair and care-lined brow
Of the one, and the sweet, dimpled face
OF the other told that a lifetime lay
between them, Notwithstanding their
nearness to each other
They could hear the training on the
green, although neither cared to hear
just then. Their eyes met. "Tomor-
row is his birthday, too. and he has
been away from home on his
birthday before"
But we can think Of him, Lefty, and
Of course, ne will remember us, of all
lays, tomorrow"
War Is something dreadful, isn't it,
grandma" the girl whispered across
The grand-maternal knee, in a fright
ened way.
Dreadful things come out of war,
n grand things, too, Lefty. 1t brings
out the bravery and nobility of man.
kind, and unfolds the love of country.
but the greatest h~eartbreaks of earth
are the heartbreaks Of strike. Have you
been to the office this evening, child?"
Yes. but there was nothing"
well we Will hear tomorrow, may
be. You must be ready early, Lefty, to
carry the flowers. I cannot do 1t this
year, Of all years. I am not brave
enough; the martial music will hurt
ne SC. child; it always does on Decora-
ton day. But I am loyal to the dear old
lag, and true to your g~randfathers
memory. and to your brothers loyalty.
I would not have you think I am dis
loyal, Lefty"
II understand, grandma" And the
girl went softly out on the porch to
cry by herself, with no one to see but
the sleepy wrens clinging to the old
trumpet creeper along the caves.
II don't see." she began. ~ don't see
what Ted wanted to go away from
grandma for. She has kept us and
loved us ever since mamma died
lgo. And what If he should not get
well? Therell be just us two in Vine
cottage, o, dear!"
But inside the door sat grandma.
knowing why. OF course, Lefty was q
child; h didn't know. Over 80 years
lgo Abner had marched away in the
prime of his life and manhood's
dren at the knee, to be loyal "by the
stuff" n she knew why; and she
knew how, too.
The clear, martial music sounded on
the church square, n the people were
gathering fro mevery direction. A per-
feet sea Of flags surging in from a Civ
en- point announced the coming of the
schools. and the different ORDERS"
The lovely wreath had been made,
watered with her tears and sanctifed
by a prayer for her grandson in south
efn cafnp.
And Lefty had gone with 1t.
trying hard all the while to be pa
triotic enough to keep back her tears.
Grandma Neville stood looking proud
ly. yet wistfuily, the way she went.
And the boy? Yes. Theodore had
marched away down the square street
to. the same national air that Abner.
his grandfather, did. Would History
repeat ITSELF" Would Ted come home
with honors, even though it cost a sac
rifice?
A great fear choked her. She put out
her thin hands deprecatingly to some
unseen presence, n went out into the
sweet May weather. She went and
stood where she might see the crowds
i go by. A white dove from the cote
came and perched on her shoulder,
while a songster in the old trumpet vine
caroled forth a melody triumphant
and pure as heaven.
That mean peace and victory!" she
exclaimed, with joyful reverence; the
good Lord will keep Theodore
There they come, the battle-scarred
veterans. There We're not so, many of
the Shields post as on last Decoration
day and their steps weren't quite so
steady as a yea ago, but they had not
,orgotten to keep step, had they?