Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-05-25

stood where she might see the crowdsy
go by. A white dove from the cote
came and perched on her shoulder,
while a %songster in the old trumpet vine
caroled forth q melody triumphant
and pure as heaven.
THAT means peace and victory!" she
exclaimed, with joyful reverence; 'the.
good Lord will keep Theodore
There they come. the battle-scarred'
veterans. There were not SO man, Of
the Shields post as on last Decoration
day n their steps weren't quite so
steady as a year ago. but they had not
forgotten to keep step. had they?
e came the provisional guards
Ted's schoolfellows: and Tee was p
today.
Abner was 81 when he ''cut his way.
| through" and won his fhonors and his
| sword.
But the rest were getting into line
now. The stars and stripes fioated tri-'
umphantly ahead and the same merry
martial music rang clear on the notes
of Yankee Doodle as they came.
There were the merry lassies in white.l
carrying armfuls of flowers and keep
ing time with springing steps to ifel
and rum. In between the guards and
their sweethearts came the juvenile
band; boys in nee pants with curls Of
childhood still on their brows.
They were preparing for harder
marches than this one. maybe: and
their music seemed the sweetest of all,
while the folds OF the Did flag fioatedi
over them.
h turned and went in the house.
trying to hun my Country It's OF
Thee but gave it up at the end OF the
second bar. bner YOU have sung 1t
vigorously. but some way h wasn't
quite like Abner-the mother-hearti
was in the way.
The sunshine flooded the dining
room. 1t must be nearly noon now. and
Lefty would be tired and hungry
There are many hard battles fought
and won without bayonet or bl0odshed,
n though women must weep they
come of victorious in scores of hard
fought battles when the world notes
nothing.
And the carol of the songster N the,
caress OF the doves white wing were
a talisman.
Lefty. coming in a half hour later
dusty n weary. was cheered to Seo
Grandma Neville smiling.
"Oh, you've had news from Ted; good
news?"
The question same in glad anticipa-'
ton.
mo. child, I've Ia no news: but e
had an omen, and it means good It'd.
ings!:' Lefty listened to the incident OF
of the birds and the song with ques..
tioning heart.
Did such things mean anything. and
did grandma know?
She hoped there was no mistake in
any of 1t.
You put the flowers on your grand,
fathers grave and watered them WELL,
Letty?"
Yes; and Mrs. Jensen said that in
ratio as the flowers were fragrant. the
memories were sweet and patriotism
true. / wonde 10 Mrs. Jensen knows,
grandma? She has no soldier dead"
Grandma answered evasively. n
Lefty was left in doubt still.
Lefty said grandma, presently. 81
shall lay the abb for four today. Alb
ner's plate opposite mine, as in years
agone, and Ted and yours IN either
hand. as hitherto. 1t will be one Of the
memories Mrs. Jensen spoke Of"
At evening Vine cottage at the end
OF the white street received a letter
from Tampa. Going on to Cuba to in
terview the Spaniards,' he wrote.
Farther and farther away" grand
ma said. and her lips quivered a little
as she laid down her glasses. But she
went over to the table, and, gathering
up the flowers left over made a pretty.
American and Cuban colors, just above
the bright. boyish face on the wall.
ut is because I am proud OF him. h
said.
A month and two days went by.
circling over the white street in Somer-
set with all the conflicting news Of the
Spanish-American war.
Then came the battle of San Juan.
The wires flashed the news into Som,
erset the morning after the fight.
Theodore's regiment was in that en-
gagement. Grandma Neville went out
on the long, low porch m sat where
the trumpet vine Swallowed her silvered!
head from the July heat. but she did
not cry, as Lefty did. Serenely quiet
she sat looking down the white street,
down which Theodore had marched In
April.
That song in the vines meant a pro-
motion for the boy, and maybe this
battle Is the time for winning 1t: who
knows?" And the dear old lady bridledI
her silvered e proudly.
Later came advices through the
press: the newsboys cried 1t all down
the white street that Theodore Neville
had been promoted to the AMI Of q
lieutenant for his daring m bravery;
and he didn't get q scratch" shouted
the newsboys. triumphantly.
And Lefty went out among the loves
and wondered which one made itself
so amous on Decoration day.
Meaning Of Decoration Day.
OF all your yearly feasts, Decoration