The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-05-25
Ge White Rose
Of Peace

The warm May breeze was taking
unprecedented liberties with Mrs. Mer-
ricks spotless white curtains blowing
them to and fro at will, but Mrs. Mer-
rick was too busy to notice the fact.
She was in the kitchen piling 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
| for his grave, but / couldn't make up
my mind to 1t somehow. I'll just lay
one bud over his heart and he'll un-
derstand. They were his favorite
flowers, 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, 1 guess Nancy won't
donate any roses for Decoration day!"
She laughed scornfully at the ideal
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
decade from the effects Of his
wounds; Richard. with one coat sleeve
Empty, to go to work where he had left
pr, tilling the farm, which was his
wifes. Each sister had followed her
husband, and the breach between them
pad widened until they did not recog-
nize each other wh0n they met.
No, mine will be the only white
oses today" Mrs. Merrick repeated.
she started slightly as a shadow fell
lcross the floor. There you are, Cap
ain Stone" she said. still STOPPING
yer the baskets: I'm ready for you.
Ny flowers have done wonderfully this
rear, and isn't 1t a nice day, too? 1t
(lWays seems to me that something
hust be wrong If Decoration day isn't
lear!" There was no reply, and she
lanced up, startled. On the threshold
TODD an elderly woman in a purple
ress. She was short, stout, motherly
nd her face was scarlet.
Nancy" Mrs. Merrick cried. She
ank into chair gazing at her unex-
ected visitor. Her first impression
as that some overwhelming misfor-
lne had befallen her and that her sis
Fr had come to tell her of it.
Yes. EN-, it's me. I'll go right away,
you say so. I'm not one to go where
amt wanted, but Richard said"
1 haven't told you you amt well
me, Nancy Wilson. Walk in and
Ike a chair. If the flowers are in
Dur way I'll move 'em; they're for the
'ldlers' graves. / suppose you've
card Of Decoration day."
III stay here, thank you. 1--we got
ews today, thought I'd tell you. My
Vn Albert, he-he's U Cuba; they've
ade him second lieutenant, he went
q private"
"A what?"
private. lWhen he went away in
old blue uniform, l wanted you to
him En- but
Albert Wilson in the army-our
my? Why. nobody told met" 1t
me over her, in FASH that she had
Ridden her friends to mention her
ter or her affairs in her hearing.
ancy having done the same in her
case. Her throat was dry, as she
Id:
And what did Richard Wilson say
Zen he saw his son in the blue?"
he said" the guest drew herself up,
oudly, he said that as far as he was
icerned the war was over thirty-four
trs ago, and II he had forty sons
give EN- all to the union now.
sil, guess I must be going; Rich
VIII be tired of waiting"
nancy, oh. Nancy!"
I'm, sister Emu"
ney were weeping In each others
I've, m Nancy spoke first:
En-. l was always union at heart.
! followed my husband. as a wom-
'n'uid. ~, got every rose from