The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-05-29

although he knew that Jonathan would
not approve OF II. He wa afraid OF iona
than. But whole days slipped by when he
was not strong enough to work, and yet
he chung to the task with feyerish eager
ness. The man within him protested that
he was still good for something, that old
age q not robbed him OF everything.
On the morning OF Memorial Day the
whiting waS finished, but there remained
the task OF attaching the straps. 10
Uncle Luther knew that he could not hope
TO complete the leg In time for the exer-
cises. So he laid II away, and toward
noon he dressed mp In his best blue
clothes, and put on his wide-brimme6
black hat with the gold cord around the
crown Then he hobbled out OF the door.
and dropped down on a box by the fence.
with his back reating against q post. It
wa a fresh, clear May morning. During
the night there had been 3 shower, n
the grass at the roadside stood up green
and dewy. The fields OF waving wheat
blades spread away for miles before him,
dotted here and there with houses and red
barns, and straight rows OF Lomberdyt
poplars and cottonwoods. Where Uncle
Luther sat he could look up the yellow
stretch OF roadway, and he knew that he
could see the parade almost as soon Al II
left the town. 1t would pass the end OF
the lane on its way to the cemetery, and
he hoped, with the vague optimism OF the
very old and the very young, that It would
come back by the same road. Seeing IL.
was next to marching with 1t.
Uncle Luther put on. his long-distance
glasses, and he saw q blur OF blue
ing along the road from the village. Above
Il there was q blur OF red and white. Al
moment later they resolved themselves in
70 . knot OF old soldiers with the flag
Mapping above them, Uncle Luther took
a long breath, and his eyes shone. Sud-
denly a band began to play the stirring
music OF Marching Through Georgia"
'"They've got the band exclaimed Uncle
Luther. In a voice that choked with eos
tasy. .@' EE1= m.Eh
UnconSciously he rose on his ons good
foot a took off his hat. His eyes
dfmmed, and as the e~nlivening strains OF
the music came up to him, another pic-
ture formed on his misty glasses. He saw
the boys in blue--not a meager handful
of gray and STOPPING remnants. but boys,
With fresh young faces, and broad should
ers, and proud chins. They were muddy
to the knees with marching, they were
ragged and tattared. but they swept by to-
the drums and flies, regiment after regi-
ment and brigade after brigade; and
orderiies clattered up and down with yell
low envelopes stuck In their belts; and
the shells were screeching from the rebel
heights. He saw the companies wheel
and deploy: he saw them strip down and
form In line at Charge bayonets." The
big, black guns were leaping the ruts In
the road. with the gunners clinging des-
perately to the caissons. Then he saw
the long line OF gray rise up over the hill,
and pour itself down the slope. He saw
the ragged, mile long fash OF the car
bines--and he would q leaped forward
to the charge, II for a single moment he
had heard the bugIe's shrill summons. +.
Uncle Luther's spectacles were dimmed.
He polished them off with shaky fingers,
and looked again. Behind the band there
was a stretch of white that seemed to nod
and twinkle In the sunshine.
They've got the Children, too" he
faltered a5MA
Then the old fellows In blue swung at
the corner; they were keeping military
line. and something Of the old spirit had
thrilled their steps into an unwonted pre-
cision. The band, wheeling with them,
swept into rally Round the Flag, Boys
Uncle Luther leaped forward on his one
good leg, waved his hat around his head.
and shouted, 'Hurrah, hurrah!" His head
was thrown back, his eyes flashed, his
breath came quick and hot.
Down with the traitor, up with the
star" he chanted in his thin. quayery
old voice.
Now they had reached the end OF the
lane. and Uncle Luther could make out
the full line OF the parade. It was by far
the greatest celebration that the town
ever had known. and his heart swelled
with pride at the thought Not once did
he recall hts own disappointment and sor-
row; IL was all for the glory OF the day, +
Suddenly Uncle Luther shrunk back.
What were Z ,Jy trying to dor He felt an.
Impulse to run orward and tell them that
they had missed the way TO the ceme-
terry, and that the lane ran only as far as
Jonathan Dowelrs house. But before he
could decide what to do the old soldiers
stopped almost In front Of his own little
shop. The band had swung out TO one
SIDE. 1t was playing america" and the
sweet. Ahrill voices Of the children rose
mad fell with the music. Uncle Luther
sanA back on his box, trembling. Through
q mist of great happiness he saw Uncle
TonMnp n Captain Enoch advancing
toward hin side by side. He couldn't be-
iieys Il al nrst: he didn't pretend to be-
IteYe II.
I'm gsttin' old.r he muttsrsd, -on. I'm