The Washington herald., 1914-05-30

fury she drew of her ring and flung
1t to the ground at his feet. Then she
turned and walked away.
Dick stood looking after her mIserably.
All along he had been afraid of some
| thing like this. Beautiful Lucille was
proud. spoiled. and high spirited. He
had never really understood how a plain.
everyday and matter-of-fact fellow like
himself had been able to win her.
He started toward home, forgetting
to pick up the ring on the pavement
Later he thought of it and went back,
but it was gone.
Lucille went to the picnic with Wen
dell Stuart
The crowd was to meet at the court
house. where they were to get the car
| for Greenwater Park. Lucille and Wendell
were the las: to arrive. and the others
were lined up a. the curbstone watching
| the procession pass by. Few of the old
soldiers were keeping step to the fife
and drum. great many leaned on canes,
and some vino refused to ride had escorts.
Through the crowd. Lucille caught a
glimpse OF old Mr.. Werner in the front
rank. as Dick had predicted. and Dick
was beside him. his head up. looking
neither to the right nor left. his fathers
hand on his arm.
The crowd began to cheer. and Lucille
felt queer little catch in her throat
Wendell was talking. Above the tumult
Of the crowd and the shriliing Of the
flies she caught some of the words
not all. But it was something about peo-
pie showing of-bad enough for the oil
duffers. but the limit when 1t came to
the young ones-believe him,
His words seemed to sicken her and
she shut her eyes for an instant Sud-
denly her heart went out to the grand
old men marching out there so proudly
under the nag they had saved She
remembered the words of veteran she
had heard once in school Children"
he had said. your mustn't think of
soldiers as old men. Old men don't go
to war. We went to war little boys.
sixteen. eighteen. twenty years old. It
wasn't men that got shot to pieces.
children. 1t was boys. And when YOU
think of Memorial Day. children, don't
think Of US old men. We don't want You
TO. Just honor the memory of those
other young fellows that died fighting"
She realized now who would make the
bravest of brave soldiers should there
be war. and which one would be the
coward. Without a word she turned and
left her companion. nor did she once
look back until she reached her home.
An hour later old Mr.. Knox returning
stopped at the gate. Seeing Lucille on
the porch he went in.
Samuel Werner had one of his bad
spells this morning. at the cemetery,
Miss Lucille. / thought you mightn't
know about II and would naturally he
interested It's mighty good thing Dick
was along. I tell you. or the poor old
boy would sure be gone now You see.
Dick knows just what to do--has
hypodermic or something always ready.
He certainly is fine lad, Miss Lucille;
a fine lad. You ought to be mighty
proud OF him. Yes. he's all right now, I
guess. They've got him home. Fine day,
isn't Il? No, thanks. I'll just move
along. It's gettin' near dinner time.
Good morning"
Without an instant's hesitation Lucille
put down her book. There was only one
thing in the world for her to do. and
she didn't even wait to get her hat 4
X was only four squares to the yer-
ners, but 1t seemed like 50 many miles
Most Of the way she ran. She new up
the front steps and found herself In the
wide. cool hall. hung with guns and
sabers and other relics Of the war.
A door opened and Dick came out He
faced her. speechless with amusement at
her breathlessness and wind-biown hair
Lucille, what's wrong? What has hap
pened? Tell me quickly. Why aren't
you. at the pieuicT.
She smilsa 'sNothing. Dick I've Just