Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-20

i ~
make a speech. He's the sole survivor
side, and I'd love to have him get up
and talk. I'm going to see him."
That morning about IL as old Mr..
Willard came slowly and painfully
along the old stone tagged walk from
the we'll to the barn. he faced two visit
ors---Kit in her very prettiest gown
of white, with little green and jink
sprigs. and a big white hat dropping
around her face. and behind her Orrie,
plump and positive.
LET me carry the bucket for you,
please, Mr. Millard," she said. How
lovely your lilacs look. Those tall
white ones are beautiful. We want
some to mix with the pink swamp
| apple and dogwood branches, you
know. to decorate the hall"
Only grunt issued from Mr.. Mil.
ards lips. but he ,relinquished the
bucket thankfully. His eyebrows
grew in regular penthouse lids over
his keen. suspicious old eyes, and his
long white mustache and imperial gave
him still military air. When they
reached the side porch of the old
house in which he had lived alone for
years. Kit stated their errand. Could
the Daughters of the Veterans borrow
his war relics?
~ amt got any folks buried up this
side of the line" he said shortly. II
reckon I don't want to show anything. y
"Oh, but please; we haven't hardly
anything" Orrie broke in, and for
fifteen minutes the two argued, one
on each side Of the old chap, begging
and explaining. When they finished,
there was subdued twinkle in his
eyes, and he looked at Kit.
! Amt you the girl my Waits been
going within he asked cheerfully. Up
to her forehead, Kit blushed but stood
her ground. e.
Then why don't you get him on
your side, too?. He wouldn't shoulder
! a gun If all creation was climbing over
his back fence. He'd 60 out and read
book at them and offer to take down
the fence to save them the trouble Of
climbing over 1t :" H..
"Mr. Millard,"-Kit leaned forward
now in dead earnest-"you're the only
man left here in Buell. who knows real
ly what war Is. Won't you get up and
make speech tomorrow"
"Me?" Never made speech in my
life, but believe in being ready" He
thunped the porch rail heavily. And
here nor there when it comes to what's
best for today. You can have all my
things If you'll get Walt to say he'd
fight If the rest had to. That's all
that he'd fight IL the rest had to. May
be some day his peace of the world
IDEAS going to happen. But meantime,
while there's hell a-poppin', you just
get him to say he'd fight If the rest
had to. That's ALL
WELL gasped Orrie, as they went
back to the village, IF that wasn't de-
! licious! Now, we'll have to see Walt"
"I'll see Walt" Kit answered firmly,
and when they came to the main street
up she went all alone to the little law
once that Walter Willard had opened
up over the drug store. He sat at his
desk by the south window, big bunch
of purple lilacs In white pitcher near
by, and the fragrance of trees in bloom
waited in from many orchards. From
where he sat he could look directly
down on the green and the little white
church with its steeple pointing heav-
onward like finger and behind it the
little burial ground. The color left his
face at sight Of his visitor, but he was
grave and courteous and listened to
all she had to say.
You know how feel, Kit" he said
finally II can't 60 back on my prin'
ciples just because it's Memorial LAY
If the men of that time had kept their
heads there wouldn't be these graves
to warn us today of the folly of shoot.
ing your fellowman down over some
political ISSUE
Then you needn't come to see me
again." Kit flashed back at him. 81
wouldn't marry any man who wouldn't
fight II the rest did, just as your grand
father says"
Yet all the success of the celebra
ton could not take away the bitter
ness and hopelessness. They were
both college bred, children of the later
day bringing up In the little New Eng
land town, and proud. Kit, standing
beside the other girls on the little
green, listened while the two select
men and the town doctor made theil
speeches, followed by the preacher
and the superintendent of schools In
this district. Pretty soon old Aun,
Nelly hickman, who was "a, was stand
ing up on the wooden box, telling how
she'd gone as nurse through the
war and what horror 1t all was, and
she concluded thus:
"And now we can say God bless
them all, every one of them, blue and
| grey, every last mothers SOM"
Orrie helped her down, and then
ilaboriously but resolutely old Mr.. Mil
lard took her place. A cheer went UP
from the crowd, and he smiled. Right
in front Of him was Kit, expectant
and wide-eyed. and behind her, tall
and silent. stood Walt.
what I've come here to say, friends
and neighbours" began the old chap
what I've come here to say is this ::
amt any speechifver nor orator, and
I amt sorry that fought for the side
I believed was right. nuther, but do
say this todav-'United we stand,
divided We fall Let's stand together,
back to back, and follow where the
old flag calls. That's nv message.
Walt, get up here and echo it,