The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-07-29
old GLORY LEADS
BY IZOLA FORESTER.

0rrie sat down on the top of the |
stepladder and surveyed the town |
halls Memorial day trimmings They |
were meager in spite of all good in
tentiOns.
There's old Mr.. Millard-"
Kit stopped, too, and frankly gig
gled.
IF he'd be willing to let you take
any OF his relics
"But they'd be Southern"
Just Virginia. Everybody loves
Virginia. Anyhow, who'd know which
side they came froQ?"
IF you'd ask Walt Kit, he'd get
! them for you
| 81 won't ask him. He told me tho
whole thing was an idiotic mixup that
should have been avoided by cool
heads and he said the North should
have paid for every slave and not i'm
poverished the South, and he said that
cotton and politics lay at the back of
it,"
Then we must get them" In all
emergencies Orrie rose supreme to
trifling obstacles,
That morning about II as old Mr..
| Willard came slowly and painfully
along the old stone-hagged walk from
the well to the barn, he faced two Wis
itors-Kit in her very prettiest gown
of white, with little green and pink
sprigs, and a big white hat dropping
around her face, and behind her Or
RE, plump and positive.
When they reached the side porch
of the old house i'll which he had lived
alone for years, Kit stated their er-
rand Could the Daughters of the Vet
Grams borrow his war relics?
Il amt got any folks buried up this
side of the line" he said shortly. Il
reckon l don't want to show any
thing"
ooh, but please; we haven't hardly
anything" Orrie broke in, and for Is
minutes the two argued, one on each
side of the old chap, begging and ex-
planning When they finished, there
was a subdued twinkle in his eyes,
and he looked at Kit.
"Ain't you the girl my Waits been
p to her forehead, Kit blushed, but stood
her ground.
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 go out and read
a book at them and offer to take down
the fence to save them the trouble of
climbing over it,
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 a speech tomorrow"
NE? Never made q speech in my
: life. but l believe in being ready He
thumped the porch heavily. And
what happened back in 81 amt nei-
Their 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 if the rest had
to-
-. I'll see Walt Kit answered firmly
5. and when they came to the main street
up she went all alone to the little law
+ office that Walter Willard had opened
$. up over the drug store. The color left
his face at sight of his visitor, but he
II was grave and courteous and listened
l. to all she had to say.
You know how feel, Kit he said
: finally. Il can't go back on my prin
ciples just because it's Memorial day
Then you needn't come to see me
, again." Kit flashed back at him. 80
r. wouldn't marry any man who wouldn't
st fight if the rest did, just as your grand
father says"
/ Yet all the success of the celebra
$ tion could not take away the bitter
ness and hopelessness. They were
both college bred, children of the later
u day bringing up in the little New
! England town, and proud. Kit, stand
ing beside the other girls on the little
green, listened while the two select
men and the town doctor made thei
speeches, followed by the preache
H. and the superintendent of schools il
this district.
e Orrie helped him down, and then la
N bOriously but resolutely old Mr.. Mil
lard took his place. A cheer went VI
$, from the crowd, and he smiled. Righ
III in front of him was Kit, eXpectant an,
wide-eyed, and behind her, tall ant
. silent, stood Walt.
- What I've come here to say, friend
, and neighbors," began the old chap
! what | come here to say is this:
\, amt any speechifyer nor orator, and
- amt sorry that fought for the side
IN believed was right, nuther, but l d
ne say this today-'United we stand, d
vided we fall Let's stand together
ID back to back, and follow where the oil
ne flag calls. That's my message. Wal
IN get up here and echo 1t"
He stumbled down, and Kit watche
ld in GREATNESS suspense as Walt stepre
$, forward. There was a heavy hus
D" now. Everybody knaW young Willard
sentiments, and knew, too, he was tn