The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-22
old GLORY LEADS
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

relics, hlts don't you know.
Orrie 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.. Willard"
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 from?"
III you'd ask Walt, Kit, he'd get
them for you"
I won't ask him. He told me the
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
| trifiing obstacles.
That morning about IL 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
rie. plump and positive.
When they reached the side porch
Of the old house In which he had lived
alone for years, Kit stated their err
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 don't want to show any
thing"
"Oh, 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
going WITH" he asked .cheerfully. Up
to her forehead, Kit blushed, but stood
her ground.
Then why don't you get him on
your side, too? He wouldn't shoulder |
gun If all creation was climbing over
his back fence. He'd go out and read !
book at them and offer to take down |
the fence to save them the trouble of |
climbing over it."
"Mr. MiIlard," 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"
me? Never made speech in my
life, but believe in being ready" He
thumped the porch heavily. "And
what happened back in 81 amt nei-
Their here nor there when 1t 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-
"fll see Walt" Kit answered firmly.
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
was grave and courteous and listened
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. 81 a
wouldn't marry any man who wouldn't
hight II the rest did, just as your grand I
father says" j
Yet all the success of the celebra-
ton could not take away the bitter e
ness and hopelessness. They were a
both college bred, children of the later
day bringing up In the little New 81
England town, and proud. Kit. stand !,
Ing beside the other girls on the little
green. listened while the two select n
men and the town doctor made their h
speeches, followed by the preacher ,
and the superintendent of schools in &c
his district. Sc
orrie helped him down, and then L. s :
but resolutely old Mr.. Mil
ard took his place. A cheer went up a
rom the crowd, and he smiled. Right !,
u front of him was Kit, expectant and er
Eide-eyed, and behind her, tall and N N
'ilent, stood Walt. "a,
What I've come here to say. friends ST
md neighbors," began the old chap 10
what L come here to say is this: as
init any speechifyer nor orator, and &C
int sorry that fought for the side / a,
believed was right, nuther. but | do al
ay this today-'United we stand, di- hi
ided we fall Let's stand together. rS
ack to back, and follow where the old 70
ag calls. That's my message. Walt. os
et up here and echo it." ca
He stumbled down, and Kit watched Tic
breathless suspense as Walt stepped ~,
onward. There-was a heavy hush rO
ow. Everybody knew young Millard's Of
entiments, and knew, too, he was the re,
lost promising young man in Buell.. to
Il would fight IL the rest had to-" an an.
as all he said. very clearly. very firm ne
:. Somebody started up america on
nd he found himself beside Kit, hold
lg her hands fast in his. One of the lar
slectmen spoke to him jokiRgly, half ten
earnest, That long speech of yours, or OF
fatt will land vnu N, tho Iao,;sIo4,v<, -