Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-07-18
The New
Decoration
~
By EOLA FORESTER

The little gray frame house stood be
hind row of naples on what people
in Bethel called the "Old Wood road.
Laura Coles had lived in it alone since
her fathers death. In the summer
passersby saw her out at the old well
sweep, or bending over her flower gar
den. In the winter she was welcome
aid at the village social centers, pretty,
cheerful, tactful, a born organizer.
When the first spring came after the
war, Bethel, as usual, felt tremor OF
anxiety because it had no soldiers rest
ing places To decorate. Four miles
away was Sanders Point, close to the
shore, and here they held services in
the little white meeting house, and
trailed spring flowers down to the Old
burial lot to mingle with flags above
the mounds there Of old G. A. 4. for
mer residents.
1T always seems sort of pitiful,"
Miss Atkins said, folding up her apron
the Thursday before, at the close OF
the sewing circles session in her home,
"sort of pitiful that Bethel has to trot
over every year and celebrate at the
Point. Where in tsnket were all our
boys anyhow when the call come in
81? 1t always rifles me when l see
the date ahead of me, and know I've
got to listen to them folks tell of their
heroes, and we haven't got so much as
a tattered flag here"
Il ~ al
where she was putting away half-fin-
ished comforters. The apple trees
were in blossom outside the open win
dow and a riotous bluebird swayed
perilously near to give her friendly
hail, but she scarcely heard it.
How could they all think of sixty
years ago and the little petty rivalries
when the great world war was just
arms length away and they were
bringing Walt home that very day?
She had passed Elsie driving to the
station after him; little Elsie, barely
fourteen, with the full burden of the
motherless family on her shoulders
and a shiftless father to depend upon.
Going after Walt, Miss Coles" she
had called jOyously. Hes coming
home for good now"
The hot tears stung Laura's eyes as
she drove on. Walt, the one standby
of the family They had always been
sweethearts, ever since the old days
Of playing post office and clap-in, clap
out, at parties. 1t had been understood
that, some golden day, when her father
was willing to let her go, and Walt had
persuaded his father to take hold and
work to relieve him, they might be
married.
Then he had been with the first of
the boys to volunteer, and only his let
tiers from overseas had bridged the
time between. She knew when he was
wounded, and of the long months in
the hospital after the close of the war,
but no letter had come to her since
when Elsie sent her his letters to read
over did she know what was happen
ing, and she was too proud to ask why
he did not write to her now. Perhaps,
she thought, it was another romance
that had followed in France. She
could hardly blame him. The time had
been long.
But now he would come home, and
there was no celebration for him, no
committee of welcome at the barren lit
tie station, no flag wavings, nothing
but Elsie driving down in the old ram
shackle wagon behind Major, the Bar
stow standby.
think you can give a couple of
cakes this year. Laura?" asked the
minister's wife and suddenly the words
seemed to fire Laura's tongue with
courage. She turned around and faced
the sewing circle. Breathlessly she
talked, urging, pleading, trying to open
their eyes and make them see the
new. splendid duty that lay at their
door, until finally. when she ceased,
Miss Atkins wiped her eyes with a
quick little pat and rosesto propose
they all join in and help decorate the
living.
Decoration day was clear and sunny.
Walt came in from the barn with one
of the twins riding his shoulder and
kissed Elsie as she slipped by him.
His father sat by the kitchen window
poring over a timetable. 1t had been
Waits idea, sending him out to Ohio
to visit his brother to get a new angle
on life"
Dads been tied here for thirty
years." he had laughed. Il may have
a game leg, but. by jimminy. | think
/ know how to make the farm pay. I'm
going to send Elsie back to school,
where she belongs. and the twins can
visit grandmother in the summer.
Wen put new spirit into things around
here"
He had not told them what was hid
den in his heart, the hope of putting
them all on safe footing, and then
marrying. But when he dared even to
think of all Laura had meant to him,
the limp reminded him that he had lit
the right to hold her to her promise.
Sue, the liveliest twin. happened to
glance from the window, and beheld q
strange procession approaching from
fba rood There were flags waving in