The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-07-21
HOME.
BY GERTRUDE ROCKWELL,

Se9e9e9S9eSe9e98S
%. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate. }
Susan Kent was cutting her flowers.
The big lilac bush by the front door
hung low with it's load of purple
clusters. Mrs. Kent's scissors shipped
lavishly, and occasionally she held a
spray against her white cheeks. Her
cheeks and her hair had whitened
rapidly since that day nearly a year
ago when Derry had come home. She
tried to keep her thoughts from going
back to that homecoming, so different
from her plans. She tried to thank
God that Derry had come home, even
though in some strange way he had
left the living, thinking part Of him in
France.
She looked tenderly over to where
Derry sat on the door step, playing
with spray of lilac.
Down the street came a swift patter
Of feet, and little girl stopped at
the gate. She was dressed in white,
with a red. white and blue cap.
"Flowers ready, Mrs. Kent?" she in
quired, smoothing down her starched
skirts.
"All ready, Gladys, and about all
you can carry, my DEAR" She came
over and placed the big bouquet in the
child's arms. Derry was looking at
the red, white and blue cap. He shook
his head slowly, and brushed his hand
over his eyes.
"YOu aren't going to the parade?''
asked Gladys, as she started off.
'No dear; don't think Derry wants
to go today" Mrs. Kent replied, stead
lily.
Derry went over and lay down in
the hammock. Mrs. Kent paused on
the steps to see him settled.
"While you have little nap, I'll get
the work done, DEAR" she said, as
she went in the house.
Presently down town the band be-
gan to play. AS the faint sounds and
the rumble of the drums came up the
street, the boy in the hammock sat
ny. ASdiA Tic S1lSuC 1AO"h "A1Ah1Cu
his forehead, and he brushed his eyes
with his hand.
The boom of the drum drew nearer
Derry stood up. He went down the
gravel walk, and opening the gate,
stepped out. He paused. The splendid
strains of the national anthem came
to his ears.
Derry looked puzzled and walked to-
ward the sound.
Mrs. Kent worked quietly about the
house for some time. Derry usually
slept most of the forenoon. She tried
| to shut her ears to the music, and the
knowledge that out there, khaki-clad
lads, strong, intelligent, were paying
honor to those who slept.
The boom Of the saluting guns smOte
upon her ears. She went to the door
and peeped at the hammock. It was
empty. In swift alarm she glanced
about the yard and saw the open gate
| In 10 months Derry had never been
out there alone. She ran down the
street trying to steady her trembling
knees. With sure instinct she made
for the cemetery. He had gone to
the parade.
She sped on. The procession was
winding slowly out, drums muted
music stilled. The sun caught in the
folds Of the silken flag at the head
Of the column, and the breeze flung it
forth red as the Sacrificia1 h1oOd nj
| it's slain, white as the souls of its
heroic womanhood, blue as the heav.
ems that had guarded and moulded it.
But she had eyes for none of these
Only dimly did she see the thin line
of blue, the whitehall girls, the sturdy
marching lines of khaki. On and on
they passed, and at last she saw him
across the moving pageant. He was
standing alone at the edge Of the
crowd the dazed wondering froWu