Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-03-03
Medals and Things
BY MARTHA M. WILLIAMS


There was frost In the air; also In
Mrs. Hubert's manner, as she went be-
tween gorgeous ragged ranks of late
growth to meet the Trevors. Aunt
Bah had halted them there to see the
choice late roses and chrysanthemums
she was busy hooding and shrouding
against the strengthening cold. II could
cut them, to be sure" Aunt Bah ex-
planned. But it is shame not to let
them die happy In the sun on their
own stalks"
slow / wish humanity ran In fam
flies I" Archy Trevor laughed, taking
Mrs. Hubert's hand. IF 1t debut
there! / won't speculate on the i'm
possible. Instead, here are thanks for
what l may or may not be about to
receive"
"Vivian, dear-please snub him
hard" Anna Trevor entreated with
q plaintive accent. "He has been in
sufferable' now for three days over
he won't tell what. Say right off you
won't listen, no matter what it may be.
Then he will run away TO sulk-and
We can have a beautiful gossip"
"AbOut me, of course-I am-fixed--
as the laws of Modes and Persians.'
Archy interrupted.
"Good boyr Aunt Bah murmured
patting his arm.
He kissed her hand, saying with
twinkling eyes: "DO your worst, ladies
I'm ready for anything-eyen to have
you set the cats on me-"
YOU'D like that. no doubt-now that
You have grown cat fancier," Mrs
Hubert said silkenly.
Archy smiled, not quite easily, an
swering: There are cats-and cats
am not fond of-everything that has
claws"
"Stop fussing and be human" Aunt
Bah commanded. "When you are as
old as am you'll feel how wicked II
is tor waste life getting grouchy about
nothing. Go on and tell us your
great secret, Archy-whether it's about
money, marbles, or matrimony."
1T might concern all three-only II
doesn't" Archy answered, struggling
'It's only-all these came In bunch,
pulling from deep pocket huddlt
of ribbons, crosses and medals. "Near
affidavit along with them, saying
they're all due me. can't quite be
lieve IT."
"Archy! You darling!" Anna cried
hugging him close. Aunt Bah did tn,
same as soon as he was free. Mrs
Hubert looked on with humid eyes
her whole being fluid. Archy had beer
so silent. as to what had befallen IL
those months overseas--he had conn
back without a scratch. and ha,
seemed to avoid comradely gatherings
though he had chung to his buddy
Joe-George Green by name-close
than to real brother. They had ha
many laughs together about somethin
they would not name. When Joe
George went on to California, his las
shouted good-by had been: 'Lordy, oil,
son-they'll git you yet. Don't I wisl
i could stay and see the funl" Ever
after that Archy had held his tongue
And Vivian Hubert, whom he ha,
loved and lost as Vivian Dane, ha,
been hurt and chilled--there must b,
something terrible behind this reti
cenee-nothing could make her believ,
Archy had played the coward-bu
there were so many, many other way
wherein he might have tripped an,
fallen she had been far from happy.
Then he had begun dangling afte
the Francis woman--who affected tn
intense in everything. Just now sh,
owned humanitarian craze-wen
about doing good, according to he
own notion, to animals that she nigh
better have left alone. Cats were he
latest specialty-hence Vivian's thrus
at Archy-he had actually carrie,
home for the Francis person a lite
of blind kittens rescued from drown
ing. which she insisted were entitle,
to an easier death. Vivian hat
laughed easily over the story-there
by confounding the gossip who hat
told it, But she had cried Silly, hal
the night after--she had so hopet
Archy would understand her marriag,
had been hardly of her own making
but a yielding to what her elders ii
their wisdom had deereed. BY cyni
cal jest of fate, death had freed he
six months after the wedding day. Nov
the freedom was Dead sea fruit, turn
ing to ashes on her lips.
But she had rallied as women will
yelled her heart by playing with othe
suitors, telling herself the while sh,
would never marry anybody. She wa
striving TO hold fast to that menta
attitude-even with Archy proven ,
rare hero they were friends only. Fl,
stood tossing the decorations light,
from hand to hand. his sister ant
Aunt Bah trying hard to snatch then
away. Chipping the hands, he bel,
them out TO Vivian, saying with hi
most whimsical smile: Hold fas
what give you. Remember, Wv