South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-02
The Monument of Wct01o-By O. Henry

6CoNTINCED FROM pace 1ol
got back home ON schedule lime.
Everybody was a- tho deDa. r.vinr
forth Roosevelt democrat Pr O. g.
used % be called RebeI-geus. There
were two hrass-bands and the
mayor and schoolgirls iu white
frightening the street car horses hv
throw ing Cherokee roses i'm the
streets. and--weu maybe you've
seen celebration by "a town that
was Inland and out of water.
they wanted 20 Brevrt-Coforrr
Willie 90 get into carriage and boz
GTawn hy prominent citizens and
some ~ the city aldermen 90 the
armory. but be stuck fo his CONF
pa1y and marched at the head of 81
I'D sam Houston Avenue. The build
1ngs on both side was covered with
1laFs and audience. and everybody
hoilercd Robbins. or Hello. WfUar
rs we marched up ln files OF f0urs. I
never saw a illusrriouser-I0 hu-
man in my life than Willie was he
nae az least seven or eight media rs
and diplomas and decorations on the
greast OF his Khaki coat. De was
burnt the color ~ saddle. and he
certainly done himself proud
They told us at the depot that
the courthouse was o. be i1umfu.ra
NJ 1870. and there would be speeches
and chili-cou-carue at the Palace
Hotel. Miss Dolphlne THOMPSON
was TO read an original poem by
James Whitcomh Ryan. and Con-
stable Hooker had promised MS "a
salute Of nine guns from Chicago
that ne had arrested that dav
nrmory Willie saws % me.
me?' p'1' WIN
Why. yes says T. If it aim,
30 far thar we can't hear tho I'm.
mutt and the shouting die away. I'm
hungry myself says j. and I'm
pininE for some home grub. but TU
go with YOU
Willie steered me down some
side streets till we came to TttIs
white cottage In a new lot with q
zOAo0-toot lawn decorated with
brickbats and old barreI-staves.
Halt and give the countersien.
says I 20 Willie Don't YOU know
this dugOut2 It's the birds mes
that Joe Cranberry built before h,
married Myra Allison. What y0l
going there for2
nut ~ AAl4t ALREADY n1u the gate
open. He walked up the brick WALL
20 the steps. and I went with him
Myra was sitting in a rocking-chai
on the poem. sewing Her hair wa.
smoothed back kind of hasty an,
e3yied in a knot. I never noticed til
Then that she had frecklcs. Joe wa
ut one side of the porch. in hi
shirt sleeves. with no collar on. an,
! no signs Ofa shave, trying TO scrap,
out hole among the brick bats an,
tin cans 10 plant little fruit tre
in. He looked up but never said
word. and neither did Myra.
Willie was sure dandy-looking il
his uniform. with medals strung OF
his breast and his new gold-h8ndle,
sword. You'd never have taken hin
Tor the little white-headed snipe tina
the girls used TO order about am
make fun of. He just stood ther
for minute. looking at AIyra wit
a peculiar little smile on his face
and then ne says 20 her, slow. an
kind OF holding on 10 his word
with his teeth
"'Oh. 1 don't know! Maybe
could II I triedH
That was all that was said. Will
raised his hat. and we walked away
And somehow when he sal
that, I remembered. all Of suddeI
the night OF that dance and Will
brushing his hair before the lOOkin
glass, and Myra sticking her head j
the door 10 guy him.
when we got back 20 Sam Hous
ton Avenue. Willie says.
Well. so long. Ben. I'm gOin
, down home and get off my shoes an
n take n rest.
Your SAYS 7. What's the mat
ter with you? Amt the COURTEOUS
1ammed with everybody in tow