Evening star., 1928-05-30

4 Qemned peacn I1mDS, the sew
1 i cred end dropped to the
ground and the girl was ready
to descend to the home plateau.
But first she turned her flushed face
To the breeze coming up from the val
ley. It had been a brisk mornings
work, pruning the little orchard. and the
wind was refreshing.
And ordinarily 1t was refreshing to
look off into the valley. That was what
had brought her grandfather up here
many years before, and its beauty had
been part Of Myra's inheritance. But
rs she glanced down across the hills
to the clustered town Is miles away a
shade of bitterness, of resentment even,
came to her face.
"Myra, ooh. Myra" rose quavering
voice from below.
Coming. grandfather" she answered
1--WE just finished"
Thirty feet down the narrow noun
tain path. on the next plateau. was
little apple orchard and some pear
and cherry trees. In the very edge
of these, near the verge where The
view would not be obstructed. was a
small vine-covered cottage, very SIM
pie, for 1t had been built by one
armed soldier, assisted only by his
young wife. but beautiful with the
weather -softening years and the cloth
ing vines. Thirty or forty feet below,
on the next mountain shelf, was the
vegetable garden, and wandering up
and down through them all were a
small army of chickens and an out
flanking corps Of turkeys. Myra looked
after them.
The old man was sitting on bench
outside. gazing into the valley. He
wore an officers uniform, well pre-
served and neat, considering the years
gone by.
You shouldn't work so hard, Myra, '
as the girl stopped beside him. Il will
help some tomorrow. have been a
little lazy today, but got to thinking
of nearly so years ago and its glorious
deeds and II forgot about home
duties. I think I must be getting old.
Myra-into the dreaming age"
He was silent for some moments.
while her fingers caressed the epaulet
on his shoulder. Presently he noticed
and glanced at her with whimsical,
apologize smile.
The mood was too strong for mo, :"
he explained, 80 1 put on my uni
form. The trappings we're so much a
part of the four years that wearing
them made 1t seem more real. But the
old mans mood win soon pass and
tomorrow he will try to do his share
of the work, and the next day"
THE next day he will not do a
thing but sit on the bench here with
his uniform on and tell me about the
marching away years ago and the Draye
deeds that followed" interrupted My-s.
And shall get up nice dinner and
sing some Of the old war songs aft
erward. Wen celebrate the anniversary
ourselves and won't even think of the
the reunion down yonder. We've
she hesitated, then burst out:
Its shame--shame-shan1e, grand
father! Your own company that you
led through the war, and you Fhe ank-
ing officer left, and they haven't even
asked you TO the Memorial day r.u7ion
/ suppose It's because we live I'D In
the mountains and are poor Brt ol5
soldiers shouldn't think of such things,
even If some Of them are rich. It's
that second lieutenant's WORK. He
owns mill somewhere out West, ave
heard, and is the next ranking officer
He wants all the glory himself. nate
such"
"Myra, Myra," demonstrated the old
man. Il don't like to hear you say
such things. The boys are all true,
noble fellows. I know, for I camped
and fought with them four years, end
that very Lieut.. Breck once saved ny
life at the risk of his own. We were
| like brothers and there wasn't a single
cowardly or unworthy man among
| them"
Then why"
1T was long time ago, Myra, and
other things have come between. Some
Of the boys probably think I'm dead
and others have lost sight OF me
through the years. We are long way
back and, you know, I've not been
down 70 the town in years. It's
merely
Myra shook her head
You were their leader" she said.
| "and 1t was their place to hunt you
up. The reunion is only two days of
Maybe it's only forgetting. but 1 don't
| like 1t. =" Then she caught sight
| OF the distress in his face and with a
quick revulsion of feeling she dropped
on her knees, clasping the empty sleeve
and caressing it tearfully.
Forgive me. grandfather" she plead
ed. Il did not mean to hurt. We
won't say anything more about them.
but have a nice reunion all to ,,ur
selves. and you shall tell of the brave
Gays and VIII listen as no audience
ever listened before"
softly.
so We will-so we will" he agreed.
But they were all brave and true men.
those followers Of mine, and the ones
who are still living cannot have
changed. wish you could see and
know them as they really are. /
| hope" He paused with the sentence
unfinished. the wistfulness still In his
face.
What. grandfather?"