| Show N 1 go V he took his life just capable of one hero c aim threw it in the thickest of the ngul fight what matter since aurora tailed failed him first I 1 B browning brownin jean Charter ls stepping out into the pearl and of dawn and dew sighed and then smiled at sigh sight of the riches spread before her again it was decoration day an oc caslon casion which in this little western town was one almost of festivity so great was the gathering from the sur founding rounding farms so gay the girls in their new summer finery so stirring the martial music of the local band even the pathetic sight of the handful ot of old soldiers marching in depleted ranks to the cemetery on the hillside but emphasized the pleasure of the sung aung who found in the holiday en cyment at once innocent and rever out lent miss charteris Charter ls walled wall ed down the th prim gravel walk between the lop low lo p green barberry hedge she held dafft lly fly aside the skirt of her crisp white wrapper lest it be touched by the th wet twigs on either side her spirited tec gold brown head turned to left and anc right las as she mentally calculated the th floral wealth of her little garden norn none would have bave dreamed that over that same radiant head thirty summers had passed so girlishly slender was the erect a and graceful figure so smooth the white brow so luminous the long pansy pausy purple eyes under the slim black brows she had swung the basket from her arm and was snipping from the great snowball bush at the end of the path its first contribution when a voice came piping to her from over the gate mis chartres Ch chart artris ns you got ma mas s dress donea just finished it at 12 last night billy she smiled at the freckled faced boy as she moved to go back to the house she returned carrying a bundle wrapped in newspapers there don t crush it laddie addle the boy lingered shamefacedly adly he was not a bad looking boy barring the freckles he kept casting furtive glances at a second story window in the little cream colored cottage where the blinds mere a still drawn Is is she a jerking thumb indicating the house goin with you to the cem miss charteris was ruth lessly snipping off every robin which had presumed to show its bl ie head in the long bed border 0 she will mill got go her mother Is buried there you know kosine rosine will go with me I 1 in goin too blurted balul ted billie then as though overwhelmed by the mag of the admission he skipped away aray hia his mother s dress crushed reel lessly against his throbbing heart and his bare feet as yet guiltless of tan kicking up a dust which hid his fiery blushes an wear my new clothes chanted billie wear my best clothes an a collar it was a royal burden jean Charter Char terl ls had gathered when at last she laid the shears in the basket brimful of blooms there were trailing sprays of white and gold stars peonies pink and crimson and white honeysuckle amber and rose and carmine blush roses pale and velvety sweetbriar delicately yet intensely fragrant and many a single flower which courier like had blossomed in prophetic beau ty back of the glittering window glass of the little home she approached were the glowing house plants which were soon to be transferred to the gar den these rising tier on tier glow ing geraniums fragrant heliotrope brilliant hibiscus golden mignonette were destined with their hardier breth ren to yield tribute to death aunt jean auntie jean rang a fresh young voice I 1 in dressed nora dressed me 0 may I 1 help you fix the flowers 9 and how soon may we go on the hill jean laid her basket on a hall chair lust just in time to catch in her kl 10 lovers ki again 4 arms the slim little white figure flying down the stairs you shall help me my precious she promised and she led the clustering curls on the dark little head and pressed with her own the rosy lips that were ripe for kisses breakfast over the two settled to work for rosine bad had decided views of her own as to the relative merits 0 of set de signs in contradiction to the prefer ence of miss charteris artena Ch for less formal symbols and all the time the haze hazel eyes sparkled and the restless little tongue talked trippingly on you have to work awful bard hard don t t you auntie jean did you get billie s mothers dress donea did billie come tor for if it I 1 id d like bialle it if he gasn wasn t freckled nora says you used to be rich she says you lived in that big stone house with the fountain in the yard she says my mamma ivas was rich too until after my papa went away and left her and then she came to live in this little house with you and then god wanted her what made you and my mamma get poor and why doesn t my papa come back and why wouldn t god let my mamma stay here and does she know when we put all these pretty flowers on her grave so for the two in the bright little room plain to severity save for its books and green things growing and air of indefinable refinement the per feet day wore on if now and then jean s sweet face paled and her tive lips quivered these the absorbed little maiden did not notice at all how should a prattling child busy with a wreath dream that her words might wound 9 they stood at the gate to see the procession wind by the hobbling vet yet erans the women of the relief corps the townspeople in vehicles and afoot the uniformed band the excited ahll dren running at either side but the sun had gone down in a splendor of scarlet and gold te streets were be ing fast deserted and all the air was still steeped in amber brilliance when jean charteris Charter ls and the little girl car ned ried their treasures between them up the green velvet sward of that sloping hill sacred to silence and to sweet sate safe slumber the grave yard knew now no pres ence save their own on several graves were flags on the greater number flowers but some were bare of bloom and from one to another of these the late comers moved leav ing some sprays on each then they sought a certain corner where a sim pie stone recorded briefly a yo wife s death I 1 lou ou shall place them all said jean charteris she gave rosine the basket and stood leaning against the marble shaft her black trailing gown outlining her slender form her head drooping as though in weariness with unconscious elation the child went about her task and afar in the road billie watched her billie stiff in his best sunday suit tortured by new shoes agonized by an tomed collar so absorbed was he in following every movement of hs his idol he did not hear the step approaching he turned with a hasty exclamation at a touch on his shoulder turned to confront a man who was decidedly a stranger the latter pointed to the dark figure by the stone who he asked is thap that miss charteris Charter ls she lives in the little old chirtou cottage now she makes dresses my god the man murmured has it come to this with jean conscious of the boy boys s sharp iny the man took from his pocket two pieces of metal one brass one silver here take these down to the agent give him the check and tell him to send my trunk to the hotel you may keep the dollar billie grabbed the money and simul uttered a yell rosine ro sine I 1 he wag was valiant enough in this plutocratic hour ro sine sinet come on I 1 I 1 ira in goin to buy candy I 1 A final placing of the last wreath an eager question an ail answering nod from the bowed head then the child was flying toward the road through the mellowing radiance Fadia of the fading light shouting questions to billie as ahe he came something in the skimming fl A of the agile little body in her ier r voice in the shape of the curl clus aclus head caused the stranger to put out a detaining hand what he cried is your name lit tie tle onea rosanel she wrested herself free let me go with billie my names name s rosine rosine raymond t then she was wag dashing down the hill after the fortunate billie the man tall straight and soldier ly with prematurely silvered hair and darl mustache went rent striding across the green space that intervened between him and that quiet woman by the white shaft jean he cried hoarsely jean charteris Charter ls A low shivering cry broke from the woman she stiffened erect stood as it if frozen tell me be he begged about that that child she says her name Is jean is she the shock of his coming had left her weak weal and shaking it was with an effort she spoke yes she is your child do you learn it now for the first time god help me yes I 1 did not dream there might be a child when a few months after our marriage I 1 learned how rose had deceived me I 1 was furl furi ous I 1 had confided in her I 1 told her how I 1 loved you and she she spoke of your engagement to will clement her sympathy was sweet there was no question of a heart being caught in the rebound never save for one ft botnan has my heart beaten a pulse the taster faster she knew this when we were married but she hoped until the day some months after our mar ariage when a chance word during a chance meeting with clement brought the whole truth out you had refused him and this rose knew when she told pe me the contrary I 1 settled every thing I 1 possessed on her and went away vowing never to look upon her face again the weary bitter voice ceased we shall speak of this now said jean charteris Charler ls slowly and then never again the bank in which ou on had deposited was the same which controlled my father s business when the defalcation came rose a money and ours was sucked down in the whirlpool father did not long sur vive the blow rose could do nothing she had been brought up in idleness in luxury besides she was ill and miserably unhappy so I 1 was always clever as a seamstress she came to me and we were comfortable quite comfortable together two years ago a sharp attack of pneumonia ended all rosine was then 4 you took her into your home and your life said the man in a voice that though low shook with passion you supported her and her child if you had known her treachery hush the soft word was fin perlous she pointed to the flower strewn mound below hush she Is here besides I 1 did know you knew it ita when howa the day you went away rose came to me she fold told me the truth the last gleam of sunset had faded amethystine shadows crept up the draws but in the clear afterglow they saw each other quite distinctly the two who stood in silence there when he spoke it was in a voice that thrilled her the voice of the lover of her youth jean will you come to me now nowa she answered first say to her I 1 forgive you dear for an instant he stood irresolute then slowly he sank on one knee bowed his bared head over the masses of perfumed bloom when he rose and held out his hand she laid her own within it and thus they walked to the gate and down the road toward the village where the lights were begin ning to gleam you are tired he said and slip ped his arm around her I 1 have made a new fortune in a new world jean you shall work no more rosine and billie were feasting mer rily in the cottage when the two turned in at the garden gate to think said jean as they went up betwixt the low barberry borders dew silvered in the moonlight that it was only this morning I 1 walked here alone and so sad save for the child I 1 ah ali the child he said softly 11 r h angrily M much uch may happen in a day my jean somewhere she said a face still glowing from his I 1 i ses I 1 read this between calvary day and aas ter da cia paths saddest day and glad dest dd do lay but one day my beloi beloved ed he murmured then as B hie ille fled laughing by them they passed into the p irple gloom of the porch toward the open door from winch which the lamplight streamed making a path of white loveliness for their feet memorial day song respectful dedicated to the G A R where sleep in honor martyrs for our nation lend 0 i e flowers lend your decoration while to 0 d glory giving salutation S ag ng we our choral lay hall 0 columbia like the morning glowing may radiant freedom light on thee be stowing all lands illumine and still brighter teK growing shine on to perfect day hall hail to the people who a a trust receiving from patriot fathers liberty achieving for all in bondage sore oppressed and grieving will not their trust betray hall to the banner freedom freedoms s fairest token flag of a union that can ne er be broken while hearts heroic strong as bulwarks oaken guard it on land and sea rest 0 ye heroes not in vain your dying for sons and daughters on their god relying pledge like devotion with you nobly vying in love and loyalty hall 0 columbia every heart enslave ing hall hail ye your country in her peril saving hall hail peerless banner in all breezes waving flag of the brave and free freel christian ORIGIN OF MEMORIAL DAY rufus P parrish of kewanee urged commemoration of the dead memorial day originated with a man who was recently followed to the grave at kewanee III by one of the largest throngs of old soldiers that ever attended a funeral in a town ol 01 like size the name of this man was rufus P parrish and it is admitted that a let ter he wrote to senator john A logan was chiefly instrumental in the action of congress in establishing a day on which throughout the nation graves of the union dead should be strewn with flowers and their brave acts commee orated it Is a matter of history that the custom of decorating graves of sol diers was commenced in kewanee in 1863 five years before senator logan se secured lured the action of congress ap pointing a memo memorial fial day it is known that mr parrish who had always taken the greatest interest in this ob servance wrote an urgent letter to senator logan urging him to tal e in to serious consideration legislation that would set aside a day on which all could join in memorial services aside from the interest that mr par rish took in such patriotic movements he had a very interesting history his grandfather on his mothers mother s side car ried a flintlock musket in the revola flonary war and the father of his fath er was a recruiting officer in the war of 1812 he was one of fifteen men to organize the first Y M C A in the united states during the war of the rebellion and before he was an out spoken abolitionist and figured kroml dently in underground railroad work by which slaves escaped to canada he was in the forefront of nearly ev ery movement of enlightenment of the community serving to foster libraries and lectures mr parrish was born in bew hamp shire about eighty seven years ago and came to illinois in april 1855 he Is survived by his faithful wife with whom he dwelt in wedlock for the un usual term of sixty four years 0 |
