Show 14 THE OLD ROCKING CHAIR if u A memorial day story by OLIVIA BARTON 1131 1 N a bench on her back porch am sat mrs white very stiff cimral M very uncompromising the morning glory vines blown by the wind played in checkered light and shade over the porch over her tene tence upright figure topped with its crown of silver hair over the face of a oung young man who stood near twirl ing his hat the may sunbeams stole as tar far as the door where just within the screen a girl was seated cracking nuts there was a vacant rocking chair on the porch suddenly it began to move in the wind and reminded mrs white of her manners which in the excitement of the luter interview vew she bad had forgotten take a chair henry but the young man in no mood for latruce a truce ignored the invitation then you wont won t let me have eleanor 7 he said she answered him as bluntly no henry you re a good boy and all that but I 1 ou on re not my choice he shrugged his shoulders whose choice did you say saya at the sound of his voice the crack ing of nuts in the kitchen ceased mrs white A bite took up her shawl and an her fingers through the fringe dont don t be sarcastic henry I 1 mean what I 1 say my choice eleanor has given me her word of honor that she fillpot will pot marry without my consent from within the door there came a sharp sound of a pan tailing falling it made the youth start nervously the grandmother laughed that Is what the men all say they never seem to realize that the girl who has a sense of duty toward an old woman is best worth winning henry walked slowly to the porch steps then turned lou ion see its just this way mrs white it isn t a ques tion of whether eleanors worth win ning or loves me or anything else all ali I 1 know Is that I 1 love her and am too crazy to think of anybody or anything but her I 1 suppose I 1 ought to say I 1 d quit but he went to the other end of the porch from whence he could get a view of 0 the girl seated within the girl whose eyes met his but I 1 can t promise you good by and although he addressed mrs white he looked beyond her through the doorway backing slowly to the steps then he turned and walked off down the garden path attended by a sentinel row of sunflowers eleanor went on with her work her grandmother pulled at the fringe a few moments then she went to the door you heard what henry salda she asked eleanor nodded the silence and a tell tale redness in her cheeks and eyes spoke volumes have you got enough nuts for the cake filling 7 the old lady said bald after a pause yes in they re all done and eleanor gathering up her apron full of shells in one hand and the dish in the other rose and went into the pantry glad to escape conversation her grandmother returned to the porch the chair rocked in the wind but she heeded not its invitation ta then you wont won t let me have eleanor ing instead her old position on the bench there she sat alone for a guarter quarter of an hour or so until eleanor passing on her way out to water the verbe nae nag stopped to say grandma you look drowsy take this pillow and she slipped a cushion behind the old woman s back then as she started down the steps I 1 in going to the gate to watch tor for the parade she said you know this is decoration day and the old soldiers are to march to the aeme tery there was a twinge in the elderly conscience at eight sight of the young face with its it drawn cheeks and heavy pink lidded eyes but she only said bald thank you but I 1 must not sleep I 1 want to see the soldiers too and the girl passed out into the garden after a few minutes something set the chair to rocking again but this lime time it was not moved by the wind tt it was occupied by a tall strapping man who twirled a hat in his hands she looked closer no it was a cap a blue cap and the man mail was in torm form he ile was big and broad shouldered nd 4 blunt in speech and manner as he ald aid well lindy I 1 im in here for the last time we march tomorrow to morrow I 1 can get a furlough if I 1 want it but I 1 dont don t W want ant it unless well you know what I 1 do want strangely enough he did not wait for her words she did not could not speak he ile went on what have you got against me lindy Is it because I 1 seem rough but I 1 im in a soldier and you don t find many softies in the army but we boys are true true as this uniform and we aren t afraid of a battery not even the kind that your eyes flash lindy the cap was thrown to the floor and he clasped his hands big neath veath er beaten hands and leaned toward her tell you I 1 in a rover and can t settle down but it ain t so III only fight as long as the flag needs me and then then home to ou I 1 know they re trying to match you with that old white because he s rich aren arent t they something tied the woman s tongue she could not utter a sound he rose I 1 know you love me mer lindy but youre you re afraid im I 1 m off off tor for good or bad and when you hear of me dead with a bullet in my body you 11 know whose fault it is you re a coward false and chicken hearted he stood in front of her pouring out the words in a storm he was very red his breath felt hot on her fore JA f k 11 rn r r J 44 eleanor flew out the back way head as he bent over her but I 1 love you lindy and when I 1 come back again when the war is over be true be true the words came in choppy disjoint ed sentences then they suddenly ceased the chair began to rock again sedately this time and another speak er took up the thread where here it had been abruptly cut off took it up I 1 in n a thin cold voice he was a gray beard ed man with a bible in his hand and joe her soldier lover had gone miss melinda the newcomer was saying I 1 deemed it proper you should acquaint yourself with the mar ariage service beforehand your family and myself have decided on a church wedding I 1 know you prefer a home ceremony but we have decided other wise you are young and these mat may safely be left to older heads he took her hand in his own palm which was cold and with a formal good by he too disappeared but the chair kept on its rocking more violently this time and in it sat an old nure holding a peevish baby tight against her breast she was saying I 1 tell you mrs white it a a good thing you dida t marry that soldier joe cooper ju t see how nice you re fixed now here you have a good reliable husband some older to be sure but you gals all need tight reins I 1 was young and giddy once myself and think if ou d a married that soldier you d a ben a widow woman now for they re decoration deco ratin his grave this minute it is decoration day you know they do say as joe cooper had promised his mother not to go back that last time and then all of a be he up and went a love affair they say killed course he was first thing grandmother white sat up very stiff and opened her eyes eleanor came rushing on to the porch granny dear what s the mat ter tera did the gun frighten youa it was only the salute the parade has start ed you must be uncomfortable on that bench come sit here and she led her to the rocking chair vacant now but still swinging ng swinging no no not there not in that chair eleanor grandmother white rose and went to the edge of the porch from whence she could see the line of men with flags waving here and there between the trees when the last soldier had filed out of sight and while the drum was stil sounding in la her ears cars the old lada lad said yes yes it was a bad dream aleanor child hut but did you say ahert was enough nut filling for a big caked yes grandma the girl replied trying not to show surprise at the ir relevant question then we II 11 invite that young henry over for dinner eleanor grew pink as the bunch of 0 bleeding hearts at her belt bell but granny you said never mind what I 1 said run over to his ills mother mothers s and tell him to come here send him to me As eleanor flew out the back way bareheaded eager her grandmother called after her tell him hell find me m on the porch in the old rocking chair A i l W |