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A Memorial Day Story
By HOWARD FIELDING
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41
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1 CvvuriuhL 100k, bu Charles IT. 7fofcc
,fT' HERE'S a young lady over
! there whom I know," said
XX . Gruydon hi a tone which iu
r dleated a very agreeable sur
i'li'ise. "I believe I'll run across and
speak to her." lie was upon the point
of rising when his companion laid a re
straining hand upon his arm and ask
L "Where?"
"In the little whiz cart just by the
end of the reviewing stand white hat
with a black plume. See her?"
"Yes," was the reply; "I see her.
But I wouldn't go over there if I were
yon."
Graydon turned, with a puzzled
look.
"Why not?" he asked.
"You'd better get some of the names
of the dignitaries on the reviewing
stand before the speechmaking begins.
You won't have more than live or ten
minutes."
"I guess you're right," said he. "I'd
3etter stick to my job. What the deuce
I should have done without your help I
really don't know. I've no mere no
tion about reporting mi affair of this
kind than your horse has. And now,
Mr. Blake," he added, poising his pen
oil, "if you'll give me a few of those
names you v.-.'!l cam once more the
.blciisi-.isof the stranger."
"How long have ye-i been doing
"MtMvsinaper work?" asked lllake.
"Nearly two years. But I've never
-done any general reporting. I begau to
write book notices for the paper during
my last year m college, and the editor
offered me a regular job after gradua
tion. I've done a few theaters, concerts,
lecture and th;tt sort of thing, and it
winel to me ihai. a Memorial day cel
ebration woui.Vft ou'er any great difll
fiillks, 'vipei i : 1 1 v as 1 write shorthand
and -can get all I want of the speeches
without both"r. rut in regard to Inci
dents and people I'd have been all at
ua if y'iii ha.'.n't picked me up at the
'depot. You see, I was never here before
nnd don't know a roul"
"It's queer that your city editor
should h.Te sent a stranger," remarked
Elake. "t'oi.-kiu't he get hold of some
tuie vi:c town?-'
"Everybody else was busy," replied
draydor., "an;! the city editor had a
l'ow with our regular correspondent
here r.iul fired h'ri ye3i.c-day."
At tLi.-j moment the grl in the auto
mcb'V looked in the"' direction and
made the smallest possible gesture of
recognition.
"Upon my word!" grumbled Gray
il iii, reaching into the bottom of the
wagon to pick up his pencil, which he
had dropped in his hurry to raise his
hat. "She didn't recognize me. She
bowed to you."
"I have the pleasure of a slight ac
quaintance," said Blake, with a grav
jty which struck Graydon as odd and
even mysterious.
He v.-a a about to address a question
to Ms companion, but Blake seemed to
perceive his intention and to avoid the
subject hastened to give the names of
the (Kgnitnrfes upon the reviewing
Htand. Graydon tolled down the names
meekrniicnUy. but Ids mind was busy
'Willi another m -'ia-r. Why did Blake
use this peculiar tone in speaking of
?.Iiss Lorrimer? There was a vague
suggestion In it that the young. lady
was hedged about by some peculiar
misfortune.
"I met Miss Lorrimer at class day
two years ago," said Graydon In the
alrst pause, "nnd I've Been her half a
been trying to "write. J. mn eu t neen
anywhere nor seen anybody. Bo you
know the gentleman who is with her?"
"Her husband," said Blake. And,
having spoken the words, he shut hi
lips together in a straight, hard line.
Graydon's notebook slid off his knee,
but he did not stoop for it. He stared
at the. mass of people on the stand, and
their murmur seemed to rise into an
excited clamor.
"Who is he?" he asked. And he was
amazed at the change in his voice.
"John C. Kirby," responded Blake,
"l WOCLKN'r GO OVEB THEBE."
dozen times since then at the houses of
friends in Boston, but the last time
waa nearly a year ago. I've led the
life of a gilley slave of late, with my
confounded work on the paper and a
i;J Ljrrowig jtr.'.-Iotlraiaa that I've
with the manner of a sullen aud angry
witness in court.
The sentiments of Blake in regard to
this matter constituted a puzzle which
might have interested Graydon power
fully except for the greater interest in
his own. He might have interpreted
one by the other and have reached the
natural conclusion that Blake had been
in love with Miss Borrimer. perhaps
without realizing it until too late. This
was not quite his own situation, for
there had been moments when the
promptings of his own heart had been
unmistakable.
That Blake could ever have hoped to
win Mis? l',orr'mer's love seemed hard
ly pro-lwible.'for he lacked the qualifica
tions, so far as Graydon could judge,
by so brief un acquaintance.
"I think I will go over and speak
with Mrs. Kirby for a moment after
the exercises," said Graydon.
"Don't do it," said' Blake laconically.
"Is Kirby afflicted with jealousy?"
asked Graydon, half in jest.
"Yes," was the grave response. "It's
a mighty sad story."
At this moment there was a call to
ewler, and the assemblage slowly grew
qmlet. With the aid of Blake's local
knowledge Graydon was able to follow
the preliminaries leading up to the ora
tion of the day by General Bhilip Har
well. There had been a rumor that the
general would deal with up to date pol
itics in a somewhat lively manner, and
Graydon was fearful that important
points would escape him because of his
dense ignorance of political matters.
But those who had started this rumor
had maligned Harwell. He stuck to
the theme and lessons of the day and
made a really admirable address.
Just at the close of the address Blake
touched Graydon's arm and directed
his attention to the motor car, whose
occupants the young man had been
mercifully permitted to forget for a
few minutes. Graydon was just in
time to see Kirby reach across and
take from her hand something that
looked like a visiting card, ne glanced
at It and then glared like a dragon.
Raising his head, hia eyes met Gray
don's, and the young man felt as if he
had received a blow from a club.
"What's the matter with that old vil
lain?" he whispered to Blake. "Is he
crazy ?"
"Something of the sort," was the an
swer. "It's a tragedy."
"But why why In the world did she
marry him?"
Blake shook his head.
"She Is an orphau, as you know,"
said he; "she had no one to advise her."
"Advise her!" echoed Graydon. "That
man's face is advice enough, I should
think. Why the deuce does he glare at
me so?"
"It's queer, and that's a fact," said
Blake. "Can It be possible that one of
her friends has recognized you and has
sent that card to tell her that you are
here? Some silly girl may have done it,
and that would be enough to excite
Kirby's jealousy."
Graydon was beginning to be angry.
"There's no reason why I should be
afraid of him," said he. "I'm going
over there by and by."
"To please yourself," said Blake
gravely, "and to raise a trivial unpleas
antness for her."
The obvious justice of this criticism
affected Graydon for the moment and
he devoted his attention to the pro
ceedings. But there was a streak of
obstinacy In his disposition and he held
to his purpose.
"You'd better stick to me," said Blake
when the speaking was done. "I'll
drive you down to the depot, and you
can put your stuff on the wire for Bos
ton In time for the late afternoon edi
tions of your paper."
"I'll be with you In three minutes,"
responded Graydon as he sprang from
the wagon.
He made his way toward the automo
bile, and as he approached he was
greeted with a frightful frown from
Kirby, while the lady gave him a hasty
nd and turned her face away. It was
her manner which decided Graydon's
course. He sadly acknowledged her sa
lute and pressed on, making a circuit
through the departing throng aud re
turning to the point where his service-
aide chance acquaintance awaited him.
During the ride to the depot he de
voted himself wholly to business, set
ting his notes in order so that he could
transcribe them more rapidly and add
ing various details suggested by his
rompanion.
"You can sit in the wagon and write
your stuff out," said Blake. "When
you get a batch ready go in and file it
with the operator. TLen come back.
Ferhaps I can help you out as you go
along."
"I can file my Introluction and the
names of the committees and notables
now," said Graydon. "Then I'll come
back and do the speeches."
-hp. ;ntc,r3.1. the waiting room of
the station on trie way tu uiTviv.-uini j
ollice lie glanced through a window op- ;
posite and saw Mr. and Mrs. Kirby. .
Their heads were framed as in a pie- '
ture. In a moment they vanished, oue j
to the right and the other to the left. I
Graydon ran across the room and !
went out upon tho platform under the j
grimy, vaulted roof of the shed. Mrs. '
Kirby, alone, was walking slowly to- J
ward some seats where the usual hu- '
man miscellany was waiting for trains. !
Graydon overtook her just as she was;
about to sit down.
"I beg your pardon," said he. . "I"
She turned, startled, and glanced at
him and then beyond him In a manner
most significant. Obviously she ex
pected Mr. Kirby to appear at any mo
ment. "Mrs. Kirby," said he, "I couldn't go
away without speaking one word"
She stared at him blankly.
j "Mrs. Kirby?" she repeated. "Who
j is Mrs. Kirby?"
j "Why why you, f course," he
I stammered.
j "I don't undstand," aid she. "But
! you mustn't slop to explain. My uncle
! is coining, and he will be very ancrv."
"AYho who is your uncle?"
"Tue gen; Ionian who was with me."
"Is Mr. Kirby your uncle?"
"I don't know any Mr. Kirby; My
ihiele s name is Lorrimer Jajnes Lor
rimer. I have mentioned him to you."
"But what have I done to him?"
gasped Graydon. "Why is he angry
with me?"
"My goodness!" she replied, with
r.plrit. "Why shouldn't he? You prac
ilcally accused him of robbing the
bank."
"I V"
-j.no story mat you wrote in your
paper about the. Farmers' bank of this
city simply made him furious."
"But I didn't write it," he protested
"I never even read it. I saw the head
lines, but I didn't know there was any
thing in it about him."
"Mr. Stearns says you wrote it."
"Mr. Stearns? I don't know him."
"He is your paper's correspondent
here, nnd lie says"
"The rascal! He probably wrote the
story himself. He was tired from Hie
paper yesterday. That's why I'm here
today. I'll look Mr. Stearns up before
I go back to Boston and gently reprove
hiiu"-
"But you were with him today. You
were in a carriage with him at the un
veiling of the monument, and he sent a
card to us while General Harwell was
speaking. He wrote on It, 'If you will
promise not to make any use of the in
formation before tomorrow I will tell
you who wrote that bank story.' Uncle
looked at him and gave his promise
i i ill j
9 4
i
i
ly, "V suotfitl' 'cave teegrap-reu mis
awful nonsense to my paper. It would
have cost ine my job, and Mr. Siearns,
alias Blake, would have been vory
neatly revenged upon our city editor
who tired him. If I hadn't met you"
"That was what Mr. Stearns was
anxious to prevent," said she. "Of
course I should have told you who he
was, and that would have spoiled the
plot."
"He was clever, very clever," said
Graydon between his teeth. Then ha
suddenly extended his right V hand,
pointing.
Miss Lorrimer caught a glimpse of
the face of Stearns, alias Blake, at the
corner of the depot, and the next mo
ment she was alone aud anxiously
awaiting the noise of combat.
Five minutes later Graydon return
ed, wrathful and disappoiutcd.
"I missed him," he said. "He dodg
ed me somehow." He glanced at the
sheets of copy aud the notebook which
plie had gathered up duriug-his ab-
f?ouce. "What in the world shall I do
about this yarn?''
"It Is sublimely ridiculous," said she,
"s,o far as I can judge. There isn't a
name that's right, and some of your i
'facts' are uniquely twisted. But I j
know most of tho people, and we can i
fix it up together. Uncle will be here :
In 51 Civ m t initial iir.il In11 linln no " I
"Uncle!"
"Oh, I'll engage to manage him," said
she. "He has a hasty temper, but at
heart he is the kindest of man."
"I don't much care what he is," said
Graydon, with deep feeling, "so long
as he's your uncle only your uncle."
In Time.
"What did you do at the ktnderg trten
this morning?" asked Ethel's mother
the other day.
"We sewed a clock," answered Ethel.
Then, as if a new thought had struck
her, Ethel asked, "Mother, is that what
people mean when they speak of tak
ing 'a Btiteh in time?' "
-Put
Why He Couldn't.
Doctor (to Gilbert, aged four)-
your tougue out, please.
Little Gilbert protruded the tip of his
tongue.
Doctor No, no; put It right out.
"I can't, doctor. It's fastened on to
me."
It Fell Down.
Ellen, aged six, had some chewing
gum, but while chewing It accidentally
swallowed It. When asked how It hap-
i .-1 ii i. in 1 1 ii j
peneu une i cpncu ; i ivmuu i iiciy n..
It fell down."
The Krnlns' Call.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruin went
To make .a party call;
Mr. B. was rather Ws,
But Mrs. B. was small.
They might imlpcd have hired a cab.
But they preferred to walk.
And so Ibey did and passed the tlmo
In edifying talk.
Said Mrs. B., "That coat, my dear,
la Just tho thing for you."
"Thank you, my love," satd Mr. B.
"Your furs are fetching too."
Twas 6 o'clock, and very late.
But the friends they went to se
Were all bt hoir.o nnd so polite
The Bruins stayed to tea.
New Tort: Herald.
I fi n
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li
Ull
t OUT.
BHE STAEKD AT HIM BLANKLY.
with a nod. Then Mr. Stearns pointed
to you. And uurle was crazy, because
If he hadn't promised he would have
gone over and talked to you."
Graydon pressed his hand to bis fore-
bead.
"Let's think," said he. "Let's see
what this means. That fellow met me
here this morning. He Introduced him
self under the name of Blake and said
he was on the press committee and
would take care of me. I was very
grateful, because I'm absolutely green
about this business and hadn't an ac
quaintance In the city. lie has stuck
to me ever since aud has given mc
points"
"What kind of points?"
"The names of people and and all
that."
"Let me see some of them."
Graydon gave her a sheet of copy. j
"You may know some of these," he j
said. "They're the ladies in charge of :
the singing" I
Miss I,orrlmor glanced at the paper
and burst Into uncontrollable laughter.
"I happen to know them," she said
as soon as she could speak, "because
their names have been In the local
paper here a great many times in the
last few days. There has been a very
amusing strike of the scrubwomen in
Carvell & Co.'s dry goods store, and
tliete" she poInt"d to the sheet of
copy "these are the womeuT'
Graydon was pale with rage.
"la auolhiT mjnute." .be 6ald.fcoAarise"
pi LIST
Rational
OF HEPPNEFt.
ANK
x.
A
A.
RH 10 A President
KttKA Vio President
(. W. CONHER Crf hier
T. L. FREELAND. . AsNip'i.m Cashier
Transact a General Bankinq Business.
paid on Time Deposits.
Four per cent.
CXUHAXGE ON ALL PART8 OF THE WORLD BOUGHT AND SOLD
Ocllectioiis iiinltnii nil pomtboa reasonable ten:is. Surplus and undivided proflt 35.li0.
t ---.. . -r f i
PflLflCE HOTEL
HEPP.MER, OREGON
Leading Eastern Oregon Hotel
MODERN CONVENIENCES
ELECTRIC LIGHTED . . .
Did'-r New Msnj-ra-:t. ThiT'inlt'y
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nilf- METSCBAX, Jr, Prop.