River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-04-03

| the English style, was al ample comfort
able retreat, ever oren to all soldiers
whose stumps halted at the colonel's
door.
"Oh, mamma" said little Kitty Garlic
ton, now three years old, and Kitty Bar.
tons only child, somebody's tum, some.
body's tum, over deIe. See in de garden 7
sure enough as Mrs Carleton out Of
her windows, she saw that the adjoining
mansion we have described was indeed
occupied. Strolling under the trees she
saw finely formed, stalwart man. The
stranger turned bis face toward Mrs
Carleton's home. "See." said little Kitty
something geen in his eye"
at is a green patch, darling, on his
eye. 1t must be poor soldier. Kitty
must love the poor soldiers"
II will, mamma, and won't your
eyes," the widow replied, hardly con
scious of any reference to the gentleman
walking under the trees. Gas long as
live" she said to herself, going to a
drawer and taking out Will Graham's
faded picture. There" | thought had
got over that. 1t was never buried, after
all. No, there are no graves for true
love-"
Mrs. Carleton soon found that Kitty
and the gentleman whose eye appeared
habitually IN green, were great friends.
She would call upon him and bring home
flowers or candy or toys One day Kitty
said she had found out his name, the
name of thata"nice' gentleman.
"What is your lovers name2" said Mrs,
| Carleton, smiling.
1 hap ms nF q
ham-Gayham."
| "Graham, you must mean, child"
sand he's been soier; and sorne-
body tame to see him and told him
Will"
"Will Graham, and soldier Well
that is coincidence" thought the moth
er. And Kitty said she talId the stran ge
man her name. kitty Barton Tarle-
ton"
So that the colonel thought he had got
hold of a coincidence. kitty Barton
Well, it can't be sheI'
And Mrs. Carleton said, Twill Ora
ham, 1t can't be he!"
Both wished from the Utmost depths
of their souls it might be so.
For several days the colonel missed
his little pet 'Seems to me the colo
nel's fussy," said his housekeeper,
Wondering why that child don't come
over, and saying every five minutes he
must jest step over and see if she's sick.
Tho, sartin, | do remember I've seen
old DIR. Gays gig there twice. I'll tell
| him, or he'll tidget into fever"
"Is it the little girl, or do you suppose
| it is her mother2" said the Colonel, en-
phasizing the mother. II should hate to
have the little girl sick;" and he added
| to himself, 81 might feel worse if it were
the mother. There, will call over to-
morrow and get light on this mystery"
"Do s'pose it Is the mother" SAID his
housekeeper vigorously. Il don't know
nothin' about it. There" Mrs. Timmins
said, away in the recesses of her own
consciousness, "that man has been peekin
out of the blinds at that child's mother.
He's old enough to do better"
That very day the Colonel stepped out
on his piazza dressed up for the proposed
call. Looking opposite, he saw his little
acquaintance running suddenly out of the
house, and as he looked, he noticed a
light wreath of smoke putting after her.
s'Oh, Mr.. Gayham, Mr.. Gayham, NAM
mas sick and houses afre, Tum
ouickl" she cried.
The Colonel rushed over. He ran into
the sitting-room. In rocking-chair sat
lady in a morning-goWn
"Oh, excuse me sir but the houses on
fire and / am still weak from my sickness.
can't stir"
The colonel bent over her,'took her in
his arms, carried her toward the light.
"Why, Kittyn' he said.
"Why, WIFI was the answer. Not
another word was spoken.
sWeI,n said Col. Graham to himself,
as his fair burden rested in his arms,
"this is awkward, though delightful.
Where shall / take herr Take her to
YOUR house, of course, simpleton," said
an instinct within. Kitty had swooned,
he saw, and in that unconscious state he
bore her into his sitting room, there he
leave her and her child with the encr
| getic TImmins. The fire In Mrs. G. IS
house arose from a defective furnace fiue,
was spreading rapidly, and tie colonel,
who had gallantly returned to fight the
| flames, found the house could not be
saved. The next morning Mrs. Carleton
| looked out from the guest-chamber at
the colonels only to see charred heap
of ruins.
"Why, mamma, we tan't go home and
hadn't us best stay here! !" asked Kitty.
"Hush, child, we must go somewhere. .
There was knock at the door.
"Shall bring your breakfast in now2"
said Mrs. Timmins, making the follow
ing private remarks for the benefit of one
Timmins: II know the colonel wanted
orfiLIyy to have her take her breakfast
down stairs, but said she was an invalid"
"Thsnk you," rer lied Mrs. Carleton,
Il am sorry to trouble you. Could you
order me carriage after breakfast /
had better go the the hotel and not i'm
pose on your hospitality"
"Hotel2" said the really warm hearted
Timmins. "You are better fitted to take
your bed than carriage. No sick folks
leaves this house in such fix. If sojer
boys can stay, eating the colonel out OF
house and home, l guess a neighDor can.
There was another knock at the door
1t was the colonel himself, and Timmins
withdrew.
"She won't CO. remarked Timmins tc
herself. Peekin' through the blinds al.
ways did mean something"
"Why, how much the colonel looki
like Will Graham Of DID, silently OBJ
! served Mrs. Carl ston.
kitty" said the colonel, blushine
, suddenly-"M Carleton, mean, VIII!
| must you go2' She had told him her Ia
tention. She never looked SO charming,
thought the colonel.
ale never looked handsomer, in spit
/ | of his green patch" thought Mrs. earle
ton. son, colonel, LIP
!, kitty" said Col. Graham, STOPPING
f low and whispering, couldn't you cal
! me VIII aga:n9"
"Will," came back in soft, lov
whisper.
D "nere, little Kitty" said the colonel
E blush.ng redder than ever, and takini
? Mrs. C.'s child In his arms, "wouldn't yol
E like to stay here all the timer
..Oh, yes; and wouldn't you, mammal
: ..Say yes, dear Kitty" whispered tn
t colonel, stopping lower to mrs Carleton
e No microphone ever brought the fam
answer 10 that outside public, who's
' greedy ear catches up every such thin
/ eagerly; but in few months there wa
r a very happy wedding at St Luke's an
' little Kitty Carleton had new father
D Portland Transcript.