The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-03
THE DAILY STAR
PETER SCHROEDER.
bret Harte.t

Ss6ws YOU Something's now dot you can't
IMPROVE on-ha! Something's yot you
and us fellus knows. Dot ist mine own
private APARTMENT Vot for Americans
is dotF'
As he spoke he flung open the door,
and disclosed a small room with an
American flag festooned over the win
dow. On one side of the wall hung
portrait of Abraham Lincoln, on the
other the blue cap and blouse OF Ser
geant in the American Army.
Peter paused to permit the patriotic
feeling Of his visitors their fullest vent.
To his surprise only dead silence fol-
lowed this national exhibition. Peter
doubtful of their eyesight, drew aside
the window-curtains and ostentatiously
wiped the portrait of the martyred Presi-
dent.
"Dot is Lincoln" .-...-
"Chremo?" asked Folinsbee. ~
'1 don't know" replied Peter, little
crestfallen. -
"The engrayings don't make him quite
so ugly" said Mrs. johnson, "although
he was an ugly man."
"Awful," said Miss Rosey. 'E :,
Peter smiled meekly. "He wasn't
bretty as womens," he said, with an en-
harrassed attempt at gallantry, followed
by an apoplectic blush.
whats thatp' asked Folinsbee, indi-
eating the cap and blouse with his cane.
"Some of your mining duds from
Spanish Gulch?" ina .Tn.
1Dotg' ;, gasped Peter. 'D0t is mine
uniforms" ..
Folinsbee laughed. II thought it
might be some OF that damaged clothing
condemned by the War Department and
sold ut auction there. The boys bought
up lot of it cheap to knock around in
the tunnels with. Yes, / remember
now. The fellers had mighty good
Joke on your goin' into the war when
YOU hadn't any call to Co." ~ $
(Which side were you on, MIR. Schroe-
der" asked Mrs. johnson, with polite
affectation of interest. ........-,
''Which side?" echoed Peter, in vague
establishment. IL fights nit de Union"
II h ad an uncle in the Federal army,
and two cousins in the Confederate ser
vice." observed Miss Minnie languidly.
"Dey wos good fellers on the oder side
too," hastily interpolated the kind
hearted Peter.
"They came home awfnlly sick Of it
all of 'em," continued Miss Minnie.
"pm sure it was dreadfully horrid."
awful, said Rosey.
Meanwhile they had backed out of the
room listlessly and were clearly indicating
that they were awaiting Peters further
movements. He closed the door with
an embarrassed laugh that was half q
sigh, and led the way back to the draw
ing-room. On the way Miss Rosey stopped
to admire the photograph of stout,
good humored gentleman IN a agorgeous
hussar uniform. n
"Who is thisp'
'Dot is me, myself" said Peter, Gwen
was in de war NIT France" he added
apologetically. To his surprise, the
ladies gathered before it with an appear
ance Of interest; and Mrs. johnson re-
marked archly that the uniform was
very becoming. 1}
"Why didn't you show the girls that
frst?' asked Folinsbee, taking Petei
aside. "Why did you trot out those ole
army rags Of yours? Don't you know
ihey,r Just crazy after these foreign uni
forms-think there's Count or Baror
inside Of ,em always? By the way" ht
asked suddenly, "you amt anything o
that sort now, are you" ~
Peter shook his head blankly, bu
found himself blushing as he thoughts o
his wifes uniformed relations.
Didn't you get anything of kind 10
your services?' continued Folinsbee
.aNary ribbon, medals, ehF"
II get de Iron Cross said Pete
mildly.
sHumph! Iron Cross! Couldn't afor'
a gold one, eh? Not much of that lyin
round loose here in these partsw
Too modest to explain further, too de-
icate to expose what he conceived to b
the ignorance of his foreign visitor, bu
utterly oblivious of the mischief in ths
foreign visitors eye, Peter endeavored t
turn the subject by asking him to brin
the ladies' to dine with him the nes
III reckon not, old man." said Folin
bee. "Pll be on my way to Berlin Il
morrow, and l reckon the girls are hea'
in up the Rhine to tackle some OF the
ruined castles. But you might ask 'en
Just for flyer"
"Don't you all go mit yourselves t
getherw queried the astonished Peter.
Folinsbee smiled. "Not much,
reckon. We only met at Brussels, al
we happened to travel in the same cou
to Cologne. We sorter passed the tin
o'day, swapped lies, and made ourseiv
sociable. l told 'em at Cologne | rec
oned to run up yer to see you, and askt
'em to come along 1t was little pases
that's all. They're all right, old man
he added, laughing at Peters puzzl
face; tone of 'em Senator's daughter
reckon. If they amt all right, Pm
sponsible."
Peter laughed and blushed. Not tn
he saw anything in this escapade but
instance of that republican simplici
and freedom which he admiredi in theor