River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-05-25

path to the narrow
porch where the old soldier sat. I've
Just moved into the big house across the
street, and somebody told me you used
TO be a soldier, so / thought I'd come
over and ask you how you enjoyed the
ware"
The captain looked somewhat taken
aback. well, don't know as l can ex-
actly say as / enjoyed it, Miss-Miss-"
orothy-Dorothy Seaton, inter
posed his caller.
Miss Dorothy; but l stood it as well
az could until got bullet in my leg,
and the captain chuckled at his inno-
cent joke.
"Oh, how dreadful" Dorothy cried;
"did the bullet hurt?"
well, bullets mostly do hurt ad-
mitted the captain. Just then figure
appeared in the open doorway behind,
and Dorothy looked up.
How do you do, Mrs. Baker" she
said, politely; Il thought I'd come over
and call on the captain this morning"
Mrs. Baker laughed. why, he amt
a captain" she cried, in surprised
amusement.
But Dorothy's e0danimity was IN
disturbed II know he isn't" she an
swered, calmly; but l was asking
mamma what people were called that
went to war, and she said generals and
privates and colonies and captains.
thought captain was the prettiest name,
and / didn't believe Mr.. Baker would
mind if | called him that"
"No, l guess he don't mind, his wife
agreed, grimly.
HE was telling me some stories about
the war and the bullet he got in his leg;
it must have hurt him awfuly."
Now don't you go to tellin' that child
mysteries about all the dreadful things
that ever happened to you" Mrs. Baker
suddenly turned upon the lately titled
captain, who murmured, hastily: II
want goin' to" for the captains pride
would have kept him silent about his
cork leg, even had he not with his own
sympathetic nature understood a child's
sensitiveness.
THE captains leg must have hurt
him very much, but it's nice he didn't
get killed in the war; Dorothy suggest
Ell, desiring to say something pro-
p tiatory to the formidable Mrs. Baker.
BIT this was evidently not exactly the
right thing.
We'll, if he'd died somebody might "a
got that pension money he didn't seem
to know how to get" and Mrs. Baker
shifted over Dorothy's head at her hus-
band.
Now, Miranda, that wa mt my fault"
the captain protested; but this, instead
of quieting Miranda, only started her,
to Dorothy's great dismay, with new
vehemence on this most distressing and
confusing subject. 1t was not until the
captain said, with gentle but impressive
dignity: There, there, Miranda, that'l
do before our neighbors," that his wife
subsidized and went into the house.
Dorothy breathed little more freely
when she was gone, and tried to think
of some fitting and comforting remark.
Its too bad you haven't got little
girl, captain she said, after healing
silence since Mrs. Bakers retirement.
II did have one once; I'll show you her
picture, and the captain drew from his
worn vest pocket a little black case aud
displayed to Dorothy picture Ihe
hAAl0 SlAl was not tAdCllY
pretty in Dorothy's estimation and her
hair was done in most wonderful man
ner.
rs she grown up now?" Dorothy
asked
The captain sighed and slipped the
case back into his pocket No" he
said, she died while l was off at the
war"
Mrs. Baker must have felt dreadful
ly bad, too" Dorothy ventured, rather
doubtful as to the effect of grief on one
of that lady's temperament.
oh. she wasn't Susie's mother"
Then in response to Dorothy's sur
prised look he went quickly on: "Her
mother died right after the war and l
married again Why did the captain
sigh? The present Mrs. Baker,, he
added, Loyalty, "is a very fine woman
and hard worker. She does a great
deal for me, and | ought to be very
thankful"
"Oh, yes, of course Dorothy re-
sponded, in quick sympathy. Il think
she seems very fond of''-she hesitated
--"of talking"
a sudden twinkle came into the cap
tain's gentle eyes, but he heard a step
in the hallway and hastily changed the
topic of conversation.
Il hope you'n come and see me real
often; l git kinder lonesome some
times he said, and Dorothy. who had
also heard the step, rose hastily to GO
Yes. III come and see YOU" she
said, nodding brightly at him. Nam
ma said you couldn't walk very far, so
I'll try and come most every day" A
prompt acceptance of all invitations
was one of Dorothy's marked charac-
teristics.
Mrs. Baker stood in the doorway and
Dorothy turned upon the lowest step
10 say in her sweet voice: "Good-by
Present Mrs. Baker" then lightly went
down the walk. leaving to the captain
the demanded explanation of his wife's
new title.
I've got a new friend" Dorothy an
nounced at luncheon, for at luncheon
Dorothy had conversational right of
way; at dinner time il was different
Hes an old soldier and he's got rheu-
matism in one leg and a bullet in the
OLhCI, Uut hS NStS PiOaSdht anu nc
wants me TO come and see him every
day. Once he had little girl he loved
very much, and he says she looked like
me. Her picture isn't very pretty and
her hairs done up in funny little
braids. but he says she was very nice
little girl. so of course I'm glad ! look
like her. He's got wife, too, the Pres
ent Mrs. Baker" with great empresse-
ment, land she's authorization ex-
haustin' when she talks, ard she doesn't
like it cause the captain doesn't get
any pen-penciI money. What is pencil
money!" After receiving simple ex-
PLANTATION of the pension system Dor
othy went on. "She says ii was his