The Holly chieftain., 1899-05-26

grave she said.
The man smiled back into the wide,
brown eyes below the flowered hat
brim. And who was Capt. Baker, my
little lady?" he asked, graciously.
Dorothy did not notice the change of
tense. Hes great friend of mine"
she said, in happy pride, "and he lives
right near my house"
The gentleman stared at her in
amazement. why, 1 thought you
wanted to put these flowers on his
grave?" he exclaimed.
"Oh, yes" Dorothy hastened to ex-
plain, but not on the grave of the
whole of him; he only lost part of him
in the war. 1 thought if you remem-
bered the people that were all killed
you ought to remember the others that
were some killed. wanted you to put
these flowers on his legs grave"
The gentleman was smelling the
flowers and did not answer at once.
You see," Dorothy eagerly went on,
''he's quite an old man, and he couldn't
be farmer after he had cork"-a
bitter memory returned-"a cork leg,
and they didn't even give him a PEN
sion, and they ought to, for he's very
nice man, and needs it more than lots
of folks that get it, papa SAYS"
The gentleman lifted his face from
the flowers now. But where is his leg
buried?" he asked.
Dorothy looked disappointed. II
don't know" she answered sadly. "I
asked mamma once, and she said she
didn't know, but thought some of you
would be able to find it."
why, Dorothy" said her fathers
voice behind, where did you come
from?' Then Dorothy gave him her
mothers message, and when the gen.
tieman said he was coming to her house
| after the celebration and would talk
about the captain and his pension, Dor
othy rode home in very contented
frame of mind.
She gathered another great bunch of
white, wide apple blossoms and bright
scarlet flowers, and started for a visit 10
the neglected captain. He sat By the
window this Decoration day in a most
respondent mood. 1t was quite true.
as Mrs. Baker said, that if he had had
more push and assurance he might long
since have obtained his well-deserved
pension, and now made much more i'm
preston on the army men of this town;
but the captain was always retiring
man. and sickness and age had not
made him more self-confdent. What
with his physical pain from his rheu-
matism and his hearts sorrow at his
lack of ability, he was beginning to feel
like very old soldier now. and he an
swered with unusual impatience to Mrs.
Bakers twentieth twitting remark: 81
wish to gracious l was dead with the
rest of the soldiers"
Then he went out on the porch, and
there was Dorothy coming across the
road with her beautiful bunch of flow
ers. She came straight for his gate and
up his garden path, and the face of the
old captain frightened like the face of
one thankful for long and happy life.
How do you do, Capt. Baker" Doro-
thy's sweet voice said. 81 thought I'd
come over and joyful you up, cause it's
Decoration day" and the little lady held
out her hand as sign of forgetfulness
and reconciliation.
The captain shook it wSrmly. 'It's
real good of you to rememb ber an old sol
dier, Miss Dorothy" he said, heartily.
That's more'n anybody else does"
Mrs. Baker murmured sourly from the
door.
Dorothy turned toward her with
bright smile. She had learned to ap-
preciate the present Mrs. Bakers ex-
cellent qualities despite her fondness
for talking. Its a very pleasant day,
isn't it?" she questioned, cheerfully.
Mrs. Baker nodded and smiled family.
There's a man that lives in Wash
ington coming to our house tonight,
Present Mrs. Baken, and I'm going to
talk to him about the captains money
pension"
81 think this gentleman will see about
it, / really do" Dorothy added in eager
interest, land papa thinks you ought to
have it. Capt. Baker"
Capt. Baker flushed. "Well, I don't
know he said.
Now you jest keep STILL" Mrs. Baker
said, as she went into the house, and
from force. of habit the captain was
silent.
Wouldn't you really like to have ito"
Dorothy questioned; Il think it would
make Present Mrs. Baker feel real
pleasant"
The captain nodded thoughtfully.
so it would Miss Dorothy" he ad-
mitted. 80 it would
II was sorry you couldn't go to the
cemetery and see them decorate the
graves" Dorothy said, in abrupt
change of subject. .'Some folks think