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

I've broken it right off! l believe his
wife's glad, cause she'd get the pension
money if he should die. Oh, my dear,
dear captain, don't let me kill him!
Oh, send for the doctor! do send for
the doctor" And Dorothy's words
ended in long crescendo wall.
1t was some time before explanations
could be given. and Dorothy ceased her
cries and understood that the captain
had lost his own leg in the war and now
had a cork leg, which was strapped
IN every morning and taken off every
night, and that perhaps the strap was
old and broken and Dorothy's sudden
tug had loosened or broken it.
1t was supposed she would soon run
smiling over to call on the captain, but
for some time Dorothy neither visited
nor spoke of him. When she went by
his house and saw him in the garden
or on the porch she would nod and
smile gravely, but she no longer socially
tripped up the path and seated herself
familiarly on the steps.
But as the soldiers day drew near,
Dorothy felt as though there must be
reconciliation between herself and
her captain friend. Decoration day,
as rule, was not made much of in this
small town. But this year was to be
more impressive. a dignitary from
Washington, who CHANGED to be visiting
near. was to make an open-air speech by
the soldiers monument, and since he
was afterward to be entertained at Dor
othy's home there was much said about
the coming celebration.
OF late Dorothy had not had her usual
conversational opportunity at lunch
con, so that it was rather difficult for
her TO accomplish her desire to carry
the flowers she had picked to the town
hall, where they might be taken in
charge by the committee. But on Dec
Grafton day, at the last moment before
the procession started for the GEM
etery, her mother sent Dorothy with a
message to her father at the hall, and
Dorothy seized this opportunity to take
her great bunch of apple blossoms and
garden japonica in the carriage with
her. There was much hustle when she
reached the hall: boys were running
ing businesslilxe and hurried. Doro-
thy was not intending to intrust her
commission to any boy; she walked
straight up to the most distinguished
person to be seen. a great man in brass
buttons, gilt cord and gold lace. and
smiling in sweet consciousness offered
him the flowers.
IF YOU please, should like to have
these flowers put on Capt. Bakers
grave" she said.
The man smiled back into the wide,
brim. And who was Capt. Baker, my
little LADY," he asked, graeiously.
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, thought you
wanted to put these flowers on his
grave?'' he exclaimed.
''Oh, yes" Dorothy FASTENED to ex-
plain. but not on the grave of the
whole of him; he only lost part of him
in the war. thought if you remem-
bered the people that were all killed
you ought to remember the others that
We're 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,
hes quite an old man, and he couldn't
be farmer after he had cork''-a
n
and they didn't even give him a PEN
sion. and they ought to, for he's very
nice man, and needs il more than lots
of folks that get it. papa says"
The gentleman lifted his face from