The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-05-27


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 soldier, SO thought I'D COR
over and ask you how you enjoyed me
war;"
The captain looked somewhat taken
aback. "Wcll, don't know as can en-
actly say as enjoyed it, Miss Miss"
Dorothy Seaton," inter
posed his caller.
Miss Dorothy; but stood il as well
as could until got bullet in my leg"
and the captain chuckled at his nno-
cent joke.
"Oh, how dreadful" Dorothy cried:
''did the bullet hurt?"
"Wcll, bullets mostly do hurt" adj
mitted the captain. just then figure
appeared in the open doorway behind,
and Dorothy looked up.
"IIow do you do, Mrs. Baker" she
said, politely: 81 thought I'd come over
and call on the captain this morning"
Mrs. Baker laughed. "Why, he amt
captain" she cried, in surprised
amusement.
But Dorothy's cguanimity was I'M
disturbed. 81 know he isn't She am
swcred, 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 prctticst name,
and didn't believe Mr.. Baker would
mind if called him that"
NO. | guess he don't mind" his wife
agreed, grimly.
''IIc was telling me some stories about
the war and the bullet he got in his leg:
il must have hurt him awfuly."
Now don't you go to tellin' that child
any stories about all the dreadful things
that ever happened to you" Mrs. Baker
suddenly turned upon the lately titled
captain, who murmured, hastily: ~
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 n 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
ed, desiring to say something pro-
pitiatory to the formidable Mrs Baker
But 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 want 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. II was not until the
captain said, with gentle but impressive
dignity: There, there, Miranda, that'll
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.
Il did have one once; I'll show you her
picture" and the captain drew from his
worn vest pocket little black case and
displayed to Dorothy picture. The
little girl represented was not exactly
pretty in Dorothy's estimation, and her
hair was done in most wonderful man
ncr.
rs she grown uf now?" Dorothy
asked.
The captain sighed and slipped the
case back into his pocket. NO" he
said. "she died while was Off at TIE
war"
Mrs. Baker must have felt dreadful.
~ bad. too" Dorothy vcnturcd, rather
doubtful as TO the effect Of grief on one
OF that lady's temperament.
"Ob, she wasn't Susie's mother"
Then in response TO Dorothy's sur
prised look be went quickly on: "Hcr
mother died right after the war and I
married again." Why did the captain
sigh? "rhe present Mrs. Baker," he
added. loyalty. "is a very fine woman
and hard worker. She does n great