The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-05-24

Present Mrs Baken. and I'm goins to
talk to him about the captains money
pension"
II think this gentleman will see about
it, l really do,r Dorothy added in eager
interest, "and papa thinks you ought TO
have it. Capt. Baker"
Capt. Baker flushed. "Well, l 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 it?"
Dorothy questioned; 81 think it would
make Present Mrs. Baker feel real
pleasant a
The captain nodded thoughtfully.
$50 it would Miss Dorothy" he ad-
mitted, 80 it would"
81 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
it's very interesting"
"Why didn't you go?" the captain
asked, suddenly.
Dorothy flushed. "I-I thought
p'r'aps you might be lonesome"
The captain coughed spasmodically.
"Bless my soul" he cried, huskily,
''bless my soull" and then he got up and
limped to the end of the little porch.
"Oh, captain" cried Dorothy, "see the
procession! They're marching right
down this way. Oh, do come and see!"
The captain came to Dorothy's side
to look at the advancing column. Dor
othy dashed into the house to call Mrs.
Baker, and together the three stood,
Dorothy waving her flowers, Mrs.
Baker her apron and the captain his
stick as the soldier boys came down
the road. They marched on for little
distance, then suddenly lined up on
either side of the street with salute.
"oh!" cried Dorothy, they're stop
ping right in front OF your house, Capt.
Baker. Isn't it lovely?"
Then down between the ranks of men
came the carriage bearing Dorothy's
father and the chief man of the day,
and stopped directly in front of the
captains little house. Mrs. Baker hid
in the doorway, and the captain him
self would have run away, but for his
game leg and Dorothy holding him
fast. Then the great man from Wash
ington stood up in the carriage and
spoke about Soldier Bakers bravery in
the war, and how it would be more ma
terially rewarded. (''That means the
pension Mrs. Baker whispered from
the doorway, and how he had lost a
leg in the service of his country
Dorothy was afraid that might hurt
the captains feelings) and the speech
ended with the words: Though to-
day be memorial of the dead, let it
also be time of honor for the living"
And then some boy in bright uniform
came to take from the carriage bou-
quet, and walking up the path, pre-
sented it to Capt. Baker with military
salute, which the captain returned in
excellent fashion. "Oh," cried Dorothy,
when she recognized the bouquet she
had taken to the hall. I'm afraid they
didn't find the graves" but nobody
heard the remark, for deafening shout
arose as the troops gave three times
three for brave Soldier Baker. There
upon the great man rose again, and it
was the captains turn to prevent Dor
othy from running away, for they
cheered for little Miss Seaton with a
hearty will. Then the carriage moved
on and the soldiers formed into line and
marched away, saluting as they passed
and leaving three flushed and smiling
people ON the captains little porch.
"Now 1 call that real NICE" Mrs
Baker said, enthusiastically, and there
was a suspicious moisture in her hard
eyes.
The captain drew great breath and
sank down into his piazza chair. "They
didn't forget an Old soldier" he said
holding his bouquet tightly.
Dorothy laughed happily. II must
go home now, Capt. Baker, she said
II haven't been to see you very much
lately, but I'm coming oftener now.
brought you these other flowers be
cause-because you lost your little cir
VIXEN you were in the war, and they viii
remember you of her."
"Bless my soul" calculated the cap
tain, "bless my soull" Then as Dor
othy went down the path he muttered
nodding between his two great bou
quets: 81 declare if amt glad I'm q
live soldier, after all."-Frances BEN
Dillingham;, in Springfield (Mass.) Re