The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-19

sorry, lootnant, bat OF can't let ye IN"
Damn II, man, step one side 1 must
SO IN; ] must see the captain"
The soldier drew his musket up 60 at
tention. 'Lootnant. listen, sor. the cap
tain's wife is very low, and there is an
other life In danger. too, sor: the Cap
tain came TO me few minutes back.
sor. and sez he, Dorsch, me man. guard
this door. keep everything as quiet as
ye can, and doan't let no one disturb
me- and bcdad sor even II ye prefer
charges agin me sor. / won't let ye
inter that door unless ye walkover me
PROSTATE body"
Great Caesar what Is TO be done?''
said the lieutenant There Is an up
rising among the Indians. and the Cap
tain should be told"
"Beggin' yer pardon. sor Ofm an old
soldier la the service, and have seen
many OF these uproisins before. lootnant;
you Just take command until the Cap
tain can join ye Just get the men Ina
readiness. ven never regret Il. sor.'
The soldier patroled that casemate for
three hours. keeping perfect quiet. Cap
tain Roberts finally appeared, and. beck
oning TO the soldier. whispered. 1T is a
girl Dorsch: the mother and child are
doing az well As possible. What did
Lieutenant Mitchell want?"
ITO tell ye sor the red divils have
risen agini he has the men in readiness
To march NJ once, sor."
There - not a minute to lose. Dorsch; (;
get my pistol. belt ana sword. Thank
you. Now prove your friendship and
obedience to me by remaining behind
and guarding my family from danger
until 7 can get back. Good by, old
friend"
Dorsch was German, born and bred /:
his mother emisrated TO this country
when he was two years old. She died
before he was four. A friendly old
Irish woman took the orphan 20 her
house. where he lived until he WAS ten,
thsn he left her TO make his living sell
ing papers, cleaning shoes and all odd
jobs. using his earned money TO go To
night school
When he was twenty years old he en-
listed as a soldier aud was assigned 10
The Ninth infantry. where he had served
for many years before the opening OF
this story. lie was "A most srotesquely
ugly old man. short and fat. with a
head too large FOR his body. round. pop
ped, watery blue eyes. which looked I'm
different directions. his nose and mouth
both turned up. which made him appear
To be In a continued laugh. He was
always taken for an Trishman. from the
strong brogue he had imbibed from his
foster mother the old apple woman.
Ten years before the commencement
OF this story. the Captain who was then
second lieutenant, saved Dorsch from
being scalped by Navajo Indian: from
that time Dorsch dedicated his life 10
his officer.
Private Dorsch's one fault was a love
of booze" which he INDUCED i'm on
every leave of absence and etery holi-
day; this had counted so against him
that he could never win his stripes, but
he seemed perfectly satisfied TO remain
the Captains striker, for his devotion
TO his superior officer and master was
paramount
och. Captain. It's two weeks since ye
got back and niver once have ye asked
me, sor to see yer little bsbby. That
spaIpeen OF a half-bred nurse makes
faces at me when Owe asked for a
sight OF her"
Come in now. Dorsch, and I viii cere-
moniously present YOU" All feared the
effect this ugly old man would have
upon Lalle. She was lying i'm her
cradle, with her blue eyes wide open. He
clucked to her and whistled and made
faces. She looked up into his almost re-
pulsive face and smiled back at him, not
seeming at all afraid
Pick her up. Dorsch" said the captain.
"Will We trust me 60. captain? Och, the
darlin: it's old Dorsch who will be yer
friend
No one can recall when Il became the
habit 10 send for Dorsch when Lallie
would cry. IL was the most natural
thing In the world. for only Dorsch could
quiet her at once.
After she was six months old the cap
tain was ordered to Fort Huachuca. Her
nurse refused to accompany us, so Il fell
10 the old soldier 10 carry her and admin
lister TO her wants and amusements.
When she was ten months old she tried
for two days 10 say something; finally
we understood her-she was calling
"Dorsch Dorsch"
His name was the first word she ever
uttered. The pleasure and pride OF the
old fellow was boundless. He considered