The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-19
PRIVATE D0RSCH.

himself fully repaid Mr his months of
untiring devotion
From that day he became her nurse.
dressed her. prepared her bottles, put her
10 sleep. and when on duty, rolled her I'm
her carriage. She was never happy unless
in his company, and his little lailie'
was an the world To him. She was the
only human being on earth ne had TO
love She will never again receive such a
wealth OF adulation and devotion. When
she was three years old we were ordered
East.
Dorsch brought her across the conti-
nent in his arms; his .solcitude ana dis
trcss that the intense cold would cause
her pain were pitful lie would take on
his own army cape and nearly smother
her. She would peep out and lisp, Dear
Dorsch, pretty Dorsch. Lalle warm
enough" She called the hideous Old fel-
low Pretty Dorsch" always: he enjoyed
IL immensely. She was the only living be-
ing who had ever called him pretty lie
would wink and ia an aside would vhis-
per. ''BegorTa. the darlin viii nnd out
her mistake soon enough
When they arrived at their post, she
WAS taken very an with diphtheria.
Dorsch was banshed and "a trained nurse
engaged which incensed him. lie Went on
his first spree IN three years and was
gone longer than his furlough permitted
During his punishment me made a new
wooden doll, paid one OF the sergeants
wives 20 dress her most sorgeously, and
he named her Forgiveness" lie drew
all hrs savings out of the bank and
bought I.alne "A handsome new carriage,
much 20 the regret and modification OF
Captain Roberts. who ordered him to re-
turn it but Dorsch begged and pleaded,
saying she WAS all he had on earth 10
love. and his savings were of no further
"A a 80 "a III
Dorsch Was rcinstated there was great
rejoicing ga. the nursery 1 heard her say.
Pretty DOrsch. I.allie loves you more
than ever--that woman war horwid. so
cwoss She never dwessed me nor curlcd
my hair half as nice as dear Dorsch
does"
och Loliie Dorsch was bad boy be-
cause I.ollie got III, but Dorsch Will never
be so iny more. begorra. here's the
plidge," handing her Forgiveness"
one afternoon distinguished general
visited the post 10 review the regiment ON
dress parade. During the most formal
part Of the parade. just before the offi-
GERS march an body TO salute their COM
manding officer. Lalie with toy
sword in her hand, dressed like one OF
Nate Greenaway's pictures. ran on the
parade ground before they could stop her.
Drawing her sword 10 her shoulder. she
called out IN her high baby voice. "SoJer
arms Dorsch. Present arms, Dorsch. to
your commanding officer. which Is Lal-
lie"' There was not an officer or soldier
able 10 control his facial muscles.
Dorsch's countemance was distorted I'm a
bulldog She Was standing right next To
the big fat general sabre drawn up. her
little legs together. He, in choked voice,
ordered Dismiss parade" lowering his
sabre, she doing the same. one mighty
shout went up. for Lallie was the daugh-
ter. the pet and lido; OF the regiment.
Her grandmother sent her "A magnificent
French doll which said Mamma" PA
pa" and would open and close its eyes.
Lallie was awed at first over this wonder
fu addition 30 her family She set IL In
her best chair aud admired II respectfully
for half the day. until she caught sight OF
poor. hideous Forgiveness" looking at
her with its faithful wooden eyes. Lallie
grabbed 81 up and bursting into tears,
she hugged and kissed Forgiveness" Il
love you the best, Forgiveness for Dor
sch made you. / hate that swell city
doll. She shan put on airs with youH
So. hastily stripping II Of it's Partisan
clothes and doing the same 10 Forgive
ness" she dressed Forgiveness In the
French fnery and sat IL in the chair of
state pinning the old rags on the new Of
fensive doll. She boxed its ears and threw
IL in corner. and, taking Forgiveness"
I'm her arms she walked out of the room
10 find Dorsch.
Two years after this the regiment was
ordered 10 tho Cuban war. OF course
Dorsch had TO go. The soldiers received
an ovation on the way 10 the depot.lt was
"A sad sight never to he forgotten. Hus-
bands embracing wives, brothers encour-
aging sisters to be brave, sweethearts
whispering to sweethearts. Dorsch and
Iallie were locked in a close embrace.
hnfv hna rta
ness was held up 10 be kissed when the
order was given IAN aboardv' Six hun
dred and thirty brave men left their hearts
behind them. months afterwards only
one hundred and sixty returned TO Mon
tHuk Point and Dorsch was not among
them. lie was left behind in Cuba, IN
and suffering ana only half cared for.
When Lallie's father wrote this home
from Fort WyckoR she overheard them
reading Il aloud her mother not dream
ing she was In the room. She was sitting
behind the curtains with Forgiveness"