The Prescott daily news., 1907-11-14
4 Real Home
By Jay Palmer
(Copyright.)

rho followed the opera'iohe VI 'he with Spain with more interest han frail Miss Ellen Dale. ',rss Dale was alone in the world. u.r history was sad one. At the town M of the civil war she had been sa,rotbed to a young naval officer.
 ua loft her to become one of the de- .oted m band that went down in the ill- .ted Cumberland. With him per ,shsa also her brother fellow-ofacer. rho double tragedy had weltnigh be- of her reason, leaving her after the s,orm with silvered hair and sbruken he,lthf Her fathen an garrny officer, emerged from the conflict only to sue, mmb to a disease, resulting from hardships of the campaign. leaving a amliy of which Miss Ellen was now inc only survivor. She received small pension from the government. which enabled her to live carefully uuder the friendly shelter of the Old Ladies Home.
 Among those in the habit of visiting ina UOult WdS LluCl NCInOu, lAC daughter of one of the trustees and a tavorite with Miss Dale. She was an attractive girl with winning ways, and gift of sympathy which dispensed it. self as naturally as the sunshine. Miss Dale was quick to respond to such a nature and they soon became warm friends Ethel brought so much bright ness from the busy outside world into the old lady's lonely life that 1t was grief to her when the young girl, being Red Cross nurse. was called away to the hospitals by the war.
 Deprived of these visits and driven in upon herself by the uncongenial at mosphere around her, Miss Dale spent much of her time in her own room.
 One day it suddenly occurred to her that 1t would be pleasant labor to make scrapbook of the war,
 In collecting and classifying the ma terial for her book she gained a very clear comprehension of the operations of the war. and noted many individual acts of bravery only briefly mentioned She also decided to write to some of the officers and ask them for their au tographs.
 When the revolt in the Philippines broke out 1t promised to furnish Miss Dale with more names to add to her roll of honor. Many young officers, some already distinguished, were sent out with the new volunteer regiments to put down the rebellion. Among these was Capt Lee Peyton, of Vir-. ginia, who had won special mention and promotion by daring act in the assault upon Caney. in Cuba, the pre- vious summer. He had been after. ward attacked with fever and only re. covered in time to embark for the Philippines with his new regiment, one of the first to be sent out to rein. force Gen Otis.
 Great Scottl" exclaimed Peyton. as, ne entered his old quarters in the city. II this isn't luxury to see a bed once more and a roof over ones head. to say nothing of getting cleaned up again after foundering in that beastly mud-Hello!" Here his eye fell upon letter on the table and he bounced upon 1t, longing for news of home.
 But 1t was not a home letter. This IS what he read after he had torn if open:
 c. September F. 1899 Captain Lee Peyton
 Dear SIT take a liberty in writing " esN TOT your autograph: but I should piuoh value it on account of your serv- nes to the country by your brave act at tes tt"es Iast Wear. and by your present la DOTS In the Philippines.
 You and your fellow-soldiers are en- sased in righteous war for civilization as well as for our flag. notwithstanding ue narrow. traitorous criticism of few at nome. All true Americans are proud or your splendid work.
 (, ,nopihg you will pardon stranger for mus addressing you, I am.
 Very respectfully,
 ELLEN DALE.
 ld East -- Street New York City.
 JoVe'' he calculated, when he had nnlshed the letter. That girls orick and no mistake, It puts life in'o fellow to feel that some in Gods couhtry know this dreary business is not picnic excursion. Ugh how we all hate it!"
 Tie had lit his pipe and was putting at It, thoughtfully I'd like to see |, uiat girl he soliloquized; she must 1no~ great deal about the situation anu the war; she has followed events 'uu got her facts straight. And she's iady. one can see. Wonder if she's pretty, like that Red Cross nurse at amp Wikoh. who pulled me through 'ne santiago fever: I owe my life to ler-wish l knew where she was low!"
 A ieW months later Capt. Peyton