The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-05-30

sHABBILY DRESSED N A FADED SUIT OF
BLUE
forgotten the postoffice in the unwont-
ed pleasure of newspaper to read.
Just think, Mir'um, they've been
hayin' an old soldiers picnic over to
Jacksonville! There was an excursion
I'm the cars to a place where they had
a big dinner, and there was military
bands and speeches-all about the bat
ties they'd been in"
The loud changing of a bell at the
house announced that the evening meal
was ready, and the light suddenly fad
ed from the old mans face as he walk
ed away. The dimming Of his eyes,
the droop of his shoulders, as he turned
from her touched Miriam, and there
flashed into her brain a thought so
startling that she seized the first lei
sure minute to consider it. What If
they should have an old soldiers pic
mic Of their own-she and the general?
Oh, it was a wonderful plan! Miriam
could scarcely sleep for thinking of it,
and by morning she was ready to COM
municate it to her old friend.
1t is doubtful if any European tour.
personally conducted" or otherwise.
ever gave such satisfaction as did this
little trip. They tried singing Hail
Columbia" and John Brown" and de-
rived a great deal of satisfaction, if not
much melody, from the attempt. The
little girl from a nearby farmhouse
ran down and brought them some lem
onade. and altogether it was day
crowded with pleasure.
But it was just at the close Of the
day that disaster came. They had
fingered as long as they dared, and
then when they started back to the
station the feverish hurry of inexperi-
enced travellers seized them.
A carriage with party of gentlemen
turned down a crossroad just as they
approached the station. but the gen.
eral, intent only on the train that was
drawing up to the platform, saw moth
ing else and pushed forward There
was a warning cry, a shout to the
horses, a groan.
"Oh, he's killed, he's killed, and now
can't never take him backr' sobbed
Miriam.
But the general was not dead One
of the gentlemen, a physician. speedily
assured himself of that
81 do not believe he is dangerously
hurt" he said after a swift examina-
ton, ''but there is fractured bone in
the leg, and with that and the wound
in his head he ought not to be moved
If he can be cared for near by. Where
does he live?"
All eyes turned upon Miriam, and
the simple story of where they belong
ed and how they had won their days
pleasure was told between pitiful
catchings of her breath as she tried to
restrain her tears.
The station keeper suggested that
the people at the farm near the grove
had comfortable house and had plen-
ty Of room and might be willing to
care for the invalid until he should be
able to travel
1--WE will see that they are we'll paid
for it." said the leader of the party,
who instructed the volunteer messen-
ger, and word was soon sent that the
mistress of the house was willing if
Miriam would stay to assist her.
So the general was gently removed
to pretty, roomy chamber, his
wounds dressed, and he began to mend
from the first day.
The doctor made regular visits, and
the gentleman whom the others adj
dressed as governor" came occasion
ally and meanwhile used that intangi-
BILE but powerful thing called influence
to set certain forces at work in Wash
ington. The long delayed papers were
speedily found and attended to. and
one day, when the general had nearly
recovered, the governor brought out
long envelope.
Here's your pension. my friend
81 month while you live and the neat