River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-09


this final effort. Corps houses were
curious places. he had heard, and full
of secrets. Even the great professors
from the university might not enter
without invitation. And his experience
had been that students paid small re
spect to uniforms or to age. In truth,
he passed the building twice before
he could summon courage to touch the
great brass knocker. And the AFRO
gance of its clamor, when at last he
raped, startled him again. But here
at least he need not have feared.
The student who was also door
keeper eyed him kindly. ''Well, COM
rade?" he said.
81 am seeking a student named
Haeckel, of this corps" said old Adel-
bert stoutly.
"Haeckel?" repeated the doorkeeper.
81 think-come in, cOmrade. / will
inquire"
For the name of Haeckel was, just
then, one curiously significant.
He disappeared, and old Adelbert
waited When the doorkeeper re-
turned, it was to tell him to follow
him, and to lead the way downstairs.
Two or three students came toward
him at once. ''You are seeking
Haeckel?" one of them asked.
"I am. I knew him, but not well.
Lately, however, 1 have thoughts he
herew
The students exchanged glances.
'eHe is not here,' one said. "Where
did you know him?"
''He came frequently to shop /
know ola cobbler's shop, a neighbor-
hood meeting place. A fine lad. I
liked him. But recently he has not
come, and knowing his corps, came
here to find him."
They had hoped to learn something
from him, and he knew nothing. He
has disappeared" they told him. 'He
is not at his lodging, and he has left
his classes. He went away suddenly,
leaving everything. That is all we
know"
1t sounded sinister. Old Adelbert,
heavy hearted, turned away and
climbed again to the street. That gate
way was closed, too. And he felt a
pang of uneasiness. What could have
happened to the boy? Was the world,
after all, only a place Of trouble?
But now came good fortune, and,
like evil, it came not singly. The
operation was over, and his daughter
on the mend. The fee was paid also.
And the second followed on the heels
Of the first.
He did not like Americans. Too
often, in better days, had he heard the
merits of the American republic COM
pared with the shortcomings of his
own government. When, as happened
now and then, he met the American
family on the staircase, he drew
sharply aside that no touch of repub-
licanism might contaminate his uni
form.
On that day, however, things
changed.
First of all, he met the American
lad in the hallway, and was pleased
to see him doff his bit Of cap. Not
many, nowadays, uncovered head to
him. The American lad was going
down; Adelbert was climbing, one step
at a time, and carrying small basket
of provisions.
The American boy, having passed,
turned, hesitated, went back. I'D
like to carry that for you, if you don't
mind"
"Carry it?"
81 am very strong" said the Ameri-
can boy stoutly.
So Adelbert gave up his basket, and
the two went, up. Four long flights
of stone stairs led to Adelbert's room.
The ascent took time and patience.
At the door Adelbert paused. Then,
loneliness overcoming prejudice,
"Come in" he said.
The bare little room appealed to the
boy. 'It's very nice, isn't it?" he
said. There's nothing to fall over"
"And but little to sit on" old Adel-
bert added dryly. "However, two peo-
pie require but two chairs. Here is
one"
But the boy would not sit down.
He ranged the room, frankly curious,
exclaimed at the pair of ring doves
who lived in box tied to the window
sill, and asked for crumbs for them.
Adelbert brought bread from his small
store.
The boy cheered him. His interest
in the old saber, the intentness with
which he listened to it's history, the
politeness with which he ignored his
hosts inirmity, all won the old mans
heart.
These Americans downstairs were
not all bad, then. They were too rich,
of course. No one should have meat
three times day, as the meat seller
reported they did. And they were pay
ing double rent for the apartment be-
low. But that, of course, they could
not avoid, not knowing the real charge.
The boy was frankly delighted. And
when old Adelbert brought forth from
his basket sausage and, boiling 1T
lightly, served him a slice between two