The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-05-28

. Soptd1N wright, CuttIuliS Tcsti AtiQ
two. invitations before him. One, on
heavy white linen paper. with a gold
monogram, requested the pleasure OF
his company at dinner the following
Sunday evening. The cabtafn laid the
note on his desk and gazed out of the
barracks window. with aaslightIy con-
temptuous smile which might have
been interpreted in plain English, as;
follows: - - = =. : Z
Aunt Alicia and Uncle Dan are all
right. but they'd give me a 'steen-
course :. dinner Of fancy stun that
wouldn't satisfy " their, strenuous
nephew. And then there'd be- MIL
.dred Gorham Brooks, for, my, dinner
partner-with Mrs. Brooks, and, Aunt
Alicia beaming on !. us when they
Thought we weren't looking, And after
dinner. I'd have 10 listen to- Mildred's
'simpering chatter for two, heurs--or
maybe she'd sing: rd rather stay In
camp over the week-end.", r-~.$r -
The other Invitation was a simply
worded note asking that "some lone,
some boy. who is farawaysfrom home"
come to dinner with Mrs. Jones on
Sunday at one o'clock. The letter went
on to explain that Mrs. ,Jouse' Son,
WillfahI, was a corporal in the cap
tain's company. hit that all Of his I'm,
mediate friends in the company. were
from nearby homes. AS the captain
laid that note aside there wiis. a
twink" in his eye that meant:
Being twenty-eisht. may not quail
Judging from the boxes that Corporal
Jones gets so often the pies that
mother used TO make can be found in
his home
SO il happened that the next Sunday
Corp. William Jones received 4. great
surprise: lie had been sitting at the
parlor window, comfortably ensconeed
in morris chair, with his feet On an
other chair. and smoking. while Ehe
read The: Sunday paper. Such ,privi-
Ieges ind ease were not allowed him
in pr--war titnes. and William was
making the most Of the respect his
family accorded his uniform. From
the Kitchen appetizing odors drifted In
70 complete his satisfaction. Occa-
SiolaIly he glanced out Of the window
to look fnr the expected guest, 'H0pe
he's a decent sort of a fellow" he
muttered to himself.
Then his peace OF mind wax rude'y
disturbed! A gray touring car drew
up at his door. with Captain Bright
driving il. Before Bits startled. gaZe
his. superior officer methodically Slut
of the engine and locked the car, aid
then, climbing out, covered the Fadia;
tor With a h.AVvS robe. Bill Jumped up,
Offering the floor with the papers, and
began 10 tumble III his pockets.
Goodness. where's my pass,s he
splutiered. And what ON earth have
! done now!"
He, WA. ;stiil searching for his pass
when the captain was .lshered IN BY
Mrs. Jones. She WAS Il stout, nnOtlerly
woman. and two silver bars OH q khaki
shoulder meant nothing to her. until
she saw her. William standing stif1iy at
attention. Captain Wright snapped!a
salute in return. and then laugllingly
shook hands with the discounted cor,
pOral. 4 Il
'Nor more ceremony today, Jofle%tf'
His frank smile put Bill ut ease, :;.I;ii
just q lonesome fellow with no place
to 60. And mighty hungry one at
that"
He shifted Approximately. ~ don't
often have home made apple pie" Mrs.
Jones heaned at this remark and the
willy captain went On to further win
her heart by telling her how lonely f.,
was up in thst big camp. With 10 folks
to visit one and send delicacies such
ms The fortunate Bill received. -
Meanwhile, Bill. from whom all awe
had departed at the signs Of human
nature displayed by his erstwhile COM
manding officer had retired TO the
kitchen and brought his unsuspecting
sister, Peggy. out to be introduced to
their guest As the captain told her
long afterwards. lin ruffly apron
covered with pink rosebuds, she looked
like an angel ready TO serve ambro.
sk." I,
Needless to say. the dinner party
was a great success, particularly the
apple pie. After dinner the captain
Voluntarily assigned himself to X. p
duly. and became initiated into the
OF dish wiping. II is doubt,
ful II he would have been interested
IN manipulating a dish towel if Peggy
had not been his partner iI' the X. =.
work.
Afterward, he insisted ON taking
them sll for q long ride into the coun.
try. Peggy. Of course. sat in the front
seat with the driver. while Mrs. Jones.
Bill and Bits girl. were in back. /
The captains Invitation had been
for dinner only. but it was after ten
O'clock that night when he and Bill re
turned 10 camp. A sleepy orderly
stared in open-moutiled srnazelnent as
his captain and Corporal Jones CON
versed in familiar tones about driving
home together next Sunday" and then
shook hands cordially at parting.