Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-29
THE CAPTAIN
BY MARGARET L. AHERN.
Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Synd1eate.)

Captain Wright carefully read the
two invitations before him. One. oil
heavy white linen paper. with goIC
monogram. requested the pleasure OF
his company at dinner the following
Sunday evening. The captain laid the
note on his desk and gazed out of the
barracks window with a slightly con
temptuous smile which might have
been interpreted in plain English as
follows:
aunt Alicia and Uncle Dan are al
right. but they'd give me a steen
course dinner of fancy stuff 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 to listen to Mildred's
simpering chatter for two .hours-or
maybe she'd sing. I'd rather stay in
camp over the weekend"
The other invitation was a simply
worded note asking that ''some lone
some boy, who is far away from home
come to dinner with Mrs. Jones on
Sunday at one o'clock. The letter went
on to explain that Mrs. Jones' SON.
William, was a corporal in the cap
tain'S company. but that all of his i'm
mediate friends in the company were
from nearby homes. AS the captain
laid that note aside there was a
twinkle in his eye that meant:
being twenty-eight, l may not quail
ify as boy, but I'm lonesome. And
judging from the boxes that Corporal
Jones gets so often the pies that
mother used to make can be found in
his home"
So it happened that the next Sunday
Corp. William Jones received a great
surprise. He had been sitting at the
parlor window, comfortably enscOnced
in morris chair, with his feet on an
other chair, and smoking, while he
read the Sunday paper. Such privi-
leges and ease were not allowed him
in pre-war times, and William was
making the most of the respect his
family accorded his uniform. From
the kitchen appetiZing odOrs drifted in
to complete his satisfaction. Occa
sionally he glanced out of the window
to look for the expected guest. "HOpe
he's a decent sort of a fellow" he
muttered to himself.
Then his peace of mind was rudely
disturbed. A gray touring car drew
up at his door, with Captain Bright
driving it, Before Bills startled gaze
his superior officer methodically shut
off the engine and locked the car and
then, climbing out, covered the radia-
tor with a heavy robe. Bill jumped up
littering the floor with the papers, and
began to tumble in his pockets.
Goodness, where's my pass?" he
Spluttered. "And what on earth have
done nOw?"
He was still searching for his pass
when the captain was ushered in by
Mrs. Jones. She was stout, mOtherly
woman, and two silver bars on a khaki
shoulder meant nothing to her until
she saw her William standing stiffly at
attention. Captain Wright snapped
salute in return, and then laughingly
shook hands with the discounted cor
poral.
mo more ceremony today, Jones'"
His frank smile put Bill at ease. I'm
just lonesome fellow with no place
RI 90 :
that"
He shifted approximately. II don't
often have homemade apple pie" Mrs.
Jones beamed at this remark and the
willy captain went on to further win
her heart by telling her how lonely it
was up in that big camp, with no folks
to visit one and send delicacieS such
as the fortunate Bill received.
Meanwhile, Bill, from whom all awe
had departed at the signs of human
nature displayed by his erstwhile COM
handing 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, sin a ruffiy apron,
covered with pink rosebuds she looked
like an angel ready to serve ambro-
sia."
Needless to say, the dinner party
was great success, particularly the
apple pie. After dinner the captain
voluntarily assigned himself to K. P.
duty, and became initiated into the
mysteries of dish wiping 1t is doubt
full if he would have been interested
in manipulating a dish towel if Peggy
had not been his partner If the X. P.
work.
Afterward, he insisted on taking
them all for long ride into the cOun-
try. Peggy, of course, sat in the front
seat with the driver. while Mrs. Jones,
Bill and Bills 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 to camp, A sleepy orderly
stared in open mouthed amazement as
his captain and Corporal Jones con-
versed in familiar tones about driving
home together next Sunday" and then
shook hands cordially at parting.