The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-20

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been very Ill since you went away,
but she is little better now. The
doctor said yesterday that if she
could sleep she would soon get
stronger; she must not be awakened.
Poor thing she will be glad to see
you, for she has asked for you 80
often. When she was not calling
you she was praying the Bon Dieu to
preserve you and to restore peace in
the land. Helas! one would say He
had abandoned us, the Bon Dieu,
and let men do just as they liked.
1t is awfulp
But Victor, impatient, thought he
heard his name called in a faint
voice. He moved on tiptoe toward
his mothers bed. He had not been
deceived-the sicx woman's eyes were
opened wide.
"Victorl my boy" she cried, in her
thin, weak voice. Without a word
he lay down beside her and her arms
closed round him hungrily.
And now the boy who could face
death SO impassively could do
naught but sob. Now, in his moth
er's arms, he became child once
more, timid, despairing.
The sick woman, who seemed to
gain strength from his presence,
sought in vain to console him.
"Why do you distress yourself SO,
my child, my best beloveda" she
asked. "You shall never leave me
again. We will throw that hateful
uniform away; never want to see 1t
more. / will make haste and get
well; feel so much stronger since
you came. Soon you will go to work
again, and you will grow up and
marry some good girl. The past
will only look like bad dream then,
and we will forget it completely;
completely, dear"
Poor soul, how should she know
that her picture of bright future
only deepened her boys anguish'
She was silent, telling herself that
the best way to dry tears is to let
them flow freely. She kissed him
and let his weary head fall back on
the pillow, and then she gave herself
up to dreams of happier days in
store for both of them.
Victor's sobs grew less frequent
and less violent, and soon nothing
could be heard in the little room but
the regular breathing of the mother
and her child. Ashamed of his weak
ness, the boy forced himself into
self-control, and when he raised his
head from the pillow, once more, be-
lieving himself stronger than love
of life, his mother, yielding to the
reaction which her sudden JOY had
caused, was sleeping peacefully.
The sight restored his energies.
A kind Providence, he thought, had
wished to spare him scene which
his strength and courage could not
have borne, and he resolved to go at
once. Lightly he kissed his mothers
forehead, and gazed at her earnestly
for few moments. She seemed to
smile, he thought; then he went out
hurriedly and returned to his post as
quickly as he had come, not seeing q
soul he met nor daring to look be-
hind him.
"Whatl 80 soon?" the commsndant
cried, astonished. He had hoped
like the good-hearted man that he
was, that the boy would not return
"But | had promisedp
Doubtless, but why be in such 8
hurryi You might have stayed with
your mother some time longer, and
still have kept your word"
Poor motherl After a scene Of
tears which seemed to take all my
courage-tears of JOY for her, of de-
spair for me-she fell asleep SO calm
| ly, SO happily, that dare not wait
for her to wake. She fell asleep with
her arms about me, thinking l should
never leave her again; how could ]
have told her the truth2 Who knows
| whether I should have had the cour.