Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-09-14
HAW WIHORNE, ESMERDA NEVADA SEPTEMBER a. 1898

Twenty minutes later he knocked af
his mothers door, and the neighbor
who was tending her opened ii to him.
She started and exclaimed when she
saw him, for like every one else. she
believed him dead. He would have
rushed to his mothers room, but the
woman stopped him.
go in quietly" she said. In a low
voice; 'she is asleep. She has been very
Ill since you went away. but she is lit
tie better now. The doctor said yes
terday that II 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
so often. When she was not calling
you she was praying the bon Dieu 10
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 like. 1t is awful"
But, Victor, impatient, thought he
heard his name called In faint voice
He moved on tip-toe toward his moth
er's bed. He had not been deceiyed-the
sick woman's eyes We're opened wide.
"Victor! my boy" she cried, in her
thin, weak voice. Without word he
lay down beside her, and her arms
closed round him hungrily.
And now the boy who had faced
death so impasslyely could do naught
but sob. Now, in his mothers arms he
became a child once more. timld, de-
spairing.
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 beloved?" she asked
You shall never leave me again. We
will throw that hateful uniform away;
| never want to see II 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 II completely; com
pletely, 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.
Nictor'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 child.
Ashamed of his weakness, the boy
forced himself into self-control, and
when he raised his head from the pill
low, once more believing himself
stronger than love of life, his mother
yielding to the reaction which her sud.
den joy had caused, was sleeping
peacefully.
The sight restored his energies A
kind Providence, he thought, had wish
ed 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 fore
head, 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
me had come, not seeing n soul he met
nor daring to look behind him.
What, so soon?'' the commandant
cried, astonished. He had hoped. like
the good hearted man he was, that the
boy would not return.
But had promised
Doubtless, but why be in such a
hurry? You might have stayed with
your mother some time longer, and still
have kept your word
Poor mother. After scene of tears
which seemed to take all my courage
tears of JOY for her, of despair for me
she fell asleep so calmly, so happily
that | dare not wait for her to wake
She fell asleep with her arms around
me, thinking | should never leave her
again; how could | have told her the