The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-05

IDLY DO YOU know how ! love yo2
He looked around. and then. seeing no one.
he went on. Il love you more Inan any
one In this world could ever love you. No
body, melody could love YOU like that
And unfolding his arms and letting them
drop TO his Sdes ne shook his head as
though repeating: Nobody. nobody III the
whole world.'
Again he ran Up 10 the window and
again he turned back disappointed You
shan't look out again. he said 10 himself,
wheyeat he stamped his foot. as II re-
peating more emphaticdlly: You sham
and then ne smiled, as much as to say:
Yes, but that's more than l can bear to
keep away from.
He abandoned himself 10 his reveries.
He beheld his mother making up parcel
OF shirts and handkerchIefs for him. She
was bidding her neighbors goodby ana
telling them that she was on IN meet her
son. The soldier fancied himself follow
ing his mother on her way 10 town He
could see the clouds of dust raised by me
passing wagons. Behold! those wagons
were brushing past his mothers skirts
The weak old woman had scarcely lodged
one wagon. when. bark, another one
comes up rumblng like mad and ready
10 knock her down. Look OUT escapes
her sons lips. and without being aware
of it, he reaches out his hand. "a II 10
grasp his mothers arm and 10 draw her
out of harms way. Next he sees her In
the city staggering under the weight or
her parcel. tagged out and parched with
thirst The image breaks his heart and
he murmurs: Let me- have the package.
poor old dear, Take my ARM Where
upon he holds out his elbow and almost
feels his mothers trembling arm in his.
When he awoke from his reverie ii
seemed as though he We're becoming
aware OF his approaching happiness for
the first time. His eyes frightened. his
lips auivered, his every feature was Ut up
with toy He alternately smiled laughed.
choked with sobe, painted for breath and
at last flung himself down on his bed face
downward. oil shaking with the tumult
Of emotions he was struggling to hold
back.
What has got into your" asked a cor
perai who happened TO cross the room at
this moment.
The little private started up and gave
the intruder a look. his eyes full of tears
and his lips parted in smile
He must be crazy murmured the cor
poral as he passed out.
Left to himself. the private stood Irilsing
for while, and then, as r a thought had
dnwned upon him. ha reached on, for his
knapsack which lay on a shelf nearby. and
from which he drew brushes, combs. boxes
blanket Of his bed. Il want 10 be clean As
a whistle" he said 10 himself. as he pro-
ceeded to shine his boots. Il want 20 be a
handsome soldier. l do" The shcebrush
was superseded by a clothes brush and this
by a comb. Finally. after some fumbEng
In his knapsack, he produced a little look
Ing gass Therein he beheId the reflection
OF hts happiness on his face and smiled
joyously
S3SI ~ ~
hastily up the stairs, He listened with
bated breath. The steps drew nearer and
nearer. At last. 10 and behold The door
flies open and In comes the corporal.
There is woman al the gate waiting
to :sae YOU" ne says
My mother cries out the private and
shooting out ~ the dormltory down tho
stairs and across the courtyard, he rl,Shes
NJ the old woman IN the gateway She
throws open her arms and he flies into
them. and both utter cry. He takes her
head In his hands and fitting il back looks
into her eyes Then he gathers her head
10 his bosom. encloaes Il IN his arms and
presses his lips against the white hair,
from which the white cap had gliiad of
Slnothersng her rohs on his shoulder she
clasps him 10 her heart and passes her bony
hand over his cloak. which seems TO her
more beautiful and sweeter TO the touch
than the robes OF a king
The sentinel stood reverertiv haci a
mute witness % tho holy embrace OF thu
old peasant woman. and her soldte--bov
The officer az the day. too. saw the indie
scrihable spectacle
Brace up. mother. brace up" eaid the
private What are you CRYING aho,itr'.
he added, tenderly. a. he carefully mad
jus'e7 her deranged hair But tho ola
woman continued tn sob, until finally cha
raised her eyes TO her sons face Sn1ra.,
heavsd deep sigh. AZ n great burden
had at last been lifted from her heart and
with whispered My SON." she once mora
clasp"d him In her embrace
Are you tired? he asked. dis.nxa<,rx
himself
only a Ettie bit" she answered. ,ns,-
ing and looking about for place to drop
her parcel
Step in here said the officer o. the
day. opening the door OF his room.
on. ali officer" she said, facing sbr,,,,
and bowling deeply. Thank YOU ever 40
much
The private stood ernbsrrass 11
Just step IN and make yourselves AZ
home. the two 81 YOU" repeated the officer
They enterel timi1iy and nut the park
age on the table, the Of cer remaining out
SIDE
Let me take a good look At you. my bov.