Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-03-20

the dressing room, could hear the sound.
She would like to havescalled him, only
she was just little hurt at his apparent
uncOncern at his sons departure. But
after ALL she thought, he was only a
man; he could not know a mothers
heart; his breast had not pillowed the lit
tie sunny head in the years gone by; he
had not cried with JOY when the little
feet had taken their first unsteady steps
across the floor. How well she remem-
bered that day, and how proud she had
felt Of her son. He was such a fine big
baby. She had placed him against a
chair, and he had looked up at her with
round eyes Of wonder; then, when ner
meaning came to him, he had not hest
tated a moment he had thrown back his
little head, and, with a scream of de-
light, walked bravely forward right into
her loving, waiting arms. And now
now She brushed aside her tears, for
she heard father coming.
Father entered the room quickly. but
paused on the threshold. To tell the
truth, he had thought mother downstairs.
He had been trying to remember that
for the first time so pluckily, whether the
lad had been breeched or not. He knew
the picture was on mothers dressing ia
bic, and he had come in to look at 1t,
and there stood mother with the photo
graph in her hand.
hunpn. exclaimed IalHef, SO you
have not gone DOWN. and his voice was
not conciliatory, for he felt that every
one that morning, himself included, was
wearing his heart on his sleeve, and
sense Of lost dignity was irritating him.
Mothers heart swelled at the tone;
she put down the photograph and looked
up at father with look in which re-
proach and sorrow mingled, and then
suddenly she turned aside, and her
hands busted themselves among the
brushes and trays. on the dressing table
for her quick eye had detected that faith
and q laced up one. TO think Of it! He,
the soul Of precision, to thus betray him
self. But there his abstraction stood
confessed And oh, how mother loved
him for it! He had oeen such a stole,
too Well, there was no accounting for
mans ways, but, thank God, he had put
on odd boots that morning. She no long
er felt lonely in her grief. He cared, too:
his heart was aching also for their sons
departure. Oh those blessed odd boots.
But she knew his nature, and stood for
4 moment wondering how best to tell
him of the mistake without annoying
him. And presently mother, on her way
downstairs, tapped at the dressing room
outer door. "One Of your lace boots"
she said. Il stumbled over it; [ have
put it down outside Then she waited
until she heard father swearing softly
to himself. Then she knew matters
would right themselves and went down
stairs.
At breakfast somehow nobody had
much to say. Bob wanted to talk, but
felt that his one topic-his luck at being
sent to the front-would not be exactly
cOngenial TO his listeners. So he re-
Trained, and ate hearty breakfast.
tie would carry the memory of his
last meal away with him to the far-off
land: The tender face of mother. smil-
ing bravely from behind the bubbling,
steamlng urn; the dainty spread table:
the pleasant, luxurious room, with its
handsome pictures; the broad bow win
dow, from which he could see the dear
old garden where he had played as a
child; the loving eyes of Nell beaming
upon him across the table Yes, home
was home, although he was luckiest sub
altern in the service.
BY and by the trap was at the door.
and the servants gathered in the hall TO
wish him good luck and Godspeed. Bob
shook hands with them all and thanked
the porch alone. He could not see her
face distinctly for the mist across his
eyes; and the next moment he and fa-
Their We're walking quickly down the
drive. along which the dogcart was 60
ing slowly forward to await them at the
gates beyond. Father remarked that
the new gamekeeper was giving salts
faction. and that there was every pros
pect of the covers yielding better sport
the next autumn.
I'VE shall have you home again before
then, my boy" he said.
Rather, sir" answered Bob: eve
shall not take long to settle this little af-
fair"
At the lodge the gamekeeper's four
boys were standing in a row. They had
three-cornered paper hats on their heads.
and wooden swords in their hands. and
they greeted Bob with sundry salutes and
hurrahs. And Bob laughed. and gave
then penny each. You must keep
up your drilling" he said. I'VE shall be
wanting new recruits in the regiment by
and by"
And then the gate was opened and Bob
climbed to the back seat of the cart. Far