The suburban citizen., 1900-06-02

W II Chicago volun-
unteer regi-
ments was leaving for the front. A
blaze of soldiery, a fever Of patriot.
ism and ten thousand people had
transformed the station into a turbu-
lent sea with waves OF unrestrained
emotion. Between the inspiring
strains of patriotic airs and the rat
tliug of drums, shouts Of encourage.
ment were pouring from the mega
phoned mouths of the multitude.
Remember the Mainel' thun-
dered q man whose appreciation for
the eternal fitness of things is more
to be admired than his originality.
An old fellow with copper button
in the lapel of his coat hobbled
through the throng, Aourishing his
cane in the air with little consider
alton for the comfort of his country
men.
"Git mkt the whites iv their peep
ers, b'ys, thin pop it t thim!" was the
advice OF this typical son OF the EN-
erald Isle.
The claug of the bell gave notice
that little time remained for the fiual
farewells. Wives, mothers aud sweet
hearts were clinging about the necks
of the departing soldiers, and, amid
the tumult, great tears were falling
from the eyes of the parting friends.
A witness to all these demonstra.
tions, and alone, with no one to cheer
him or to say goodby, was silent
young soldier, who stood lost in rev.
erie. He looked scarce more than
boy, with a proud military bearing
and handsome face. While his COM
rades were bidding their last adieus
be stood as il trans6xed to the plat
form, but suddenly he looked about
and exclaimed:
won't somebody kiss me good
by?"
Before he could escape a pair of
arms were thrown about his neck
from behind, and as he turned he
caught a warm kiss squarely on the
lips, and a soft voice Nhispered "Be
good boy and come home again"
In another instant the savior had
gone, but as the train moved out
dainty white handkerchief was waved
in the crowd-and for him.
The vision-the sweet face, the
burning of the kiss on his lips, and
the tender admonition to "be a good
boy and come home again"-followed
Eugene Brockway to Springfield. 1t
broke camp with him when they
were ordered south and embarked
with him on the transports which
carried the regiment to Cuba. In
his dreams the girl was sure to pre-
sent herself, and when the fever took
possession of his reason the boys
heard him say:
"Be a good boy and come home
againw
After years struggle with war aud
the elements OF the tropical island
Brockway was returned to Chicago,
haggard and weak from the privations
and hardships OF the Cuban campaign.
One thought remained uppermost in
his mind. His deeds OF daring and
bravery while in the trenches of San.
tiago, his praises sounded in the home
papers, and his new commission as
lieutenant were entirely forgotten in
bis quiet search for the pretty and
plump little maiden whose kindliness
had completely disturbed his peace Of
mind.
In a comfortable aud happy home
in one Of the suburbs the movements
of a certain Illinois regiment had been
OF uncommon interest to Mamie Hurd-
man. She followed the campaign of
the infantry in Cuba with a consum-
ing relish. She scrutinized the
printed lists of casualties and refused
to believe that death was able to over
come the rugged lad she had jokinglY
clasped in her arms, and who, in re-
turn, had carried away her heart with
neither her consent nor hint Of where
it might be found in the future.
Several weeks after his return
Lieutenant Brockway received an in
vitation to a reception he was dis
posed to decline, owing partially to
the state Of his health, but more
directly to the general disfavor with
which he now considered society girls
in comparison with one romping yeI
sympathetic soul whose image wal
lodged in his memory. Had it mol
been for the persistency of his friend
Horace Judson, he would have re-
main0d in his room. But Horace had
sent him word that be would call foI
him with q carriage and two ladies al
T3O o'clock, and there was but on;
thing 10 do.