The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-21
OFF TO THE WAR
BY Clifford Mills.

A Ii the doors in the corridor were
n still closed-all except mothers.
She had left hers ajar through the
night. in ease Bob. waking, had called
her name. But Bob had moi called; he
slept like a top.
Presently the gray dawn grew pink.
and little shafts of light crept through
the Venetian blinds, picking out the
pictures on the walls. the mirror of the
wardrobe. and the gallant figure of Bob
himself on the mantelpiece, photo
graphed in full uniform.
Mothers vigil was ended. She rose
softly. slipped on her dressing gown
and slippers. and stole along the corri-
dor 10 Bob's ROOM
Bob Law. six feet of British manhood,
yellow-haired, STRAIGHTFORWARD, deep
chested. sound asleep.
The few dreams that had visited him
had been sweet 10 the heart of a soldier.
Not a shadow of fear disturbed his
sIumbers. He had been assisting in
killing the enemy by shrapnel, rife and
bayonet. in thousands. and o they
lay around him like corn under the
sickle. and Bob smiled and awoke. and
saw his mother standing looking down
upon him. 1t was no unusual sight to
see her there; yet to-day something
stirred in his breast, and Bob put up his
arms and drew her head down to his
breast.
MY baby-my boy" mother MUIR
INJURED. "Oh, my darling."
Bob bore it with admirable grace, but
he did not like it-not u little bit: and
as soon as he could he wriggled himself
free and asked the time.
There was time and TO spare. and
mother said, if he did not mind. she
would like to read one of the morning
Psalms Il ohm; it would comforthim. she
said. And Bob consented like the
gentleman he was, and lay still while
she read. thinking what pretty hair she
had-it fell in a long plat right below
her waist. Then she kissed him again,
and went: and when she was quite sure
he could count on isolation Bob got up
and wandered among the litter of uni
'dSCs Nv Poi tAAe Ay
about the floor. Then he took up his
Glengarry, and, putting it on, regarded
his reflection in the mirror with COM
pIacency. And his pride must be ex-
cused. for he was a newly fiedged sub
altern of 20 years, recalled from leave to
Join his battalion, which sailed on the
morrow for the seat of war.
Having adjusted the cap at every con-
ceivable angle, he replaced it and con-
tinued his toilet. His cheeks were per-
fectIy innocent of beard. and 20 min
utes saw him fully attired, immaculate
in "a brand-new suit, and the ~stiffest and
highest of shiny white collars.
Just at this moment a knock came at
the door. and his sister, his junior by
three years, entered the room. 1t was
easy to see that she had been weeping,
but Bob expected as much and his
heart did not resent it. He put his arm
round her waist and kissed her.
Nearly time to be off," he cried,
with almost brutal cheerfulness, and
turned to strap his p~ortmanteau,
whistling a martial dItty.
Nell sat down on the edge of the bed
and surveyed the array of baggage with
mixed feelings. She was very proud of
Bob. He was a dear hero; but if only
the war were over and he back again,
crowned with glory! Other girls
brothers had gone, and-well, she
would not let herself think. She wished
she had been kinder to Bob in the days
gone by. Now the little. unthought-of
omissions would be ghosts to haunt her