The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-17
ORDERED TO AFRICA.

closed-all except mothers. She had
 left hers ajar through the night, in case ,l Bob, waking, had called her name. But Bob had not called; he had slept like
 a top.
 Presently the gray dawn grew pink,
 and little shafts of light crept through
 the Venetian blinds, picking out the pie
 lures on the walls, the mirror of the
 wardrobe, and the gallant figure of Bob
 himself on the mantelpiece, photograph
 ed in full uniform.
 Mothers vigil was ended She rose
 softly, slipped on her dressing gown and
 slippers and stole along the corridor to Bobs room
 Bob lay, six foot of British manhood,
 yellow haired, straight limbed. deep
 chested, sound asleep.
 The few dreams that had visited him
 had been sweet to the heart of sol-
 dier. Not a shadow of fear had disturb ed his slumbers He had been assisting
 in killing the enemy by shrapnel. rifle
 and bayonet in thousands, and now they
 lay around him like corn after the sickle
 and Bob smiled and awoke, and saw
 mother standing looking down upon
 him. It 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 nur- mured "Oh, my darlng!"
 Bob bore it with admirable grace, but he did not like it-not a little bit, and as soon aG 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 to him; it would comfort her, she said And Bob consented, like the gentleman he was, and lay still while she read, thinking what pretty hair Nshe had-it fell in long plait below her waist Then she kissed him again, and went; and when he was quite sure of isolation Bob got up and wan dered among the litter of uniform cases and portmanteaus that lay about the floor. Then he took up his Glengarry and, putting it on regarded his retlec- ton in the mirror with completeness And his pride must be excused, for he was newly hadged subalteran of twen- ty years, recalled from leave to rejoin his battalion, which ealed on the nor row 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 fectly innocent of beard, and twenty minutes saw him fully attired, immacu- late in a brand new suit, and the stiffest and highest of shiny white collars.
 11,c at sa1t a the door, and his s:nter, his junior by three years, entered the room. It was easy to see she had been weeping. but Bob expected as much, and in 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 turn ed to strap his portmanteau, whistllng a martial ditty.
 Nell eat 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 gloryl Other girls broth- CTS 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 omis- sions would be ghosts to haunt her con- science till he was back again, She would like to have told Bob she was sorry, but she knew he would laugh at her for a little goose; and, besides it would look as if she felt this was indeed goodby; so she choked back the lump in her throat, and sat with'brave eyes +sI,i Ip,tD 1, -t., window examining his revolver.
 But strive as she would, she could not 1 check the thoughts that the sight l brought to her mind. Bob with a re- voyer in his hand-yes but far away | in the midst of the din and smoke of | battle, surrounded by the foe; daunt | less, wounded, bloody-dying-dy | With little cry she rose to her feet
 Bob, who had been taking careful aim | at the gas globe, turned a the sound. 'Hallool" he exclaimed, whats up, | Nell? You look as if you had seen d ghost. Then his eyes followed her | gaze. Little coward!" he cried teas ingly. q believe you got funky at the sight of this revolver"
 Nell stopped short on her way to the door, then she gave queer little laugh. Well perhaps I did' she said, and went quickly from the room.
 Bob went back and finished his pack ng; then he caught up his portmanteau md helmet case and went downstairs
 In the hall Perkins, the man servant, met him, and hurried forward with scared face. "Oh, slr,' he cried re- you shouldn't, really sir! wouldn't have had it happen for worlds, sir" he said pathetically, as he ,ook the case and portmanteau from 3obs hande.
 "Oh, it is all right, Perkins" Bob with splendid condescension; one of the housemaids, who vas witness of the scene, hurried off Q the kitchen below
 He's down. she exclaimed breath essly, "a carrying of his own portman- eau and looking as handsome and heerful for all the world as if he was l-going to be married, instead of off to he war; Poor dear" said cook, as she turned he chops; poor innocent dear!' Perkins hurried down a this moment TO think, he cried tragically, 'as he's trapped his own traps and carried town his own partmanteau, and he off o the war; I'd have lost whole 1Onth'S wage sooner than this re shGu'd d