The times., 1900-03-18

had not called; ne had slept like tor.
Presently the grey dawn grew pink. and
little shafts Of light crept through the We
netian blinds. picking out the pictures on
the walls. the mirror Of the wardrobe. and
the gallant figure OF Bob himself on the
mantelpiece, photographed in full uni
form
Mothers vigil was ended. She rose soft
Z ly, slipped on her dressing gown and slip
pers, and stole along the corridor 10 Bobs
room.
Bob lay six foot Of British manhood.
yellow haired straight limbed deep chest
ed, sound asleep
The few dreams that had visited him had
been sweet 10 the heart Of a soldier. Not
shadow OF fear had disturbed his slum-
| bers He had been assisting in kill
/ ing the enemy by shrapnel. rife 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 Il 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 murmured
oh my darlingi'
Bob bore it with admirable grace. but
he did not like it-nOt n little bit; and
as soon as ne could he wTggled free and
asked the time.
There was time and to spare and mother
said. IL he did not mind. she would like 20
read one Of the morning Psalms TO him; it
would comfort her, she said. And Bob con-
sented, like the gentleman be was. and lay
stin while she read. thinking what pretty
hair she had-it fell in a long plait right
below her waist Then she kissed him
again. and went, and when he was quite
sure he could count on isolation Bob got
up and wandered among the litter Of uni
form cases and portmanteaus that lay
about the floor Then he took up his Glen
garry. and, putting il on, regarded his re
nectiOn in the mirror with cOmplacency-
And his pride must be excused, for he was
a newly fiedged subaltern of twenty years,
recalled from leave TO Tejoin his battalion.
which sailed on the morrow for the seat
of war.
Having adjusted the cap at every con-
ceivable angle. he replaced il aud con
tinued his toilet. His cheeks were per
fectly innocent Of beard, and twenty 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 az the
door, and his sister, his junior by three
years. entered the room. II was easy to
see she had been weeping but Bob ex-
pected as much, and in his heart did not
resent it. He nut his arm around her
waist and kissed her.
Nearly time to be of he cried with
almost brutal cheerfulness. and turned to
strap his portmanteau whistling a mar
tial ditty.
Nell sat down on the edge Of the bed
-a1 bn # trff D.
mixed feelings. She was very proud OF
Bob ie was dear hero. but il only the
war were now over and he back again.
crowned with glory! other girls brothers
had gone. and-well she would not let her
self think. She wished she had been kind
er to Bob in the days gone by. Now the
little unthOught-of omissions would be
ghosts TO haunt her conscience till he was
back again She would like to have told
Bob she was sorry, but she knew he would
laugh at her for little goose. and, be-
sides. it would look as if she felt this
was indeed goodbye so she choked back
the lump in her throat and sat with brave
eyes stOically watching Bob. who stood in
the window examining his revolver.
But. strive as she would she could not
check the thoughts that the sight brought
to her mind. Bob with revolver in his
hand-yes, but far away in the midst OF
the din and smoke OF battle surrounded
by the foe: dauntless. wounded bloody
dying dying. With a little cry she rose
to her feet
Bob. who had been taking careful aim
at the gas globe. turned at the sound.
"Halloo," he exclaimed, what's up. Nell? ?
You look as if you had seen a ghost" Then
his eyes followed her gaze. Little cow
ard" he cried teasingly, Il 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
We'll. perhaps | did. she said and went
quickly from the room.
Bob went back and finished his packing
then ne caught up his portmanteau and
helmet case and went downstairs
In the hall Perkins the man servant.
met him, and hurried forward with a
scared face. "Oh, sir, he cried reproach-
fully. 'you shouldn't. really. sir. /
wouldn't have had it happen for worlds.
sir, he said patheJically. as he took the
case and pOrtmanteau from BObs hands
"Oh. IL is all right, Perkins, Bob an
swered with splendid condescension.
whereupOn one of the housemaids. who was
a witness Of the scene, hurried off TO the
kitchen below
He's down" she exclaimed breathless-
ly, "a-Carrying Of his own pOrtmanteau and
looking as handsome and cheerful for all
the world as il he was a-going to b. mar
risd instead of off to the war.
Poor dear" said cook. as she turuef /
the chops 'qCor innOcent dear,''
Perkins hurried down at this moia"nt.
ITO think" he cried tragically. "as he's ]
his own traps and carried down !
his own portmanteau. and he of TO war |
ia have lost whole months wage sooner /
than this ere should have happened. Sup /
posing he's killed and I've got to remsm- /
Der that he waited on hisseh the last |
morning"
Amt he cheerful" said Mary. the
He don't look as il he meant |
to be killed"
oh they none of EN- mean to be killed. |
but that don't make bullets blank cart |
ridges" Perkins answered grimly
In the meantime mother had dressed /
She had borne up bravely throughout. |
Once though her lips had trembled that !
was when the sound Of Bob's gay whistling |
had reached her ears. But even then low !
ing pride had flashed into her eyes and !
chOked down sorrow. Her boy was brave |
brave and true. and duty. she knew full I
we'll. would find him hero.
She wondered il father who was in the |
dressing room, could hear The sound. She |
would like 10 nave called ,I him. only she /
was just a little hurt at his dpparenr uu- /
concern at his son $ departure BUT after /
all she thought ne was only man. he
could not know a mothers heart. his
breast had not pillowed the little 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 remembered that day.
and how proud she had felt Of her son! He
was such a fine baby. She had placed him
against a chair. and he had looked M az
her with round eyes Of wonder; then. when
,.,,a 10 him Ia. had Z