Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-03-24
ORDERED TO AFRICA

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 pic
lures on the walls, the mirror of the
wardrobe, and the gallant figure of Bob
himself Oh the manteIpiece, photographed
in full uniform.
Mothers vigil was ended. She rose
softly, slipped on her dressing gown and
slippers, and stole along the corridor to
| Bob's room.
Bob lay, six feet Of British manhood,
yellow haired. STRAIGHTFORWARD, deep
| chested, sound asleep.
The few dreams that had visited him
had been sweet to the heart of q sol
der. Not a shadow Of fear had dis
turbed his slumbers. He had been as
sisting iii 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 awokc, and
saw mother standing looking down upon
! him. 1t was no unusual sight to see
| her there yet today something stirred
| i'll his breast and Bob put up his arms
| My baby-my boy" mother MUIR
INJURED. "Oh, my darling"
| Bob bore it with admirable grace, but
| he did not like it-not a little bit: and as
| soon as he could he Wriggled himselfsl
| free and asked the time.
There was time and to spare, andlI
mother said. if he did not mind shell
would like to read one of the morningl
| Psalms to him; it would comfort her, shell
| said. And Bob consented, like the gen-l
tleman he was, and lay still while she
read. thinking what pretty hair she had |
1t fell in long plat right below her
waist. Then she kissed him again, and
went; and when he was quite sure h.
could count on isolation Bob got up and +
wandered among the litter of uniform
cases and portmanteauS that lay about
the floor Then he took ND his Glengar-
ry. and, putting it on. regarded his re-
flection in the mirror with complacency. |
And his pride must be excused, for be
was a ewly-fledged snbaltern of 20
years. recalled from leave to rejoin 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 eontin- |
ued his toilet His cheeks were perfectly |
innocent of beard, and twenty minutes |
saw him fully attired, immaculate in |
brand-new suit, and the stiffest aud high /
est of shiny white collars. Il
Just at this moment knock came at |
the door. and his sister, his junior by /
three years, entered the room. 1t was /
easy to see she had been weeping. but
Bob expected as much, and in his heart
4.
her waist and kissed her
NEARLY time TO be off" he cried, with
almost brutal cheerfulness. ANA turned
To strap his portmanteau. whstling a
martial ditty.
Nell sat down on the he'd and sur
yeyed the array of baggage with mixed
feelings. She was very proud of Bob. !
He was dear hero: but if only the war
were over and he hack 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 nthOught-of omissions would be
ghosts to haunt her conscience till he was
back again. She would like TO have told
Bob she was sorry, hut she knew he
would laugh Mt her for little goose:
and besides. it would look as if she felt
tins was indeed goodhy; so she choked
back the lump in her throat ana 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-ycS, but far away in the midst Of
the din and smoke of battle. surrounded
by the foe; dauntless. wounded. bloody
-dying-dying! With little cry She
rose TO her feet
Bob, who had been taking careful aim
| nj the gas globe. turned NJ the sound.
| "HaIloo. he exclaimed what's up,
Nell? You look rs if You had seen
| ghost. Then his eyes followed her gaze
Little coward" he cried teasingly. Il
believe You got funky at the sight Of
Nell stopped short on her way to the
door then she gave a queer little laugh
We'll, perhaps | did" she said and Went
quickly from the room
Bob went back and finished his pack
ing; then he caught up his portmanteau
/ and helmet ease and went downstairs
In the hall Perkins. the man servant
met him and hurried forward with
scared face. "Oh, sir" he cried rcnroach
/ fully, YOU shouldn't. really, SIR
/ wouldn't have had it happen for worlds
! SIR he said, pathetically. as he took the
! case aud portmanteau from Rob'S hands
/ oh, 1t is all right, Perkins" Bob
! answered with splendid CondeSccnSion.
! whercupon one of the houScmaidS. who
/ was witness of the Scene, hurried off
/ 10 the kitchen below
/ Hes down" she exclaimed brcathlcss-
! ~, a-carrylng of his own portmanteau
/ and looking as handsome apl cheerful for
/ all the world as If he was a-goiug 10 be
married, instead 0f off - the war"
/ Poor dear said cook. as she turned
/ the chops poor innocent DEAR
Perkins hurried down at this moment.
J
/ strapped his own traps and carried down
his own portmanteau. and he off To the
war. Ia have lost q whole mouths
/ wages sooner than this ere should have
| happened. Surprising he's killed. and
I've got 10 remember that. he waited ON
( hiSSclf the last morning.
Amt he cheerful" said Mary. the
/ hOuSemaid. He don't look as ii he
/ meant to he killed"
oh! they none of EN- mean to he
/ killed, but that don't make bullets blank
/ caltridgeS." Perkins answered grimly.
In the meantime mother had dressed.
She had horne mp hravely throughout.
! Once, though. hcr lips had trcmblcd: that
was when he sound nf Rab's cay whist
/ ling had reached her ears. But even
then loving pride had flashed into her
/ eyes and chOkcd down sorrow Her hoy
was brave brave and true. and duty.
/ she knew full well, would ind him
/ hero.
She wondered if father. who was in