The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-25
W MEriea .


closed-all exeeptsmothers She had left
hers ajar thr6pghathe night. in case Bob,
waking, had taIleh her name. But BoD
had not called; he had slept like top.
Presently the gray dawn grew pink,
and little shaftsSbf light crept through
the Venetian BLINDS. picking out the pict-
ures on the walls, the mirror of the ward
robe. and the' gallant figure Of Bob him.
self on the rnantelpiece, photographed ir.
| full uniform
Mothers yisilsswas ended. She rose
softly, slipped on, her dressing gown and
| slippers, and Stole along the corridor 20
| Bob's room.
| Bob lay, six foot of British manhood,
yellow-haired. straight-lmbed, deep,
| chested, sound asleep.
| The few dreams that had visited hlni
| had been sweet to the heart OF a soldier
| Not shadow of fear had disturbed his
slumbers. He had been assisting in kill
| ing the enemy by shrapnei. rifle and bay.
ohet 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. 1t was
no UNUSUAL sight to see her there; yet
today 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 darling!
bob bore 1t with admirable grace, but
he did not like it-not Il little bit; and
| as soon as he could he wiggied himself
free and asked the time.
There was time and 10 spare, and moth,
er said, if he did not mind, she would
Ike to read one OF the morning Psalms
10 him; 1t would comfort her, she said
And Bob consented, like the gentleman
he was, and lay sim while she READ,
thinking what pretty hair she had-it
teil in long plat right below her waist
linen she Kissed him again, and went:
and when he was quite sure he could
count on isolation Bob got up and wan
dered among the litter of uniform cases
ana portmanteaus that lay about the
moor. Then he took up his Glengarry
a@d, putting ii on, regarded his reflection
In the mirror with complacency And
his pride must be excused, for he was
a newly-ftedged subaitern Of twenty
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-
celVable angie he replaced 1t and con-
tlnaed his toilet. His checks were per-
fectiy 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.
| Just at this moment a knock came at
nd l1i c.ie
three years, entered the room 1t was
| easy to see she had been weeping. but
| BOP expected as much, and in his heart
/ did not resent IL. He put his arms round
her waist and kissed her
| Nearly time to- be off, he cried, with
! almost brutal cheertuiness, and turned 10
! strap his portmanteau, Whistling a mar
| tial ditty -
| Nell sat down on the edge of the bed
and surveyed the array OF baggage with
mixed feelings. She was very proud OF
+ BOD He was a dear hero; but IL only
the war were over and he back again
crowned with glory! Other girls broth
| ers 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 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 a little goose
| and, besides, 1t would look as II she felt
this was indeed good-bye; SO she choke0
back the lump in her throat and sat
! With brave eyes stoicaliy 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 a 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
dy1ng-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.
"Hal!oo!" he exclaimed, whats up.
Nell? You look as If you had seen a
ghost. Then his eyes followed her gaze.
Little coward" he cried teasingly "I
believe you got funl1y at the sight of this
revolver"
Nell stopped short on her way to the
| door. then she gave a queer little laugh.
well. perhaps L 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 case and went down stairs.
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 pathetically, as he took the
case and pOFtmanteau from Bob's hands
! 'Oh, 1t Is all right. Perkins, Bob an
| swered, with Z splendid .condescension
| whereupon one of the housemaids, who
was witness of the scene, hurried off to
| the kitchen bbelow
| Hes down" she exclaimed brea thless-
| ly, "a-carrying Of his own portmanteau
| and looking as handsome and cheerful for
| all the world If he was a-going to be
married. instead of off - the war"
! Poor DEAR" said cook, as she turned
| the chops; poor innocent deari"
Perkins hurried down at this moment
| TO think" he cried tragIcally, "as he's
| strapped his own traps and carried down
his own portmanteau, and he off to the
| war! I'd have lost whole months
| wages sooner than this ere should have
happened. Supposing he's killed. and I've
| got to remember that he waited on his
| self the last morning."
Amt he cheerfui?" said Mary, the
| housemaid. "He don't look as If he
| meant TO be killed."
"Oh! they none of 'em mean to be
| killed. but that don't make bullets blank
| cartridges" Perkins answered grimly
In the meantime mother had dressed
| She had brone up bravely throughout
| Once, though, her lips had trembled; tha;
was when the sound of Bob's gay whist
ling had reached her ears. But even
| then loving pride had flashed into her
| eyes and choked down sorrow. Her boy
| was brave-braYe and true; and duty
| she knew full well, would find him a
/ hero.
She wondered If father, who was In the