The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-09

would look as If she felt THIS was IN
deed goodby; so she choked back the
lump in her throat and sat with brave
eyes sto cally watching Bob. who stood
in the window examining mis- revolver;
5ut. strive as she would. she couli
not check the thought that the sight
brought to her mind. Bob with a re-
VolNer in his hand--yes, but far away
i'm the midst of the din and smoke ol
battle. surrounded by the foe; daunt-
less. wounded. bloody-dying-d ns.
With 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
up. Nell? You look as II you had seen
a ghost" Then eyes followed her
gaze Little coward" he cried teas
ingly. IL believe you got funky 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 d d." she said, and
went quickly from the room.
Bob went back and finished his pack
ing; then he caught up his portman-
teau and helmet case and went down.
stairs.
In the hall Perkins. the man SER
want. met him and hurried forwaN
with a scared face "Oh. sir" he cried
reproachfully, you shouldn't, really.
sir | wouldn't have had il happen for
took the case and portmanteau from
Bobs hands.
"Oh. it 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 breath
lessly, "a-carry ing of his own portman-
teau and looking as handsome and
cheerful for all the world as If he was
a-going TO be married, instead of off
to the war
Poor dear" said cook. as she turned
the chops poor innocent dear!"
Perkins hurried down at this moment.
''To tn nix" he cried tragically, las he s
strapped his own traps and carried
down his own portmanteau and he off
To the war! ia have lost whole
months wage sooner than this ere
should have happened. Suppos ng he's
killed, and I've got to remember that
he waited on hisself the last morning."
"Ain't he cheerful?" 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 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 loving pride had flashed into
her eyes and choked down sorrow. Her
boy was brave-ibrave and true: and
duty. she knew full well, would find
him a hero.
She wondered if father. who was in
the dressing room, could hear the
sound. She would like to have called
= ..l. IL
at his apparent unconcern at rs sons
departure. But after all, she thought
he was only a man he could not know
r~a mothers heart: his breast had not
pillowed the little sunny hciid
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 we'll she remembered that
day, and how proud she had felt OF her
son! He was such fine big baby. She
had placed him against a chair, and he
had looked up at her with round eyes
of wonder: then, when her meaning
came to him. he had not hesitated a
moment. he had thrown back his little
head. and, with a scream of delight
walked bravely forward right into her
loving. waiting arms. And now--now
- She brushed aside her tears for
she heard father coming.
Father entered the room quickly, but
paused on the threshold. To tell the
truth. he had thought mother down
stairs. He had been trying to remem-
ber, that day when Bob had ridden the
new pony for the first time so pluckily.
whether the lad had been breeched or
not. He knew the picture was on
mothers dressing table. and he had
come in. TO lock at it, and there stood
mother with the photograph in her
hand.
"Humph" exclaimed father, 80 you