The times., 1900-03-18
Ordered TO South Hfrica.

turned aside. and her hands busted them
selves among the brushes and trays on the
dressing table for her quick eye had de-
tected that father was wearing odd boots
"A huttoned and a lsced-up one. To think
OF u. He. the soul Of precision. to thus
oetray himself. But there his abstraction
stood confessed. And oh how mother
loved him for IL, He had been such a
stole. too Well, there was no account
lug tor mans ways. but. thank God he
had put on odd boots that morning She
no longer felt lonely in her grief He
cared. too. his heart was aching also for
their sons departure. Oh those blessed
odd boots,
But she knew his nature. and stood for
q moment wondering how best TO fell him
Of bis mistake without annoying him.
And presently mother. on her way down
stairs tapped az the dressing room outer
door. "One OF your lace boots. she said.
4 stumbled over it: I have put 10 down
outside" Then she waited until she heard
father swearing softly TO himself Then
she knew matters would right themselves
and went downstairs.
AT breakfast somehow nobody hal much
20 say. Rob wanted 20 talk. but feit that
his one topic-his luck at being sent 20
the front-would not be exactly congenial
TO his listeners. SO he refrained. and ate
hearty breakfast
He would carry the memory % his last
meal away with him to the faT-on land.
The tender face OF mother. smiling bravely
from behind the bubbling. steamius urn,
the dainty spread table. the pleasant. lux
uTious room with its handsome pictures.
the broad bow window. from which he
could see the dear old garden where he
had played as a child: the loving eyes
Of Nell beaming upon his across the table
Yes home was home. although he was
the uckiest subaltern in the service.
By and by the trap was at the door. and
the servants gathered in the hail 70 wish
him good luck and godspeed. Bob shook
hands with them all and thanked them,
and then he stood with mother 10 the
pOrch-alOne. He could not see her face
distinctly for the mist across his eyes;
and the next moment he and father were
walking quickly down the drive. along
which the d0gcart was going slowly for
ward TO await them at the gates beyond.
Father remarked that the new gamekeeper
was giving satisfaction. and that there
was every prospect Of the covers yielding
better sport the next autumn
we shall have you home again before
then my boy" he said.
Rather. sir" answered Bob, We shall
not take long to settle this little affair"
At the lodge. the gamekeepers four
boys were standing in a row. They had
three cornered paper hats on their heads
and wooden swords in their hands. and
they greeted Bob with sundry salutes and
hurrahs. And Bob laughed and gave
them a penny each. You must keep up
your drilling he said. we shall be
wanting new recruits iu The regiment by
and by.
And then the gate was opened and Bob
climbed to the back seat OF the cart. Far
away at the house something futtered
white from a window. and Bob took out
his handkerchief and signaled back again.
Then the boys cheered afresh. and the trap
turned into the lane. and home was al
ready a thing Of the past.
As they drove through the village there
was not a doorway that had not some one
standing on the threshold to bid him god
speed.
'"Tis the y0U"g squire of to the war
they cried one - the other, and the mems
eyes flashed and their voices rose; but the
women eyes filled with tears as they saw
him drive past God keep him, they said
and comfort his mothers heart For
they knew that the men gave willingly
their lives for their country, but that the
gift OF the women was something dearer
than life.
And all the while Bob's heart was sing
iuE TO him: he did not know that the song
had come down to him from the long ago
time when the Sea Kings had gune forth
with their battle songs TO be the terror and
conquerors OF distant lands. He did not
know. but so it Wa. and twas a goodly
heritage. OF which Bob in his joy and i'm
patience recked little.
So the station was reached and the last
good bye spoken; and father grasped Bob's
hand You will-do your duty father
said. u am sure Of it,
And Bobs face flushed. Thank you,
sir" ne answered in a husky voice, and
-my love-to mother. Clifford Mills, in
the Pail Mall Magazine.