The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-21

fatgb at her Tor a uttte goose. II De-
sides il would look as IL she felt this
wasindeed good-by; 50 she choked back
this lump in her throat and sat with
brave eyes stOicaIiy watching Bob. who
stood in the window examining his re-
yolyer.
But. strive as she would. she could
not check the thoughts that the sight
brought TO her mind. Bob with the re-
volver in his hand-yes, but far away
in the midst Of the din and smoke of
battle. surrounded by the foe; daunt-
less. wounded. Notwithstanding!
With a little cry she rose 10 her feet.
Bob, who had been taking careful
aim at the gas globe. turned at the
sound. "Halloo." he exclaimed.
whats up. Nell? You look as if you
had seen a ghost" Then his eyes fol-
lowed her gaze. Little coward" he
cried, teasingly. II believe you got
funky at the sight of this revolver
Nell stopped short on her way 10
the door, then she gave a queer lit
tie laugh. We'll. perhaps / did" she
Suhb. ~ we'll duithtp " ~ win
Bob went back and finished his
packing; then he caught up his port
manteau and helmet ease and went
downstairs.
In the hall Perkins. the man sery-
ant, met him and hurried forward
with a scared face. oh, sir" he cried,
re~proachfully. you shouldn't, really,
sir. / wouldn't have had it happen
for worlds, sir" he said. patheticallv,
AK he took the case and pCrtmanteau
from Bob's hands.
'Oh, it is all right. Perkins" Bob
answered, with splendid condescen-
sion; w%hereupon one of the house
maids. who was a witness of the scene,
hurried off to the kitchen below.
"He's down." she exclaimed, breath
lessly. 'a-carrying of his own port
manteau and looking as handsome
and cheerful for all the world as if
he was a-going to be married, instead
of of to the war"
"Poor dear" said cook, as she
turned the chops; poor innocent
dear."
Perkins hurried down at this mo-
ment. ITO think" he cried. tragicai-
ly. las he's strapped his own traps
and carried down his own portman-
teau. and he of to the war! I'd have
lost a whole months wage sooner
than this ere should have happened.
Surprising he's killed. and I've got TO
.ora.--I., shat h. x-nttaI nm hicSaIf
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 EN- 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 bravcly
throughout. Once. though. her lips
sound of Bob's gay whistling hal
reached her ears. But even then low
ing pride had flashed into her eyes
and choked down sorrow. Her boy
was braye-brave and true: n duty.
| she knew full well, would find him n
hero.
She wondered if father. who was
i'm the dressing-room. could hear the
| sound. She would like TO have called
to him. only she was just a little
hurt at his apparent at his
sons departure. But after all. she
thought. he was only a 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 ioy 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 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 thrown back his little head and.
with a scream of delight. walked
bravely forward right into her low
ing. 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
downstairs. He had bee trying to
remember. 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 h pic
ture was on mothers dressing table.
and he had come in to look at it. and
there stood mother with the photo
graph in her hand.
/ "Humph." exclaimed father. 80
YOU have not gone down. and his
voice was rot conciliatory. for he felt
| that every one hat morning. him
self included. was wearing his heart
on his sleeve. and a sense of lost dig
nifty was irritating him.
Mothers heart swelled at the tone;
she put down the photograph and
looked up at father with a look IN
which reproach and sorrow mingled,
and then suddenly she turned aside,
and her hands busted themselves
among the brushes and trays on the
dressing table. for her quick eye had
| detected that father was wearing odd
boots-a buttoned and a laced-up one.