The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-25

at 1t, and there stood mother with the
! photograph in her hand
'Humph!' exclaimed father, 80 you
have not gone DOWN." and his voice was
not conciliatory, for he felt that every
one that morning, himself included, was
wearing his heart on his sleeve, and a
| sense of lost dignity 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
Cdd botts-a buttoned and a laced-up
one. To think of 1t! He the soul of pre-
cision to thus betray himself. But there
his abstraction stood confessed And oh,
how mother loved him for It! He had
been such q stole, too. Well there was
10 accounting for mans ways, but, thank
God, he had put on odd boots that morn
ing. She no longer felt lonely in her
grief. He cared, too; his heart was ach-
ing also for their sons departure Oh,
those blessed odd boots!
But she knew his nature and stood for
a moment wondering how best to tell
him of his mistake without annoying
him. And presently mother, on her way
down stairs, tapped at the dressing room
outer door. 'One of your lace boots,''
she said 81 stumbled over it; I have
put ii down outside" Then she waited
until she heard father swearing softly
to himself. Then she knew matters would
right themselves and went down stairs.
AT breakfast somehow nobody had
much to say. Bob wanted to talk. but
felt that his one topic-his luck at being
sent to the front-would not be exactly
congenial to his listeners. So he refrain
ed and ate a hearty breakfast.
He would carry the memory OF his last
meal away with him to the far-off land
The tender face Of mother, smiling brave
ly from behind the bubbing, steaming
urn, the dainty spread table; the pleasant
luxurious room, with its handsome pic
lures; 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 ta-
Bile. Yes, home was home, although he
was luckiest subaltern in the service.
By and by the trap was at the door.
and the servants gathered in the hall to
wish him good luck and GCdspeed. Bob
shook hands with them all and thanked
them, ana then he stood with mother in
the porch-alone. Ele 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 dogcart was going slow
ly forward to await them at the gates
beyond. Father remarked that the new
gamekeeper was giving satisfaction; and
that there was every prospect of the COW
ers yielding better sport the next au-
tumn.
1--WE shall have you home again before
then, my boy" he said.
Rather, sir" answered Bob; 1--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 sun
dry salutes and hurrahs. And Bob
laughed, and gave them a penny each.
"You must keep up your drilling" he
said. I'VE shall be wanting new re-
cruits in 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 fut
tered white from a window, and Bob
took out his handkerchief and signalled
| back again. Then the boys cheered
afresh, and the trap turned into the
lane, and home was already 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 Godspeed.
= Tis the young squire off to the war"
/ they cried one to the other. and the
mems eyes flashed and their voices rose:
! but the women's eyes filed with tears
/ as they saw him drive past. ''God keep
him." they said, "and comfort his moth
! er's 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 Bobs heart way sing-
! ing to him; he did not know that the
song had come down to him from the
long ago time when the sea kings had
/ gone forth with their battle songs to- be
! the terror and conquerors of distant
lands. He did not know; but SO it was
and twas a goodly heritage, Of which
Bob in his joy and impatience rocked lit
! tie
So the station was reached ard the
| last good-by spoken; and father grasped
! Bob's hand 'You will-do your duty
/ father said; ST am sure Of it,
And Bob's face flushed. THANK you,
sir" he answered, in husky voice; "and
my love-to mother"