The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-29

loving, waiting arms. And now-now
She bI lshed 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 remember
that day when Bob had ridden the new
pony for the first time so pluckily wheth-
er the lad had been breeched or not He
knew the picture was on mothers dress
ing table, and he had come in to look at
it, and there stood mother with the pho
tograph in her hand.
"Humph. exclaimed father. $50 you
have not gone down?" And his voice
was not conciliatory, for he felt that ev-
cry one that morning. himself included.
was wearing his heart on his sleeve, and
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
odd boots-a buttoned and laced up one.
To think of it, He, the soul of precision,
to thus betray himself! But there his
abstraction stood confessed. And, oh,
how mother loved him for it! He had
been such stole too! Well, there was
no 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. Il stumbled over it. | have
put it 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 faroff land.
The tender face of mother, smiling bray
ly from behind the bubbling, steaming
urn; the dainty spread table, the pleas
ant, luxurious 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 low
ing eyes of Nell beaming upon his across
the table. Yes. home was home. al
though he was the 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 godspeed Bob
shook hands with them all and thanked
them, and then he stood with mother in
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 dogCart was going slowly
forward to await them at the gates be
yond. Father remarked that the new
gamekeeper was giving satisfaction and
that there was every prospect of the COW
ers yielding better sport the next autumn.
1--WE shall have you home again before
then, my boy" he said.
Rather, sir" answered Bob. I'VE
shall not take long to settle this little af-
fair"
AT the lodge the gamekeeper's four
boys were standing in 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 penny each. You must keep up
wanting new recruits 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 hut
tered white from a window, and Bob
took out bis handkerchief and signaled
back again. Then the boys cheered
afresh, and the trap turned into the lane,
and home was already a thing of the
past.
AS they drove through the village there
was not Il doorway that had not some one
standing on the threshold to bid him god.
speed.
lis the young squire off to the war;
they cried one to the other and the men 5
eyes flashed and their voices rose. but the
women's 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 coun.
try, but that the gift of the women was
something dearer than life.
And all the while Bob's heart was 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 goodly heritage of which Bob
in his JOY and impaticncc rccked little
So the station was reached and the last
goodby spoken, and father grasped Bob's
hands. You will-do your duty" father
said. IL am sure of it.
And Bob's face flushed. Thank you,
sir" he answered in a husky voice "And
my love-to mother."-Pall Mall Mag
azine.
The VOyder.
The voyder was large dish in
which were collected the broken victuals,