Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-04-05
''BOBBIE"'
By JOHN FLEMING WILSON.

IT, lie night was tepid on the line.
From the curling gossamer wave
that rolled into pbosphorescent luster
under the forefoot of the Curacao TO
the horizon around which flushed the
silent heat-lightning, there was moth
ing TO catch the drowsy eyes or ears
of the watch who slumbered on the
fo'k's1 head and dozed over the rail.
Four bells had seen the last passen-
ger tumbled within his heated bunk,
the last deck light extinguished; from
the cabin of the chief engineer alone
there came wakeful sounds. The lat
tice door was hooked back that the
faintest breathing of air might stir
unhindered within the sitting interior.
The lamp swinging against the bulk
head burned low and by its dim light
the gray-haired chief watched the
tossings Of n chubby-cheeked, dark
haired boy sick with fever. The old
man sat away from the opening and
shaded his eyes with his hand; beside
him, closer TO the bunk, knelt the boys
mother.
"When did the doctor say the crisis
would be past?" she questioned for the
twentieth time.
Before dawn" the chief answered
patiently.
"Are we doing everything we can?
Are you sure?"
eve must let the fever run It's
course, Mrs. Enrol. It's past our man
agement," he replied.
"Hushi He's saying something"
she whispered. "Can you .hear?"
you take this chair, and III take
that, and we'll play horse" the child
was muttering. "Come, Bobbie, here's
your chair"
"He's dreaming Of his little games"
explained the woman.
Don't go so fast--T can't keep up,
Bobbie; do you hear? Bobbie?" The
last came in n full treble, and the old
man bent over in his seat.
Cali right, Billie, I'll wait for YOU"
answered another cbild's voice.
"But, Bobbie, we can't play any
more, for the chairs turned into a
big fish and it's taken all the bait
every bit of it-Bobbiei"
9TH come back, Billie, and then
we'll catch IT," answered the new
voice. The sick child slumbered quiet
ly again. and the chief swallowed pain
fully. "This business is little hard
on the throat" he said, huskiIy.
tiles very fond Of Bobbie," said the
woman. what made you ever think
Of it?"
81 had little son Of my own and we
called his name Bobbie," he replied.
"He went out with fever. too-but
not this sort"
"You miss him very much,'' she said.
"I've come to playing with him
good DEAL" he went on. "Bobbie and
have made many n voyage together,
and it doesn't do anybody any harm,
for nobody knows, and the children,
they understand"
"How old was he when he died?v
"Seven years, ma'am."
"Was it long ago?"
at was 20 years ago, ma,am. was
young when he died. ! used TO amuse
him in this way, and the little begQar
made me talk for a whole lot of boys.
You see, it pleased him, and knew
just what he was hearing"
billie always talked about 'Bobbie'
since he came on board, and / won
dered who il could be for a day OF two
till / heard you one day myself"
"Yes," said the chief, sits a great
comfort to forget my gray hairs once
in awhile and be with my boy again.
think sometimes that If my child had
lived I'd never have got old"
''That's the way with men," said Mrs. |
Enrol. "They are old till they live with
son. was young till Billie came,
and then grew old as women do"