Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-12-06
Fiction

was plenty old enough to do my duty.
My poor mother was frightened and
advised me to do as everyone else
did"
Where is your father?"
He was killed"
"When7"
AT Bourget."
"Oh, well, ! understand" said the
commandant, solemnly, after reflect
ing moment You may go and say
goodbye to your mother You have
given me your word of honor to re-
turn at the end of an hour. Very well,
give you until this evening"
He walked away followed by the
guard.
The boy was off like shot.
Twenty minutes later he knocked
ut his mothers door. The neighbor
who was taking care of her opened
1t for him. She uttered joyful cry
ut the sight of the young fellow.
Everyone believed him to be dead.
He fastened towards his mothers
door, but the woman stopped him.
do not 80 in" she said in a low
voice, Your mother is resting"
Impatient the boy did not under
stand half of what she was saying
He thought he heard his name feebly
called On tip-toe, he made his way to
his mothers bed. He was not mis-.
taken, She was awake.
Without a word her son clasped
her to his breast At her touch, all
his courage gave way, and he could
only sob despairingly. His poor
mother, her strength doubly restored
ut the sight of her beloved son, tried
In vain to console him.
why do you weep SO, dear child?"
she whispered 81 shall never let
you leave me again. You have no.
thing to fear, Tear off this horrible
uniform, which | cannot bear to see.
And as for me- | shall soon be well.
feel much better already, since you
have come home You shall find
some work close by and soon all
hardships will seem only terrible
nightmare"
She embraced him several times,
then, wearied, let her head sink back
on the pillow and gave herself up to
happy thoughts of the future.
Motionless, almost ashamed of his
Weakness the boy tried silently to re.
gain his self control When he looked
up ut last, strong once more, he saw
that his mother had fallen quietly
asleep, The sight restored all his
energy Perhaps merclful Provi.
denco was helping thus to make
more easy the accomplishment of his
duty and sparlng him a scene of des-
olation more heart-breaking than the
first, He resolved to profit by 1t.
Placing a long kiss on his mothers
forehead, he watched her for few
moments while she seemed to smile
at him, and then he quietly left the
room and started back as quickly as
he had come, without once looking
around or seeing a single person
What Back already?" demanded
the commandant, astonished.
Did not give YOU my word of
honor?" replied the boy, steadily
Yes, but 1t seems to me you were
IN the dickens of hurry. Without
failing In your word, you might have
stayed little longer with your
mother"
"Pooi mother After scene of
tears, in which felt my courage
dwindling away. tears of Joy for her
aud tears of despair for me. she fell
asleep, SO calmly, SO happily, that |
had not the strength to wake her
up IN order to leave her anew for.
ever, She was happy in the thought
that | would never leave her again.
Who knows, II, at the last moment,
! should have weakened! Now, sir,
| have only one thing to ask of you
and that is to do your duty and do
II quickly"
The commandant looked at the boy,
still more astouished and, in spite
of himself, his eyes were wet with
pity and admiration.
ANA II should pardon YOU and set
you free?"
All! sir | should accept willingly,
because of the happiness of my poor
mother"
HIN! You are an honest lad and
you do not deserve SO much suffer
ing You may go-hut, first, give me
your hand, God, 20 now, aud quickly
Return to your mother and continue
to love her always"
As he spoke the ktnd-hearted com.
mandant took the young man by the
shoulders aud pushed him gently
outside
II would have been terrible pity
to do anything else" he said TO his
officers as he turned around.
Victor did NOT run, he flew. rather.
back TO Belleville. Happily, his
mother was still asleep, but her sleep
seemed restless He dared not wake
her although he so longed to EN-.
brace her and have her share in his
Joy.