Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1908-03-06


course, he had done many things he
ought not to have done, but that was
nothing unusual; he always had done
them, ever since he could remem-
ber, and Mum had reproached and
forgiven him. That was the usual
routine, and everything seemed
changed now. He had tried being
good-so good that nurse thought
he must be sickening for something
without result; and then in des-
peration he had INDUCED In all the
mischief he could think of. vainly
clinging to the hope that his mis-
deeds would be brought to the no.
tice Of Mum"
All Of no use. Nurse used to chide
him herself, but it was in very half
hearted way. More often she kissed
AMI petted him, and called him her
''poor lamb, which was all very well
in its way, but nurse wasn't Num-"
and 1t was NUNS" attention that
THE Scrap" craved for. No one
could take her place; it had been so
different before daddy went away.
They had always come to say good
night to their little boy then, and
what a joyous sight it was to see
Mum" all dressed up in some beau
tiful shiny stuff, with lovely things
twinkling in her hair and on her
neck and arms. and she never seemed
afraid Of her finery being tumbled
by the baby hands which elung so
lovingly about her, and daddy had
always looked so proud and happy.
What glorious times those had been,
and what an awful day it was when
daddy went away. He-"The Serap"
wanted so much to cry, it seemed
so cruel for daddy to have to go
away. But daddy was a soldier, and
his country was in need of him, and,
OF course, a soldiers first duty was
to obey his country's call. however
hard 1t might be to leave those dear
to him, and "The Scrap" had bllnked
hard to keep back the tears when
he said good-by, because he would
be a soldier. and wear a medal. too,
some day, and daddy had told him to
be brave and take care of mummy
until he came back, and Dummy used
to cry lot at first, so ic took "The
Scrap" all his time TO carry out his
daddy's charge, and comfort her.
But that all seemed such a long
time ago. There was no need for
him to comfort mummy now, for she
never cried, and she went about to
balls and parties Just the same as
ever, the only difference being that
she forgot to come and say good
night to THE Scrap" when he was
snugly tucked up in his little cot. OF
course, she forgot; she could not
do such a thing willfully. "The
Scrap" never for a moment doubted
that, only he did so wish she would
try and remember again; 1t was such
dreary work lying awake hour after
hour hoping desperately to hear the
soft swish of her dress against the
door OF his little room, as he used
to in the old days which seemed so
far, so very far away now.
If only daddy would come back
perhaps everything would be all
right again, but "The Scrap" heard
vague rumors of skirmishes, and his
baby mind managed to grasp the fact
that daddy would not be home for a
long time yet.
But why should Mum" change?
He puzzled his hret-year-old brain
over this in vain ~ was it Mum"
never told nurse bring him down
.-.---.-.-s-v sf5 used to? 1t was
| NOT that she did not care so much,
| his loyal heart stoutly rejected such
a preposterous idea. If he ventured
to ask nurse why he was not taken
down to the drawing-room as in the
old days, her only reply was to take
him on her lap and kiss him, and
tell him not TO worry himself. But
that was no use, it was kiss from
Mum" he wanted, not nurse, and
the ever-present question in the
ehild's mind was, how to make
Mum" remember him again.
Sometimes from the nursery win
dow he would catch glimpse of her
as she swept into the carriage walt
ing to take her to garden parties or
dinners, but she never looked up to
wave her hand to the little face
pressed so eagerly against the win
dow; she never saw the loving kisses
thrown to her, and no one but 1.-THE
Scrap" knew what an effort 1t was
to keep back the tears which strug-
glfd so hard to escape from the big
blue eyes when the carriage disap-
peared from sight.
All. but "The Scrap" was not the
only one who suffered. Mum had
not forgotten; she was only trying
to forget. II only daddy had not
been obliged to go. She was so happy
before, but now-now she did not
know herself, she never dared to
look back, she tried so hard to put
aside the memory of the quiet, gray
haired soldier who had gone to obey
the call Of duty, but even when, with
a desperate effort, she lost sight Of
him, she could not quite put away
tbs remembrance of pair of inno-
cent blue eyes looking happily into
hers. while a soft, chubby hand
stroked her face, and the words, |
Mummy, my mum!" rang unceas-
ingly in the ears which would fain
have been deaf to them.
Poor mum" she was fatally
pretty and deplo-ably weak. When
the tempter crossed her path and
held the cup of hattery to her lips,
she turned away and tried not to
see It; tried with all her strength
to be faithful and true, but her power
of resistance was feeble. and gradu-
ally she gave way, taking only half
frightened sips at first; anon a