The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-08-06
HER BOY.

dreaded day had come at last Will
lie Knight was going to see his moth
er for the first time In five years. and
he was but nine now. Colonel and
Mrs. Knight lived In India at the
time of Willie's birth. She was the
acknowledged beauty of the station.
and could give no time from the
whirl and excitement of army life To
care about the baby boy who had
come TO her, and IL was a great re-
| lief when sister had offered to take
the baby and his ayah back to Eng
old Willie was sent to boarding
school, only leaving 1t occasionally to
! pay visit to his aunt.
Mrs. Knight had met with very
! day, and as she lay for weeks on her
sick bed her thoughts turned to her
long forgotten boy, and an intense
desire to see him came over her. As
she grew stronger the doctors advised
her husband to take her home. Will
lie knew very little of his mother ex-
cept that she was very beautiful and
great society leader, and In his
heart he worshipped this unknown
mother with something akin to awe.
She was coming on the day that was
the great event In the school life.
Besides 'eing the last day of the
school term, prizes for the years
work were to be awarded, and par
ents and friends of the boys were in
yfted to attend the exercises. After
the prize giving the affair would be-
come purely social, buildings and
grounds would be inspected. chums
ould be introduced and feasts and
fun ad infnitum.
For the first time In his life Willie
displayed some anxiety as to his per-
sonal appearance, and as he gaZed in
to his mirror he came to the pitiful
conclusion that even an ordinary
mother could not possibly feel proud
Cf Inn, His hair had knack OF
standing UP in little tufts, his nose
ef eeks were smothered with freekles,
and he never had .,oticed before that
his feet and hands were altogether
out of proportion to the rest OF his
body. u wish she was just an ordi-
nary mother and not such great
lady he thought, and the tears were
pretty hard to keep back.
But the gong had sounded and the
boys gathered ready to march into
the great hall. Here the Visitors
were assembled and the eyes of the
boys eagerly sought out TIER loved
ones. THAT beautiful tall lady must
be mother, " thought Willie. but no
She was smiling at a boy the other
side of the room. The opening ex-
c cises had started, and still Whites
eyes were searching the throng OF
happy faces, and his heart began to
sink as he realized that after all she
was not there She DOESN'T care" he
thought while the tears OF disap-
ointment welled MP into his eyes,
and she never las cared"
Blu. he was suddenly brought back
to the present by vigorous nudge
from his neighEor See that tall
man, 6-foot-4 sure" he whispered,
and soldier, too. bet.
Isn't he dandy" replied Willie |
with genuine admiration. II won
der who he belongs to; wish be was
my dad" raid the neighbor. SO do
l." came the answer, and with a GU
rious thrill Willie began to realize |
that he had father, too. a soldier.
and he wondered how he would look. |
At last the exercises were over. the |
ranks broken and the boys eagerly |
greeting their friends. + ftf
Willie observed now that the tall |
man had his hand on an invalid chair |
In which sat I sweet-faced lady. |
TN just wait and see who they be-
long to" he thought, with an en-
yious grip at his heart. then I'll go |
)ff and hide somewhere. | can't |
bear to see them all so happy It is
harder to have a mother that doesn't
ARE than to have none at all"
We'll Mary. II looks as though we
'hall have TO get some one to help us
Ind our boy the tall man was say
ng. Can | find anyone for you,
ir?' said Willie, stepping forward
Yes. | want--why, surely this
S ~" Blu: before re could finish his
words Willie felt himself drawn
lown into the arms Of the lady In the
hair, and he was locked in such an
as made mp to him for all
he motherless years gone by. II
eemed too good to be truei How
roud he was to introduce the sol
Ter father to his admiring friends.
nd to hold the hand Of his lovely
mother as she told him of her plans
or the future. IN Which she meant to
old tight onto the little lad so sad
Y neglected. II there was one thins
tore which could be added TO his hap
iness IT was supplied when. in an
wer to his fathers question to his
Iother as 10 how she knew Willie.
be replied: lie looks Just as yon.
aust have looked at his age.
Making of Wine. Ii
Grapes are sqileezed six times In