Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-11

q message for his mother and sister
with his captain, Wendell Clifford, to
deliver when he should return to the
United States. Wilkinson's death oaS
CURED at the close Of the war, and
Clifford sailed north with his regi-
ment only q week later. Therefore
no news of Wilkinson's death reached
his home until 1t was brought by his
captain.
When one morning Dora Wilkinson
received Captain Cliffords card her
first thought was to keep from her
mother any bad news he might bring
from her brother. Mrs. Wilkinson at
the time was on the verge of nervous
prostration. and Dora dared not i'm
pose upon her any further strain.
Entering the room where Clifford was
waiting, she closed the door behind
her, then in a low voice asked for
news of her brother. The word she
received was not altogether unexpect-
ed. for she had been informed of his
illness, but it was nevertheless a great
shock. Clifford comforted her as well
as he could. AS soon as she had
made some recovery she told him that
on no account should her mother at
present learn of her sons death.
While they were comforting the door
opened, and Dora's brother Harold,
aged seven, came into the room. Dora
was distressed at his appearance, fear
ing that he would tell his mother that
an officer had called and she would ex-
pect news from her son. She exacted
ha ha% ho
say nothing about Captain Clifford,
offering a large bride if he kept it.
But Harold could no more know
what was not to be told without tell
ing it than he could keep candy in
his pocket without eating it. Leaving
the room, he went straight to his moth
er and told her there was man down
stairs with brass buttons on his coat
and gold eagle on his cap. The first
inimation of this to Dora was the
mothers voice from above, crying:
MY boy, my boy! Why don't you
come up to your mother?"
Dora's heart sank within her. go
to her," she said to Clifford. ''She
can't distinguish you from my brother.
You'll have to let her think you are
he''
Coming. mother. dear cried the
captain cheerily. And he fastened up
stairs. while Dora, Selling Harold,
locked him in his playroom, then
Joined Clifford and her mother. She
found the old lady with her arms
about Clifford, patting and caressing
him. Hearing a footstep, the mother
said:
'Is that you, Dora?"
Yes, mother
why should you have kept Elmer's
arrival from me? Why didn't you
bring him right up?"
Gle had but just arrived" STAN
mered Dora.
1--WE didn't like to give you too much
joy all at once" said the captain.
For the time being the matter work
ed well enough. Mrs. Wilkinson no
ticed only that her sons voice was
deeper than it had been, but he told
her he had caught cold coming up on
the transport. In order to get away
from her he said he must report In
camp at a certain hour. Going down
stairs in company with Dora, they both
stood for few moments looking at
each other in silence.
'This must end In disaster" said
Dora ruefully.
cit can be kept up for some time"
replied the captain reassuringly.
mot with Harold in the house"
You know I'm still In the service.
don't need to come very often to see
your mother"
That's fortunate in one respect-in
another unfortunate. She'll be worry
ing all the while when you don't
come"
81 see. Well, call on me when you
need me-"
Thank you. I must think OF some
way to break the matter to mother.
I'll talk with the doctor about It"
The same day Harold was packed
or to an aunt with letter from Dora
explaining the circumstances. Mrs.
Wilkinson bore her supposed sons alb
sence until her daughter thought that
he had better come again. The doctor