The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-09-05

DOH you call me ldUD any
more" he said, its ridiculous and"
Nanny Martha started back in
alarm
"'Peahs mo- lax lion d be pet
ter" she admitted
Where's mother?" asked the boy.
dismssing the subject as unworthy
OF argument.
II reckon she's upstaihs wild Mars
Howard, sub. Yo' bruddah-"
Il want to see her right away" con-
tinued the boy impetuously.
Mars Howard he's putty bad dis
ebenin'." returned Martha "Ah bet
tab go an tell her dat you want her,
but All dunnos she'd want to leab
him"
We'll. you tell her to come as soon
Howard but It's living men chat the
Confederacy needs most now"
"Yas, sub" returned the old nurse,
with quizzical look out Of her black
eyes at the slender boy before her.
"Dey suah does need men," she con-
Nihhtu, anu lllc 1OuiBOICI JOoh q
passionate step toward her, she deftly
passed out Of the room and closed
the door behind her, and he could
hear her ponderous footsteps slowly
and heavily mounting the steps.
The boy went to the window again
and stared into the night. In his pre-
occupation he did not catch the sound
of a gentler football upon the stairs,
nor did he notice the opening OF the
door and the silent approach OF a
woman, the woman with white hair
who had stood at the window. The
mother Of a son dead, a son dying, and
a son living. No distinctive thing that
in the Confederacy. Almost any moth
er who had more than one boy could
have been justly so characterized
She stopped halfway down the room
and looked lovingly and longingly at
the slight, graceful figure Of her
youngest son. Her eyes filed with
tears-for the dying or the living or
both? Who can say? She went
toward hm, laid her hand on his
shoulder. He turned instantly and at
the sight of her tears burst out
quickly:
Howard isn't worse, Is he?" for a
moment forgetful Of all else
The woman shook her head.
Il am afraid he is. The sound of
that passing battery seemed to excite
him so. He thought he was at the
front again and wanted to get up"
Poor old Howard"
He's quieter now, perhaps"
Mother. is there anything | can do
for him."
mo, my son." answered the woman
with a sigh, ~ don't think there is
anything that anybody can do. We
can only wait--and hope. He is In
Gods hands. not ours"
She lifted her face for a moment
and saw beyond the room. through the
night, and beyond the stars a Pres
ence Divine, to whom thousands of
other women In that dying Confeder.
acy made daily, hourly. and momen-
tary prayers. Less exalted. more hui
Lldu, ltSS lOuCuSu, Tic DOy DOWeO HIS
head. not without his own prayer, too
But you wanted TO see me, VIII
fred. Martha said," the woman pres
emily began.
YES, mother, I"
The boy stopped and the woman
was in no hurry to press him. She
OWNED what was coming and would
fain have avoided 1t all.
II am thankful there is a lull In the
cannonading." she said, listening. II
wonder why 1t has stopped?"
ut has not stopped" said Wilfred,
"at least it has gone on all evening"
81 don't hear 1t now"
mo, but you will-there!"
Yes, but compared to what It was
know how 1t shook the
house-and Howard suffered SO
it,"
so did l." said the boy In a low
voice fraught with passion.
"You. my SON."
"Yes, mother, when I hear those
guns and know that the fighting Is 60
ing on, it fairly maddens me"
"Yes, yes" she said; 81 know how
you suffered-we all suffered. we"
She turned away, sat down in chair
beside the table, leaned her head in
her hands, and gave way to her emo
tions. There has been nothing but
suffering. suffering since this awful
war began" she murmured.
Mother" said Wilfred abruptly, 81
want to speak to you. You don't like
it, of course. but you have just got
to listen this time"
Mrs. Varney lifted her head from
her hands. Wilfred came nearer to
her and dropped on his knees by her
side. One hand she laid upon his
shoulder, the other on his head She
stared down into his up-turned face.
Il know know, my boy-what you
want"
II can't stay here any longer" said
the youth: 1T is worse than being
shot to pieces. just have to chain
myself to the floor whenever / hear
a cannon-shot or see a soldier. When
can | go?"
The woman stared at him. In him
she saw family the face of the boy
dying upstairs. In him she saw the
white face of the hOy who Law under