The Lamar register., 1913-02-05

&,!I|'tgF :
Did Not Cheer as the Battery Swept
BY.
~ she can. I'm awfully sorTy for
Howard. but It's living men that the
Confedsracy needs most now"
Yas. suh." returned the old nurse.
with q Quizsical look out Of her black
eyes at the slender boy before her.
'Dey suah does need men," she con-
tinued. and ~ the youngstsr took .
passionate step toward her. she deity
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 . sentler football upon the stairs.
nor did he notice the opening of the
door and the silent approach Of .
woman. the woman with white hair
who had stood at the window. The
mother Of . son dead. . son dying. and
q son living. No distinctive thing that
In the Confederacy. Almost any moth
or who had more than one boy could
have been Justly 20 characterized.
She stopped halfway down the room
and looked lovingly and lonsinsiy At
the slight, graceful figure Of her
youngest son. Her eyes filled with
tears-for the dying or the living o.
bothf Who can sayf She. went
toward him. laid her hand on hi
shoulder. He. turned instantly and q
the sight Of her tear burst out
quickly:
Howard isn't worse, 10 her f,r
moment forgetful Of all else.
The woman shook her head.
II am afraid be IL. The sound Of
that passing battery seemed TO excite
him 20. He thought he was at thu
front again and wanted 10 get up."
Poor old Howard"
Hes Quietsr now, perhaps
Mother. u there anything I can %
for himf"
mo. my son." answered the woman
with . sigh. II don't think there IA
anything that anybody oan do. We
can only wait-and hope. He 10 IN
Gods hands. not ours"
She lifted her face for . moment
and saw beyond the room. through the
night. and beyond the stars . Pres
snce Divine. to whom Thousands Of
other women In that dying Confsdsr
acy made daily. hourly. and momen
taRy prayers. Less exalted. more hu
man, less touched, the boy bowed hia
head. not without his own prayer. too
But you wanted to see me. VIII
fred. Martha said" the woman pree
emily began.
Yes. mother, -
The boy stopped and the woman
was In no hurry to press him. 6hs
OWNED what was coming and would
fain have avoided It all.
Il am thankful there II . lull in the
sannonading." she said. listening. Il
wonder why It has stoppedf"
TT has not stopped" said Wilfred
at least It has gone on all evening"
Il don't hear It now"
mo. but you will-therei"
Yes. but compared to what It was
yesterday-you know how It shook the
house-and Howard suffered %
through it."
80 did l." said the boy In . low
voice fraught with passion
You, my sonf"
Yes. mother. when I hear those
guns and know that the fighting II 30
Ing on. 1t fairly maddens me"
But Mira. Varney hastily interrupted
her boy. woman-like she would thrust
from her the decision which she knew
would be imposed upon her.
Yes. yes" she said; II 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
lions. There has been nothing but
suffering. suffering since this awful
war began" she murmured.
Mother" said wilfred abruptly. Il
want to speak to you. You don't like
1t, Of course, but you have Just got
to listen this time"
Mrs. Varney lifted her head from
her hands. Wilfred came nearer te