The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-07
EVENING STORY
"Somebodx,s Mother"
(By Dorothy Douglas. }

General Goodwin sighed as he
turned his back upon the little Dew
onshire village. The jagged rocks and
the sea seemed more wonderful than
ever, but his backward glance was not
at either sea or rocks. Instead, his
glance wa. riveted on a tiny vine-clad
cottage with roses climbing in at the
easement windows and a sweet little
white-haired lady dwelling therein
At least, the general supposed her
to be sweet. He felt sure that one
whose eyes met the pasSersby with SO
friendly an expression could not be
notherwise. Roses and birds evidently
! found her gentle and kind, for they
haunted every available nook of her
small property
The general had found no way of
/ meeting the little lady during his stay
in Lee, and it was with heartfelt re
greet that he made his way back to
London But even General Goodwin,
in his siXtieth year, was not free to
/ travel fortunes path in his own pleas
ure. He was inspecting troops for the
new armies while his only son was
/ fighting in France for the glory of
king and country. Had the general
| been less lonely the little lady within
| the vine-clad cottage might not have
| set him to thinking of the wonder
| full possibilities yet in store for him.
AS it was, his mind dwelt persistent
ly on a small home in which dwelt a
! dainty lady with face framed in sill
/ very hair to make home a real home.
But the train went Londonward
and with it went the general.
1t was at the London railway sta
/ ton that he bought the daily papers.
! but it was not until he had reached
his own library that he saw her pic
! ture in the Sketch"
His eyes lit up with frank amaze
ment, so curious was the coincidence
The picture was one of several A
! number appeared each day in the pa
per and were those picked up on the
field of battle or found on the persons
of brave soldier laddies
The picture of the little lady in the
cottage by the sea was called Some
! body's Mother" and a message be-
meath it asked the readers of the
| Sketch for information. Gen. Good
win WINGED as he thought of the pain
perhaps in store for her. Perhaps it
was her only son who had fallen on
the battlefield, and this method was
taken to secure her knowledge of the
fact. There were not many people
who would recognize the face The
picture was only a snapshot, and had
been taken in the easement window
at which the general had so often
looked.
He lost no time in teIephoning to
the office of the daily paper. When
he hung up the receiver there was a
SOlQl6r
boy in whose pocket the precious pic
ture had been found was lying in a
London hospital suffering from loss of
Pmemory brought on by the bursting of
she'll He was dazed and slightly
| wounded about the head His memory
was a blank. There had been others
affected in the identical manner and
they had recovered.
1t was with this hope in his breast
that Gen. Goodwin made the journey
111y 80 III
side the sea He had seen to the boy s
comfort before leaving London by
having him removed from the hos
pltal to his own home, where he was
to receive the best of care.
The generals heart was not exactly
steady as he approached the familiar
cottage and went in at the white
washed gate
Somebody's Mother" opened the
door herself and the general thought
in her cheeks as she saw who her Wis
itor was. But look of fear had leap
ed into her eyes. A stranger and 6
military man meant news of her son
That news might be tragic.
He is safe" the general said swift
ly, anxious to save her one moments
worry He knew that her mind would
jump at once to grasp his meaning
Her smile was wonderful to behold
and it left the general slightly awk
ward as to speech. 1t was more diff
cult than he had ina gined, this speak
ing with the little lady upon whom hi
mind had dwelt so persistently Sh,
was eagerly awaiting news and h.
gave himself a jerk and told her al
that he knew.
1T was through this photograph.
he said, that L have been able to 10
cate you" He knew then that sh,
! blushed softly. IF 1 had not looked
|, obviously in upon you among you
roses and birds l would not hav
known that Somebody's Mother wa
you
: The little lady looked back at hin
with charmingly frank look of hap
. piness in her eyes.
My boy is everything to me-" sh
: said. Il want him down here whel
, he can be moved. Perhaps his memor
: will come back in the scenes of hi
boyhood."
1.-The sight of his mother would d
y it" the general said with firm con
: viction that a mother can do anythin
by the mere touch of a gentle ham
= | or the glance of love-lit eyes II vii
go up to London tonight and brin
: him down to you-if you like" h
. suggested, knowing well that when tn
: | boy was beside her she would hav
: more happiness than she expected an
l / that he, the general, had helped t
), give it to her.
would it not trouble you far to
much Z! she asked, gazing question
| ingly with those wonderful blue eye
e right at the general.
I Just you know" he said. that
5 will give me as much pleasure to brin
{ your brave son down here to you as
: would give you to bring mine back t
e me- Put yourself in my place" h
e added gently.
With that the little lady of the cot
T tage smiled and put out the slim whit
/
$ save his clothes and linen when the