The evening leader., 1919-01-06


daddyl"" Mrs. Barke said one morning
at the breakfast table.
! Ever since the children had been
small, Mrs. Barke had always address
ed her husband by the name of dad
dy." The family had not heard from
Carl, the oldest one, for over four
weeks, and the mystery as to his where
abouts was still unsolved.
"Cheer up, Betty!" came the cheerful
response from Mr.. Barke. Maybe
he'll surprise us by coming home him.
SELF"
"How trueI" Mildred exclaimed.
sand won't it be just too good q
treat to see him in his uniform' At
this she jumped frem her chair and
started to fox trot arolnd the room.
81 simply cannot eat another bite!
I am goitg upstairs to study before I
dress for church"
WHAT a dear little girl Mildred is,
daddy. If 1 should lose her I'd be at
arloss what to do now, since Clayton
has gone"
Mr.. Barke remained silent. He was
thinking. Clayton is so unlike Carl"
Mrs, Barke went on. "He likes soci-
ETY. and roaming around. Carl is re-
served. hope he comes to see us be-
fore he goes 'acrOss'-if he isn't there
now."
"Oh, l don't think so! I wouldn't
worry if l were you, Bess think Carl
will come home before night. I really
| dol" muSed Mr. Barke.
"You dear! You're so encouraging,
dear! What! Half-past nine! nev-
cr realized it was as late as that! Hur-
ry up, dad: We'll be late for church !"
1t was Sunday. The sun shone bright
ly and a strong wind was blowing
fiercely.
Mildred came tripping downstairs
AREN'T you folks ready YETI" seeing
no one about. Mamma" she cried,
I'm going along with Viola and
DIANA. They're just coming out of the
academy. All right, mamma?" A soft
eyes, dear" came from upstairs and
MIluTCu IeII tQe mouse.
Three hours later Mr.. Barke left to
call on the president of the bank of
which he himself was cashier. Mildred
was entertaining one of her few boy
friends whom she had known all her
young life. Soft strains of music (A1il-
dred loved the piano and played it
WclD came from the parlor. In the liv-
ing room Mrs. Barke sat thinking.
Two years ago at Christmas time her
son Carl had come home from college
for the Christmas recess. How she
had enjoyed him in that short v&ca-
ton! He graduated that year and i'm
mediately entered an officers training
school. Carl frequently wrote home.
His letters were very encouraging. He
loved his work and studies. He was
"honcrbound,' as he put it, to make
good.
During the last month Mrs. Barke
had received no mail whatever from
her soldier boy. Even if 1 knew
where l was going mother" he wrote,
Il would not be allowed TO tell you"
Since then not a word.
Five o'clock was striking by the big
grandfather" clock in the reception
hall. Mildred had just dismissed her
caller and happened to look out of the
window just after closing the door.
Mamma! Oh, mamma Here comes
CARL" she cried. "No!" replied the
mother, disturbed in her reverie. "Yes
yes! Truly mamma! Here's Carl I"
Mrs. Barke hurried to the parlor win
dow and, true enough, there was her
big Carl coming up the walk.
Without even pausing to throw a
wrap over the thin geOrgette crepe
waist which she wore, Mrs. Barke ran
out of the house. While the wind
played havoc with her carefully ar
ranged hair, she threw her arms about
her boys shoulders and kissed him
time and again.
Realizing the cold his mother endan-
gered out in the wind, he gently led her
into the house. All this time Mildred
had been so moved by the beautiful
picture her mother and brother made
she couldn't leave the window. When
they entered the hall Mildred clung to
her brother fully minute before she
could utter a word.
In the meantime Mrs. Barke tele-
phGned her husband. Daddy" she
said, "Carls home! Yes Yes -
Yes! About two minutes ago! Pad
die quick!"
AS the mother returned, Carl, with
his arms about his young sister, was
saying, very modestly, II received my
commission as lieutenant a week ago.
I have been in Kansas all these weeks
and so couldn't write to you. spent
two days in Washington on my way
home. I tried to get train out when
arrived in Boston this morning, but
1t has been Cancelled"
Wasn't there train in? If you had
but telegraphed, Dad would have met
you at the station!" cried his mother,
flushed with the excitement. Mother,