The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-18
It was one of those first warm

days IN early spring Wnen the SOFT
whisper Of lazy hours to come lies
sleepily in the breeze, that Jimmie
G. was coming home very slowly in
the twilight.
How could he hurry? Every lit
tie whit of air, every gentle sway.
ing branch budding with life, and
every loose pebble inviting kick,
was working nightly upon that
particular weakness inside poor
Jimmie, commonly called spring
fever. In fact 1t almost Is to be
doubted that the motor nerves Of
hiswer extremities could have been
forced to carry him forward, had
net growing sense of vacuum
within his central organism urged
him on. When nothing else urges
q boy to go bone, supper will.
The evening paper was lying on
the front steps and Jimmie stopped
to pick it up as he slowly ambled
towards the front door and stood
lettering on the edge of the door
sill before entering.
But as ne opened the door, a
strange deserted air seemed to
greet him. All the downstairs was,
silent and dark, and the clock
licked very deliberately from its
place In the corner. Jimmie pro-
ceeded at once to the kitchen, but
here also he met with chilling,
Shadowy emptiness.
Huh" he grunted In disgust and
disappointment. But as he saun-
tered back into the living room
again, he noticed for the first time
the faint sounds OF someone NOV
ing hurriedly back and forth up
stairs, and mounting to his moth
er's room, he opened the door on a
scene that struck vague terror to
his very bone.
Two huge suit cases were spread
out on the floor with piles Of gar
ments ready to be packed. Mrs.
Gray was bending over travelling
case fitting In her toilet articles,
and although her face was half
turned away, Jimmie could see it
was chalk white and deadly calm.
Jean was silently working over her
doll in enc corner.
Mother. where are you going"
broke in Jimmie G., his voice
sounding so loud and unexpected
that Mrs. Gray started slightly as
she locked up and then held out her
hand to her boy.
Come here, Jimmie" she an
swered very quietly, "and I'll tell
you all about it."
AS she slipped her arm about
him, Jimmie leaned his head
against her shoulder, while he
looked down at the little service
pin on her waist and toyed with it,
with his stubby brown fingers. Jean
laid her doll down very gently and
came over to the other. side, lean
ing her head against her mothers
arm. while the big silent tears
rolled down her cheeks.
Jimmie" began his mother, "you
are your daddy's own son, aren't
you, and can depend on you TAX
ing things like a man, no matter
what comes, can't l?
Jimmie nodded silently.
Then Jimmie Boy, to tell you
right straight, this afternoon about
half past three, a cablegram came
from Major Andrews, whom you re-
member your father has mentioned
as his good friend, and in 1t he said
for me to come at once and stay
with his sister in England.
II thought there was some mis-
take, and was puzzling over what
he possibly could mean, when
about an hour later, the official
word came, Jimmie, that your
father has been wounded.
"Of course it doesn't tell what
the wound means, or where youl
daddy is, but from the Majors ca
blegram, l imagine your father will
be in a hospital near her home, and
that l may be with him over there
"And 80, Jimmie Boy, I'm going
to leave you and Jean here with
Nannah. No one could care fol
you more than she does, and al
though Of course l won't really bt
here, you'll know I'm thinking
about you and little sister all the