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A 8 PART AX MOTHER
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on his shoulder, at which he shuddered. Then he quickly put both arms around her knees and sobbed like a child.
The woman was alarmed, and for the moment mother love ruled every thought and emotion.
' ' Bobbie, Bobbie, ' ' she said, softly ; "mother's boy." Then, noting the traces of blood, "Are you wounded, darling ? ' '
He shook his head.
There was renewed firing without.
"Robert," she said with almost martial severity, "you've just come in the nick of time. I've been looking and waiting all day. The army — the cause — has been waiting for one man — for you!"
The boy shrank away, trembling.
Their eyes met. Then the woman stepped back with a cry of horror. She had seen the coward lurking there. For a full minute pitiable tragedy convulsed her face and limbs. Then she went straight over to where the flag and the weapons lay.
"Come!" she commanded, seizing the saber.
"Oh, mother, I cant — I cant!" pleaded the boy, cowering under her iron gaze.
"And that I should live to see this!" cried the woman bitterly, "in my son!"
A voice of command shouted just outside the door, which was accompanied by curses and the tread of many feet.
"It's Fallon!" moaned the terrorstricken boy. "Hide me! It means death if they find me. Save me, mother ! ' '
His mother had seized one of the big pistols and stepped in front of him, a strange look of determination in her eyes.
"Get up, cowardV she called. "If you dont, I swear before God that I'll shoot you and go out there and lead them up the hill myself!"
The boy gave but an instant's glance at her face, then rose, trembling so he could hardlv stand.
"Belt on this sword!" His hand shook so that she was obliged to help
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BOBBIE'S MOTHER COMMANDS HIM TO REJOIN HIS COMPANY
him. "Take the other pistol — now the flag! There's but one thing to do, Robert" — her voice softened a little — "do it, boy, my son!"
She forced him to the door and opened it for him. Two stray balls came singing in and knocked off chunks of plaster.
"My God, mother, have mercy!" He would have sunk to his knees, but she raised the pistol in her excess of emotion and fired. The ball went wide of the mark. The boy, with a cry of terror, fled!
The record of what followed stars one of the most brilliant pages of the war's history. Mrs. Marye watched it all from the doorway of the little smoke-house, a pistol hanging heavily in her hand.
For the whole brigade nearby saw its grand opportunity passing. In fact, the whole army was disheartened, not from fighting or defeat, but from restraint in their moments of enthusiasm. Robert's company stood