Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-06
Two Wartime Dolls.
HOW THEY RAN THE BLOCKADE.
AND WHAT THEY CARRIED.

AND WHAT THEY CARRIED.
Dolls, ma'am? Yes, ma'am: a
fine assortment for the holiday
trade" said the proprietor of the
toy store. "We've got musical dolls
and crying dolls and"
81 should think crying dolls
would be in demand in poor Balti-
more now," interrupted the pale,
pretty lady, with a faint smile,
well, no, not more than usual,
ma'am. Pts wonderful how folks
do keep up Christmas, for all the
battles and mourning. Children are
children just the same in wartime,
l s'pose."
Please let me see those i'm the
case" said the lady, with some air
of impatience.
All, these ?" he said, lifting out
two dolls. "Heads fixed on firm.
natural hair; solid, substantial dolls
no inside works to get out of order.
Good, sensible dolls, ma'am."
The little lady, who looked like a
young mother, examined the two
dolls with great care, pinched their
legs and arms AS IL to ascertain the
strength of the stuffed material,
moved their joints. and at last said,
" Yes, these will ito. will take the
pair"
Pity to part such n handsome
COUPLE" said the storekeeper, roll
ing the dolls first in tissue paper and
then in brown. Where shall l send
them, ma'am?"
"Oh, I'll take them with me-"
said the lady. She paid for them,
put the parcel into deep pocket in
side her long cloak, drew down her
thick veil, and left the store.
Up and down the streets, in and
out of the stores, went the yelled lady,
while new parcels accumulated in
the great pockets of her circular
AT last she entered drug store, saw
at II glance that no one was there ex-
cept the proprietor, and with sig
niticant look at him, passed on
through the store to cosy room at
the rear.
The druggist followed her. Their
short, whispered consultation was
interrupted by a customer entering
the outer store. When the proprie-
tor came back the lady said, ono
body there now?"
"No; but another customer may
come any minute"
Well, l depend on you. You'll
bring ii yOurself?"
81 will. Can't trust it with any
body else. Aren't you afraid ?"
Afraid? No. Afraid - when
it's so much needed? 1 should be
ashamed of myself if / were not
glad to have the chance. Goodbye.
They shall know how you helped
me. Some day, when all this trou-
BILE is over, it will do you good"
The veiled lady's next stopping
place was evidently her home, for
the door opened as she approached,
and sweet voice greeted her.
"Oh, child, I've been so uneasy !"
said the white-haired lady in the
hall.
"Sh mother dear! Help me up
stairs"
"Is it all right, Alice? You
weren't spied on ?"
mo; it's all right. But Pm
very tired" She sank upon the
sofa in their bedroom, and began to
empty her pockets.
"See, have the dolls, mother :"
and she unwrapped them.
"Why, they're too nice, Alice ~
but aftesward | can give them
to Willie and Lily on Christmas"
Poor darlings! They'll be glad
to see a real good doll again. And
these are strong enough, too"
"Sh mother dear. Even the
wall have ears"
"No one can hear us, Alice. We
are alone for this evening. Come,
I've kept your tea waiting"
With something of fear in their
last glances around the handsome
bedroom, they locked the door and
went down stairs.
In the closed room the confusion
was very different from the neatness
elsewhere. Heaps of clothing, dry
goods, packages of all kinds. Uttered
the chairs. On top Of the parcels on
the bed lay the two "good, sensible
dolls.n In one corner large trunk
stood open.
1t appeared that some one was GO
ing on a journey. The young. pale
mother, with such brave, brown eyes
seemed scarcely strong enough Tor
long trip; but 1t soon became cleal
she was secretly preparing for one
of a hazardous nature.
When mother and daughter re
turned they locked themselves II
again, and went to work In strang'
way. Rich dress.goOds were tori
into skirt-lenghs linen, cambri
and flannel cut by patterns, ant
basted together all manner of gar
ments they began and left unfinished
while the old lady grumbled at tn
| ,,aotod labor.