Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-02
Wait" she continued,
mark it with a pin"

then he assisted Caroline 10 her
do you see any scissors all.
she asked in businessllke way.
81 don't believe there are any l.
drawing room, but / can get
from the women sewing over Il
Wait a moment"
mo, don't" said the girl; "t
would want to know what you wan
with them, and then you would h
to tell them"
YES" said the boy; land want
keep this secret between u.s."
when are you going to we
them?"
"As soon as you get them ready"
But your mother"
"She knows It. She is going
write to father tonight She said s.
would send it. by a special messenge
so we ought to get an answer by
morrow"
But II he says nor"
Il am going anyway"
oh, Wilfrcd, am so glad. Why,
makes another thing Of IT," cried III
girl. when I said chat about stayir|
In Richmond, didn't know Oh,
do want to help all / can"
You do? Well, then. for heaven
sake. be quick about It and cut oil
those trousers. So long as l get the,
IN the morning" said Wilfred, 4
guess 1t Will be in plenty Of time"
When did you say your mother wa
going TO writer"
Tonight"
"Of course, she doesn't want Won 4
go, and she'll tell your father not +
let you. Yes" she continued sagei,
as Wilfred looked up, horror.strict.
ct the idea; that's the way mothe.
always do"
What can DO, them" he asko
her
why don't you write to him yos
self, and then you can tell him ju.
what you like"
"That's fine idea. III tell him IL.
cant stay here. and that I'm 20.
to enlist whe-he- 'a says so or Nc
That'll make him say yes, won't it,
Why, Of course; therell be noth.a
else for him 10 say"
Say, You are a pretty good girl
said Wllfred, catching her hand ip
pulsiyely. I'll 90 upstairs and writ
1t now. You finish these as soon ,
you can. You can ask those woma
for some scissors, and when thew Ar
ready leave them In this cl7set. bv
don't let anyone see you doing i
whatever happens
mo, won't" said Caroline. IS WI
fred hurried Off.
She went over to the room vhar
the women We're sewing, and borrowa
a pair of scissors; then she came b,c
and started to cut off the trous.r
where they were marked. The clio.
was old and worn, but It was. neve
theless, stiff and hard, and her sci
sors were duh. Men spent their tin
/ In sharpening other things than wof
ems tools during those days in Ric
mond. and her slender fingers mad
hard work of the amputations. 3,
side, she was prone to stop and thin
and dream of her soldier boy Will
engaged in this congenial work. Sh
had not finished the alteration, Their
fore, when she heard a step in tn
hall. She caught up the trousers, stri-
ing 10 conceal them, entirely forga
Jul Of the jacket which lay on t.
table.
"Oh," said Mrs. varney, rs she cam
into the room; you haven't gon
YETI"
NO" faltered the girl I'VE don
assemble for little while, and"
Don't assemble"
81 mean for the party It doesn
begin for half an hour yet, and"
ION; then you have plenty OF time.
Yes" said Caroline. But l wi
have to go now, sure enough Sh
turned away and, as she did so, he
scissors fen Gathering to the floor
You dropped your scissors, IA
dear" said Mrs. Varney
Il thought | heard s0mething fall
she faltered in growing confusion.
She came back for her scissors, arr
in her agitation and nervousness, sl
dropped one OF the pieces OF troust
leg on the floor.
What are You making, Caroline
asked Mrs. Vauev looking curious
at the little huddlad,up soiled piece
40 vt-lFIa t'4vnI H
made a desperate grab at it,
"Oh, just altering an old-dres
Mrs. Varney. That's all"
Mrs. Varney looked at her throu-
her glasses. As she did so, Carolir.
ogitated movement caused the 9th
trou.er leg. with .,s half-severed Ell
hanging from it, to dangle over b.
arm.
And what is that asked Mrs. "a
nay.
"Oh that's -er-one of Il
sleeves answered Caroline desperat
ly, hurrying out in great confusion.
Mrs. Varney laughed softly to he
self. AS she did so, her glance fe
upon the little heap of gray on h
table She picked it up and opened /
1t was gray jacket, a soldiers jacEe
1t looked as # it might be about WI
fred's size. There was a bullet hol
in the breast, and there was a du
brown stain around the opening. Mr.
Varney kissed the worn coat. She sa
1t all now.
For Wifred," she whispered. ~
has probably got it from some dea
soldier at the hospital, and Caroline
dress that she was Altering"
She claspcd the jacket tightly to h
breast, looked IN. and smiled an