The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-05-23
CHAPTER V.-contInued.


TO the floor THAT is about the place
isn't ~"
Yes. just there"
Wait" she continued, until !
mark it with a pin"
Wilfred stood quietly until the prop
er length had been ascertained. and
then he assisted Caroline to her feet
do you see any scissors about?"
she asked in businesslike way.
Il don't believe there are any in the
drawing room, but ! can get some
from the women sewing over there.
Wait a moment"
mo, don't" said the girl; they
would want to know what you wanted
with them. and then you would have
TO tell them"
Yes" said the boy; "and l want to
keep this a secret between u.s."
when are you going to wear
them?"
LAS soon as you get them ready"
But your mother"
"She knows it. She is going TO
write to father tonight. She said she
would send it by a special messenger,
so we ought to get an answer by TO.
morrow"
But If he says no?"
81 am going anyway"
"Oh, Wilfred, am so glad. Why. It
makes another thing of it," cried the
girl. when I said that about staying
in Richmond didn't know oh, !
do want to help all / can"
You do? Well, then, for heavens
sake, be quick about it and cut of
those trousers. So long as get them
in the morning." said Wilfred. 81
guess it will be in plenty of time"
when did you say your mother was
going to writer"
Tonight"
"Of course, she doesn't want you to
go, and she'll tell your father not to
let you. Yes" she continued sagely
as Wilfred looked up, horror-stricken
at the idea; that's the way mothers
always do"
what can l do, then?" he asked
her
"Why don't you write to him your
self, and then you can tell him just
what you like"
That's fine idea. I'll tell him that
I can't stay here, and that I'm going
to enlist whether he says so or not.
Thatll make him say yes, won't it?"
"Why, of course; thereIl be nothing
else for him to say"
Say, you are pretty good girl"
said Wilfred, catching her hand i'm
pulsively. "Ill 60 upstairs and write
1t now You finish these as soon as
YOU can. You can ask those women
for some scissors, and when they are
ready leave them in this closet, but
don't let anyone see you doing it,
whatever happens"
NO, | won't" said Caroline, as Will
fred buried off.
She went over to the room where
the women were sewing, and borrowed
a pair of SCISSORS; then she came back
and started to cut off the trousers
where they were marked. The cloth
was old and worn, but 1t was, never
theless, stiff and hard, and her scis-
sors were dull. Men spent their time
in sharpening other things than WON
ems tools during those days in Rich
mond, and her slender fingers made
hard work of the amputations. Be
side, she was prone to stop and think
and dream of her soldier boy while
engaged in this congenial work She
had not finished the. alteration, there
fore, when she heard a step in the
hall. She caught up the trousers, striv-
ing 70 conceal them, entirely forget
full Of the jacket which lay on the
table,
"Oh," said Mrs. varney, as she came
into the room; you haven't gone
yet?"
mo" faltered the girl; I'VE don't
assemble for little while, and"
Don't assemble?"
Il mean for the party. 1t doesn't
begin for half an hour yet, and"
"Oh; then you have plenty of time"
yes" said Caroline. But | will
have to go now, sure enough" She
LullCu away anu po phS NAN - '-SN
scissors fell Gathering to the floor
You dropped your scissors. my
dear" said Mrs Varney.
Il thought l heard something fall.
she faltered in growing confusion.
She came back for her scissors, and,
in her agitation and nervousness, she
dropped one OF the pieces Of trouser
leg nn the floor.
What are you making. Caroline?"
asked Mrs. Varney, looking curlously
at the little huddled-up soiled piece Of
gray on the carpet, while Caroline
made desperate grab at 1t.
"Oh, just altering an old--dress,
Mrs. Varney. That's ALL"
Mrs. Varney locked at her through
her glasses. AS she did SO. Carolines
agitated movement caused the other
trouser leg, with its half-severed end
hanging from it, to dangle over her
arm.
And what is that?" asked Mrs. Var
ney
"oh that's - er - one Of the