The Arvada enterprise., 1914-02-19
her sex, ana she had a right to be
there In Richmond that spring. If

| there In hlCnmonu tnAt spiihs' IL
ever.
'I understand" said Miss Kittridse
at last. Il suppose you are right
They stared at each other, white.
faced a moment, when there entered
to them youth and beauty incarnate.
| There was enough resemblance be-
tween the pale. white-haired mother
and the girlish figure in the doorway
to proclaim their relationship. The
| girls cheek had lost some of its bloom
and some of its roundness. There was
too much that was appalling and fear
full in and about Richmond then not
| to leave its mark even upon the most
youthful and the most buoyant, yet
things did not come home to the young
as they did to those older. She was
still a lovely picture, especially In the
soft radiance OF the candles. She car
ried her hat in her hand. The flowers
upon it were assuredly those of yes
ter-year, it would not have passed
muster as the mode anywhere except
in besieged Richmond; and her dress,
although it fitted her perfectly, was
worn and faded and had been turned
and patched and altered until it was
quite beyond further change. yet she
wore it as airily as If 1t had been It's
sue of silver or cloth of gold.
The mothers face frightened.
Edith, dear" she exclaimed. how
late you are! 1t is after eight O'Clock.
You must be tired out"
Il am not tired at all" answered the
| rir he ri of or ha
hospital all afternoon; this is my day
off. How is Howard?"
81 wish l could say just the same,
but he seems little worse"
The girls face went suddenly grave.
She stepped over to her mother, took
her hand and patted 1t softly.
rs there nothing you can do?"
MY dear" said her mother. How
ard-we-are all in Gods hands"
She drew a long breath and lifted
her head bravely.
Miss Kittridge." said the girl, 81
have something very important to tell
mother, and"
Miss Kittridge smiled back at her.
Il am going right away, honey.
There is lots OF work for us to do
and"
You don't mind, hope" said Edith
| VaTney, calling after her as she went
into the hall
mo, indeed" was the reply.
Mrs. Yarney sat down wearily by
the table, and Edith pulled up low
stool and sat at her feet.
We'll, my dear?"
"Mamma-what do you think! What
do you Think"
81 think a great many things" said
Mrs. Varney, but"
Yes, but you wouldn't ever think of
this"
Certainly I shall not. unless you
tell me-"
We'll. have been to see the presi-
dent"
The president-Mr Davis?"
Yes"
And what did you go to see the
president for?"
81 asked him for an appointment for
Captain Thorne."
For Captain Thorne! My dear"
Yes, mother, for the war depart
ment telegraph service. And he gave
it to me, special commission. He
gave 1t to me for fathers sake and for
Captain Thorne's sake-he has met
him and likes him-and for my own"
What sort of an appointment"
Appointing him to duty here in
Richmond. n very important position.
He won't be sent to the front, and he
will be doing his duty just the same"
But, Edith, you don't-you can't"
Yes, it will, mother. The president
I just love him-told me they need
ed man who understood telegraph
ing and who was of high enough rank
to take charge of the service. AS you
know, most of the telegraph operators
are priyates. and Captain Thorne is an
expert. Since he's been here in Rich.
mond he's helped them in the tele-
graph office often. Lieutenant Foray
told me So"
Mrs. Varney rose and moved away.
Edith followed her.
Now, mammal she exclaimed; 81
feel you are going to scold me, and
you must not because it's all fixed
and the commission will be sent over
here in few minutes-just as soon
as it can be made out-and when 1t
comes am going to give it to him
myself"
Mrs. Varney moved over toward the
table and lifted piece of paper, evi-
IDENTIFY a note.
He is coming this evening"" she
said.
How do you know" asked her
daughter.
We'll, for one thing" said her moth.
er 81 can remember very few eve,
nings when he hasn't been here since
he was able to walk out OF tho hos.
pital."
Mammal"
And FOR another thing, this note
came about half an hour ago"
"Is it for me?"
For me, my dear, else | shouldn't
have opened II. You can read it, II
you like"