Gilpin observer., 1917-07-12
Doing Her Bit

my dear, simply cannot go.
I haven't time. I've promised myself
to get this sewing of my hands to-
day"
"But I need you, Barbara" came
the voice over the telephone; "can't
you possibly put of what you have
to do?"
"I'd like to, but can't this time,
really can't. know you'll forgive
me, won't you. dear. and under
stand"
swell, I won't coax, because I am
sure you know best, but am so dis
appointed. I had counted on having
you help the girls; you have such a
knack with them"
Barbara hung up the receiver with
these words still ringing in her ears.
OF course II she had decided to put
herself out, she might have managed
to go, she reflected.
But when Barbara was finally set
tied at her sewing the thing kept OBJ
truding itself. Hadn't she half prom
ised to help to-day? And wasn't 1t a
matter Of personal selfishness that
prevented her from going when she
could go just as well as notf And
Mrs. Bond had been SO good to her
when she had been Ill that time. Bar
bara shook her head impatiently and
theh without giving herself time to
change her mind. she sprnng up
dumping her sewing on a convenient
chair, and rushed back to the tele.
phone.
Mrs. Bonds voice sounded just as
sweet and free from rancor as it al
ways did, when as Barbara told her.
self, 1t should have been severe.
Don't you think another thing
about It," the girl was saying rens-
suringly. "I'm going to be there, and
I'll work like the mischief"
But can you manage it?" Mrs. Bond
asked anxiously.
"Of course can. Do you think I'm
going to be Stacker, and not do my
little bit?" And Barbara laughingly
rang of. This time she began to
hum gay little tune as she went to
get ready to go out.
Barbara cast rueful little look at
the basket Of sewing which she had
no time to put away now. and then
resolutely buttoned herself into her
raincoat and went out into the storm.
She worked that afternoon as she
: had seldom worked. She taught clumsy
fingers how to start, to hold the long,
slim needles, she laughed Mt mistakes
and ripped out more than one bad
start; she praised the girls who
learned quickly; she grew almost color
blind with yarn, and the general d.
rections of slipping stitches and
counting loops became q regular jar
gon.
But she accomplished wonders. As
Mrs. bond said, Barbara was worth
dozen women. Coaxing. cheering, en-.
couraging and laughing she finally got
the girls working. and when they
started to work in earnest, wonders
were accomplished. When tea and
sandwiches were served, Barbara was
the center of everything. One girl
brought her tea, another sandwiches,
another cake. She was petted and
coddled to her hearts content by the
adoring girls until she laughingly pro-
tested that she was being spoiled.
AS she laughingly cried this out,
she looked up suddenly, and met the
dark eyes of tall man in uniform.
Mrs. Bond was standing with him. and
before Barbara knew 1t she was be-
ing presented to Ensign Everett.
Barbara has really accomplished
everything that you see finished around
here this afternoon" Mrs. Bond was
saying.
"why. no." Barbara protested.
"Oh. think 1t must be true" the
young officer was saying. "The spoil
Ing testifies to that"
"Were breaking up now," Mrs. Bond
turned back to say, $50 II you like,
dear, you can slip away any time"
Barbara nodded with shining eyes,
and when she left In few minutes,
Ensign Everett left with her.
Barbara walked into her own room
and saw her mother sitting in the low
rocking chair.
"rve just been ii ling you out on
your work, dear,'N the little woman
said softly. II know you've been busy
Of late"
And Barbara swallowed little lump
In her throat and bent down and kissed