The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-08-23

hen, with lhe mosr Outrageous pOlne.
tess, she stopped aud picked up two
# the other packages. She handed
hem 70 the young man in the gray
mmcont, crawling out from the chaos.
Your sugar. sir" she said, smiling.
and went on her way, entirely unre'
pentant.
Perhaps the precious ballast In her
hug preserved her equilibrium. She
hurried toward home, and after din
ner Josephine and Anne awaited the
ClarksOn girls. In the little kitchen
cttc Il teapot waited, with fat little
red jug Of cream and plate Of nut
and cheese sandwiches. And four
cheerful little red Chinese cups and
saucers. And sugar bowl that didn't
match, but whose glass sides displayed
proudly its white and glistenIng con
tents.
"The walking isn't bit better oh
served Josephine, looking out the win
dow. 81 suppose they viii come in the
machine, I'll bet the chauffeur has Il
hard time getting up this hill"
But no struggling automobile pre-
ceded the ring at the bell. The Clark
son girls called up from the door. "Just
minute till we take Off our creepers.
We don't want to scar your stnirs-
take yours off, Jim-hurry."
There was deep tone among the
voices in the lower hall. Anne pceped
over the railing.
40" she whispered, 'hustle out an
other cup. They've brought man."
MAY jim come to the party, toO?"
said Norah ClarliSon. "Ie held us up
all the way over, and know he is eX
hausted'
Certainly" replied Anne, shaking
hands with big, good-looking blue
eyed James Clarkson, 'but I'm afraid
1t will be rather stupid for him, be
cause we are going TO knit"
"Perhaps I could learn-you might
start me on n ninc-inch square, isn't
that what they call them?"
"Maybe Josephine will teach you.
She's the instructor" said Anne, as
Josephine came in from the dining
room. my sister. Mr.. Clarkson."
"IIow do YOU do?' bowed Mr.. Clark.
son, gravely unaware of Josephine's
hcsitant hand.
Brother is daffy over everything
concerning the war" explained Gladys.
81 suppose that makes you wonder why
he isn't in uniform. He's doing all
sorts of especially important govern
ment work. This morning he had to
get after some grocers who weren't
living up to the regulations of the food
commissiOner-sugar shortage, you
know. Don't mind If 1 tell, do you,
Jim?"
mo, you can't have too many warn
ings."
Josephine was frantically casting on
But it was really very pleasant af-
ternOon, Anne thought. Mr.. Clarkson
held four skeins Of yarn for her to
wind, and didn't mind at all when she
began at the wrong end of one and got
1t all Snarled up.
At last came tea-and the transpar-
ent sugar-bOwl!
"Help yourself to sugar" urged
Anne. $40 got two pounds this morn
ing. Wasn't it lucky?"
very" solemnly agreed the aide of /.
the food commissioner. anyone who .
ventured out on this treacherous walk !
ing deserved to pick up some sugar.
It is exceedingly hard to find just
now"
NOrah pulled Josephine aside while
he others were saying good-by. II
nope you don't care because we
brought jim" she whispered. "He in
sisted on coming when he found out it
vas you. He's been asking about you
,ver since he brought those bundles
o the Red Cross rooms. He's all right,
lin is, even if he is my brother!" And
'he gave Josephine a hurried little
;iss.
Next day package arrived for Miss
Josephine Bruce. II bore the card of
1r. James ClarksOn, and it was five
'Ound box of perfectly good granu-
ated sugar! Josephine was furious.
81 don't see anything to be cross
bout" demonstrated Anne. That's
aluable present in these times"
81 won't have him buying me sugar."
formed Josephine.
But he did just the same, and later
e bought her flour and grapefruit and
oal and summer and winter coats
or years and years and years-but not
ntil long time after the wedding did
nne learn the real reason why her
favorite name for his
ife was-"SweetneSs."