Part 24 (1/2)
”Well, I guess all we can do now is just sit still and wait till so down irresolutely and folding her hands It was this last action that reminded her of the letter froh she had been holding it in her hand all the while, she had cootten there was such a person as the writer
At her exclamation Mollie looked up rather listlessly
”That's so,” she said ”You never did find out whether or not Joe Barnes had been accepted Tell me about it I'd welco--if it would only get uarantee it would be effective,” returned Betty absently, as she took up the closely written pages ”It would be like burning yourself to et you have a toothache”
There was silence for a long while, broken only by the sound of the waves breaking on the shore and the crackling of the paper as Betty turned page after page
It was a long letter, filled with youthful enthusias her and his hope that she would not only answer this letter but would allow hireat fact stood out that he had been accepted! The doctors had looked him over and declared him fit in every respect to serve his country
As Betty read the last glowing sentence a sob broke from her and she buried her head in her arms Mollie went over to her quickly
”What is it?” she asked anxiously, putting an arm about the Little Captain ”You haven't had bad news too, have you, Betty?”
”N-no,” sobbed Betty, raising eyes that were shi+ning through her tears
”I just love theive their lives for their country, that ets too full sometimes, that's all”
”Then I take it that Joe Barnes has been accepted,” Mollie rather stated than asked
”Yes,” said Betty, feeling for a handkerchief ”And he is simply ith joy, Mollie,” she added, while the color flooded her face ”The Gerainst them It makes our boys indomitable!”
CHAPTER XIX
BETTY CONFESSES
Betty woke up the nexther down For a fewto collect her thoughts Then the events of the day before came back to her and she frowned unhappily
The whereabouts of poor little Dodo and Paul was still a ard almost as a brother, was terribly wounded soain
And there was Allen too, to worry about every ht She had not heard froes Yes, it must be every bit of teeks since she had read his last letter For all she knew, he hed, and, turning on her side, looked out of the
There was no relief there frohts, for the sky was leaden and overcast, looking as if it, too, werefor the troubles of the world, and the surf beat loud and threateningly on the shore
”Guess it's going to rain and s still more cheerful,” she said, and at the sound Grace opened heavy eyes and turned over restlessly
”What are you ain and sighing a little
”Nothing but the weather,” replied Betty, adding, with unusual gentleness: ”It's early, so you can turn over and get forty winks”
”What has happened to you?” asked Grace, opening her eyes again in surprise at this unheard of advice Then as the full force of her trouble came home to her she turned over noisily and burrowed her head into the pillow