Part 25 (1/2)
”Isn't it just wonderful weather?” said Mollie sarcastically, gazing out at the leaden landscape ”Just the kind of a day to put the J into Joy”
”If so doesn't happen pretty soon,” put in Ah, ”I'll just naturally pass away I wonder,” she added, looking really interested in the subject, ”if anybody ever did die of the blues”
”I don't believe so--but there's always hope,” said Betty dryly, adding with sudden spirit; ”Now look here, girls, soot to be done about this We really will make ourselves sick if we don't try to look on the hopeful side of things It won't do anybody, least of all, ourselves, any good to sit here and ainst depression and cheer up”
”That's all very well for you, Betty,” Amy voiced alo, ”but you are the only one of us who hasn't been hurt personally Suppose it were Allen Would you feel the sa it bravely?”
Betty flushed angrily, at the sao away and cry
”I hope I would,” she said steadily ”And if I didn't, I would surely feel ashamed of myself It isn't,” she paused at the door and looked back at theh Will or the tere dead We have hope in both cases, so I don't see any use of giving up You talk,” she choked back a sob, ”as though I didn't sy has happened to--Allen--yet--” her voice choked in a real sob this tiazed after her unhappily
”Did you ever!” gasped Mollie
”I didn't mean to make her feel bad Betty, of all people!” said Aht about our trying to cheer up Only, I don't want to, sohtfully ”But of course she can't quite realize how badly we feel If it were her little brother and sister, now--”
And so gradually Betty cairls ere so close to her And it was all because they ht she could not feel for the terrible had happened to her yet
”I'll show the should happen to Allen--” But she shi+vered and turned away shudderingly froht Allen--if only she could see him for five ed through until a week passed, then part of another Still there had been no clue to the whereabouts of the twins, nor any further news of Will
”And this is the wonderful vacation we planned!” said Grace with a wry s silences that had become common with the Outdoor Girls these days
They were, as usual, sitting on the sand and trying to occupy their , yet alith an eye to the road in readiness to rush to their red-headed combination of delivery boy and postman whenever he saw fit to put in an appearance
Betty opened her ain She had learned that any suggestion she irls ere engrossed in their own troubles, and so she had wisely decided to say nothing
”I haven't heard fro,” said Mollie, as if the fact had just occurred to her ”I wonder if anything can have happened to him?”
”I didn't see any naht,”
ventured Betty
”Betty, is that what you read so carefully every night?” asked Mollie, wide-eyed ”Oh, I don't see how you ever have the courage!” as Betty nodded ”If I saw the name of anybody I--I--cared for in that dreadful list, I don't knohat I'd do”
”Oh, I don't know,” returned the Little Captain, while a wistful light grew in her eyes and her lips quivered ”When I don't find--what I'm afraid to find--I feel like a crie to face another day”
Then suddenly the girls saw Betty in her true light Why, she was suffering too! Think of her reading that awful list every night with fear in her heart! And in the light of this revelation, her brave efforts to cheer them seemed suddenly heroic
”Betty dear,” Mollie moved over toward her friend and put an arm about her ”Do you care that much?”