Part 8 (1/2)

Jack gave Vive into Captain MacDonnell's keeping

”Yes, I'll go if you'll coreed ”I'll be ready in five minutes”

Jack sent the nurse to look after the baby and in ten ust afternoon, very still, and yet with a strange throbbing in the air of er in bloolish lanes sith blosso elderberry and blackberry bushes

Curious hohen one comes to say farewell, there is so little that see the first part of the ride Jack and Captain MacDonnell were frequently silent, except that Jack, of course, ht ask of a soldier Was he in good condition? Did he have everything he needed? Was there anything she could do for hione?

In response to each question Captain MacDonnell shook his head He had turned over his house to be used for the Belgian refugees

They were actually on their way hoan to talk

Then he took a letter froive this to Frank forhappens to me ask him to read it, and to let you read it afterwards if he thinks best Sorry to be mysterious, but this is a kind of cranky wish of mine”

Jack slipped the letter inside the coat she earing

”All right, Bryan You know I have always felt rather like a big sister to you; I am nearly a year older But, today I think I feel like yourto s a little ”So youI can ever do for you later on you will let me know In a way I believe I am almost envious of you, Bryan I think I have wanted to be a boy ever since I could sit on the back of a horse and ride over our ranch with my father

That is why people have always called me 'Jack,' I suppose Anyhow, just now, I think I would like to go out to reat adventure is I presue for most of us At any rate Frank is terribly envious of you, Bryan He has said so to ht to go to the front, which is what he wants to do, or to stay on here doing his work in Parlia what she had been saying a good many times to her husband recently ”There never was a tireat work to do, and that is Frank's real duty”

When Jack gave Captain MacDonnell's letter to her husband that night she spoke of their having had a ride together Although he ether pleased It occurred to Jack then, though only vaguely, that if Frank objected to her disobeying hiht be pretty difficult if ever they had a difference of opinion and she disobeyed hie for Bryan to have confided this letter to us,” Frank re box where he kept his important papers ”I wonder what old Bryan has written? I never dreamed he had a secret in his life which he has never told to me But, perhaps he wants us to do some favor or other for him Truly I hope we may never have to open the letter”

CHAPTER VIII

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER

FRIEDA read a letter she had just received and laughed

Laughter was not frequent at Kent House those days, so that Jack and Olive looked up froes and Jack riting notes at her desk The three of the roo had been brought in

”What is it, Frieda?” Jack asked, turning her head to glance over her shoulder in some surprise at her sister She wondered if Frieda realized that she was fully aware of the way in which she had been watching the mail for these past few months For Frieda had watched in vain for the particular letter which certainly she seereatly desire it

”Oh, I have just received a note fro soldier to whom I sent the first pair of socks I ever inated the poem, but it is almost worth the trouble and the time I took on the socks Do listen:”

”Thanks, dear lady, for the socks you knit; Some socks, some fit

I used one for a hammock and the other for a mitt

I hope I meet you when I've done my bit, But where in the h did you learn to knit?”