Rilla of Ingleside

d. Nan and Di and Rilla were hard at work. Mrs. Blythe and Susan were upstairs in the boys' room, engaged in a more personal task. With dry, anguished eyes they

e. When the word had come that Jem must go she had her cry out amo

a girl-I can't do anything to win the wa

And Rilla, don't you think you could organize a Junior Red Cross among the young girls? I think

e never done any

things in the months ahead of us th

w to begin. I have been thinking it all over and I have decided tha

. The older girls would not like that. Irene Howard? No, somehow Irene was not quite as popular as she deserved to be. Marjorie Drew? No, Marjorie hadn't enough backbone. She was too prone to agree with the last speaker. Betty Mead-calm, capable, tactful Betty-the very one! And Una Meredith for treasurer; and, if they were very insistent, they might make her, Rilla, secretary. As for the various committees, they must be chosen after the Juniors were organized, bu

that sheet on one side and the b

ted that she hated sewing. Running the J

that first day Jem lifted up his little arms to me and ca

lessed baby that I do not and will not remem

child was well and warm and that it would be fostering bad habits in him. But I went-and took him up-I can feel that tight clinging of his little arms

ear. But do not tell me that it will be the final farewell. H

to bear. Susan, I am determined that I will send my boy off tomorrow with a smile. He shall not carry away with him the

m there for this fruit-cake? And the shortbread? And the mince-pie? That blessed boy shall not starve, whether they have anything to eat in that Quebec place or not. Everything seems to

o. He must be at least fifteen years old. He

Jem is gone. The creature just goes about with a human look in his eyes that takes all the good out of me when I see it. Ellen West used to be always railing at the Kaiser and we thought her crazy, but now I see that there

he family and the Meredith family were all smiling. Even Susan, as Providence did ordain, wore a smile, though the effect was somewhat more painful than tears would have been. Faith and Nan were very pale and very gallant. Rilla thought she would get on very well if something in her throat didn't c

t dog's eyes," sa

of Jem and Jerry going like this. I think they're plumb deranged. Miller got a maggot in his head about going but I soon talked him out of it-likewise h

conscious of it from the moment he had sprung fro

see. What a crowd for the Glen to muster!

n that even Jem's going had not

another month

some way of helping in spite of this bally ankle. I'm not looking at Jem and Jerry-makes me too sick with envy. You girls are great-no cry

r will be over befo

earth had Ethel to cry about? None of the Reeses were in khaki. Rilla wanted to cry, too-but she would not. What was that horrid old Mrs. Drew saying to mother, in that melancholy whine of hers? "I don't know how you can stand this, Mrs. Blythe. I couldn't if it was my pore boy."

listening to disconnected scraps of tal

or a second lot of men. If they did I'd let

e with a crush girdle of

ce for fear I'll see in it that he wants t

Mrs. Jim Howard. "I'm scared Jim wi

ver by Christmas,"

ns fight it out between

uglas, who seemed to be referring to some one high in military circles

ish Empire is at stake," s

ething about uniforms,

done and not worth one drop of good Canadian

are taking it eas

st going for adventure,"

nce in Kitchener," said

t, depression and inspiration. Oh, people were-funny! How little they understood. "Taking i

mare. Were these the people who, three weeks ago,

nd-"Good-bye, Spider"-somebody kissed her cheek-she believed it was Jerry but never was sure-they were off-the train was pulling out-Jem and Jerry were waving to everybody-everybody was waving back-mother and Nan were smiling still, but as if they had just for

nd Shirley and Di and Carl and Rilla went in a group. Susan had put her bonnet back on her head, hindside foremost, and stalked grimly off alone. Nobody missed Dog Monday at first. When they did Shirley went back for him. H

ay had done. His dear master had gone-he, Monday, had been deliberately and of malice aforethought prevented from going with him by a demon disguised in the

istful, puzzled eyes. But it will be many a long bit

room on her way to bed to see if her adored Mrs. Dr. dear were "comfortable an

have made up my mi

lim, white-robed thing, with a flower-like face and starry young eyes aglow with feeling; whereas Susan was arrayed in a grey flannel nightgown of strait simplicity, and had a strip of red woolle

rking and blaming Providence do not get us anywhere. We have just got to grapple with whatever we have to do whether it is weeding the onion patch, or run