crossroads, has been rather
minute. The numbering of many crossroads is very significant of the
skirmishes that await us.

The mail follows us; the address is unchanged.

Tonight the Y. M. C. A. is full of men sending last letters home.
Several have dropped out of the company, on account of feet or knees or
digestion, or else from natural business reasons. The company is sad to
learn that we start without Loretta, business calling him home for a few
days. But we shall be glad to see him when he comes.

Today I ventured something, the results of which, if there are any, I
suppose I shall never know. Our two officers have been very much, on my
mind. Pendleton has been his usual self emphasized, very much on his job
of receiving the equipment, extra clear and precise, more subtle and more
distant in his little ironical smile. The captain, also busy with the
equipment work, was surprisingly gentle, patient with all our many
blunders, very quiet spoken, and somehow closer to us. But while he
attended to us so carefully, somehow I felt that he was thinking of
something else.

Now last night Pendleton, I thank God, could not have seen me at the
portieres, nor could Vera. But the captain might have, for he faced my
way; surely he must have seen the curtains open. If he recognized me, I
know he must have thought of it today when, the last of the men gone, and
his tallies all made up, he stood up from the table that had been placed
in front of his tent, just as I came along by. We were entirely apart
from the rest; so I, having thought a good deal on how far I could
venture, took my chance to speak.

I had to be quick, or he would have stopped me. Said I: "Miss Wadsworth
doesn't live down to her theories, captain. Certainly she didn't do it in
my case."

Then, saluting, I was off. By the gleam that had sprung to his eyes I
knew that he understood me, even though he said nothing. For of course he
has been wondering whether after all I have a chance with Vera, and has
been weighing his earnings against mine.

Dreary business, this love making. Lucky I'm out of it.

DICK.

VERA WADSWORTH TO HER SISTER FRANCES

Plattsburg, Monday the 25th.

DEAR FRANCES:--

In spite of my trying to stop it, it has happened.

He came walking in yesterday evening, when I was all by myself in the
parlor. I have told you,