But to them he had been only one of many interesting soldier boys who had
come and gone and whose meetings and partings with dear ones they had
watched with swelling throats and tears in their own eyes.
But Sergeant Mullins was an expert with the bayonet and had been attached
to Camp Liberty for the purpose of giving the boys special drills in that
work.
He had proved so wonderfully successful that, much to his secret
chagrin--for Sergeant Mullins, like all the rest of our brave boys, had
dreamed of the great things he would do "over there"--the Government had
decided to keep him at Camp Liberty indefinitely.
Then, one day, he had invited the girls, in return for the many little
kindnesses they had done him, to attend one of his special, exhibition
drills.
They had accepted eagerly, little dreaming of the storm their acceptance
would evoke. And it is very doubtful whether, even if they had known, it
would have made any difference, for they had long desired just this thing
and knew that in years to come they would look back upon it as one of the
biggest experiences in their lives.
"What time is it, Amy?" Betty inquired a little anxiously. "I'm afraid we
stopped to talk too long to those women who came out to see their nephew,
and I don't want to be late."
"We have just a minute to spare," returned Amy, and they quickened their
pace.
"Wouldn't it be fun," said Mollie, her eyes sparkling, "if we could only
meet the boys? I'd just like to pay them back for being so silly!"
"Maybe they'll be in the drill," drawled Grace hopefully.
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