t any one, however near and dear, turn us from our duty.
We have ceased to exist as individuals--now we are a Nation and we
must sacrifice the individual for the State. Your wife will come
around to it and be glad that you were strong enough to do your duty.
No person has any right to turn another from his duty, for we must all
answer to Almighty God in this crisis, not to each other."

The next day, while the Doctor was away making a recruiting speech in
another town, the delivery van of the leading furniture store stood at
his back door and one high chair stood in it, one white crib was being
put up-stairs in his wife's bedroom, and many foreign articles were in
evidence in the room. The Swedish maid was all excitement and moved
around on tip-toe, talking in a whisper.

"There ban coming a baby hare, and a li'l' girl. Gee! what will the
Doctor man say! He ban quick enough to bring them other houses, no
want none for self--oh, gee!"

Then she made sure that the key was not in the study door, for Olga
was a student of human nature and wanted to get her information
first-hand.

* * * * *

When the Doctor came in late that night, Mrs. Winters met him at the
door as usual. So absorbed was he in telling her of the success of his
meetings that he did not notice the excitement in her face.

"They came to-night in droves, Nettie," he said, as he drank the cocoa
she had made for him.

"They can't help it, Fred," she declared enthusiastically, "when you
put it to them the way you do. You are right, dear; it is not a time
for any person to hold others back from doing what they see they
should. It's a personal matter between us and God--we are not
individuals any more--we are a state, and each man and woman must get
under the burden. I hate this talk of 'business as usual'--I tell you
it is nothing as usual."

He regarded her with surprise! Nettie had never made so long a speech
before.

"It's your speeches, Fred; they are wonderful. Why, man alive, you
have put backbone even into me--I who have been a jelly-fish all my
life--and last night, when I heard you explain to that young fellow
that he must not let his wife be his conscience, I got a sudden
glimpse of things. You've been my conscience all my life, but, thank
God, you've led me out into a clear place. I'm part of the State, and
I am no slacker--I am going to do my bit. Come, Fred, I want to show
you something."

He followed her