royally welcomed by the entire town folks, together with the many
officials of the silk industries, from whose ranks the boys had
marched away.

With the lads returned was Margaret's brother Tom. He was handsome
and a Marine, and well might Mrs. Slowden and Margaret take pride
in the honor their soldier brought them. On the night of the Great
Welcome Home, the scout girls, then newly organized, assisted with
ushering and attending to the platform needs of the speakers and
honored heroes, each of the latter receiving a special small, gold
military cross, the gift of the silk mill magnates. This insignia
was presented by the most famous authorities of army and navy
available, and Tom Slowden was given the special honor of a real
military presentation of the D. S. C., he being the only member of
Flosston recruits to receive such a notable tribute.

As might have been expected this gave real distinction to the
Welcome Home, and Margaret was suffused with pardonable pride. But
when she took her place in the check room, to attend to the coats
and other belongings of the distinguished visitors--she was
forgotten by her troop, and she remained there all during Tom's
presentation. She never heard a word of major's wonderful speech,
when the people fairly roared for Tom's glory. There she was,
downstairs in the dark, lonely cloak room.

"Oh, my dear!" deplored Captain Clark. "I never meant that you
should stay down here at this time."

"But it was my task," returned the melancholy Margaret.