Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-07

! awkwardly, suggested that Carol take
a turn or so up and down the lane
with him. Mrs. Forrest stood at the
window and watched them, fearful
eyed, but with tenderness.
My little boy" she said to herself
my little boy. But she's dear
sweet, pretty girl"
In the meantime Jim was acquitting
himself badly. His face was pale. He
was nervous. i'll at ease. He stammer'
ed when he spoke. Self consciousness
was not habitual to this young man OF
the Iowa farm. He was not the awk'
ward, ignorant gangling farm hand
we meet in boks and see on stages. He
had attended the high school in Mount
Mark and had been graduated from the
state agricultural college with high
honors He was a farmer, as his faith
er had been before him, but he was
a farmer of the new era, one OF those
men who takes plain farming and
makes il a profession, almost fine
art. Usually he was self possessed,
assertive. confident. but, in the pres
ence of this sparkling twin, for once
\ he was abashed.
Carol was in an ecstacy of delight.
She was not man-eater, perhaps, but
she was nearly romance-mad. She
thought only Of the wild excitement
of having a sure-enough lover, the hurt
of it was yet little beyond her grasp.
| "Oh, Carol, don't be so sweet Lark
had begged her once How can the
boys help being crazy about you, and
1t hurts them" 1T doesn't hurt any
! thing but their pride when they get
snubbed." had been the laughing an
swer do you want to break mems
hearts?' 'Well--it's not at all bad for
man to have broken heart" the
| rrepressible Carol had insisted,
They never amount to anything until
| they have a real good disappointment.
Then they brace up and amount to
something. See? really think it's a
kindness to give them a heart break
and get them started"
| The callow youths of Mount Mark,
Of the Epworth league, and the college.
were almost unanimous in laying their
alteration at Carols feet. But Carol
saw the elasticity the buoyancy, Of
loves like these. and she couldn't re-
ally count them. She felt that she was
ripe for a bit of solid experience now.
land there was nothing callow about
Jim--he was solid enough. And now.
although she could see that his feel
ings stirred. she felt nothing but ex-
element and curiosity. A proposal a
real one! It was imminent, she felt it.
| Carol" he began abruptly, Il am
in love-
"A-are you?'' Carol had not expected
| him IN hapip in inst that Way
"Yes--I have been for long time.
with the sweetest and dearest girl in
| the world. / know | am not half good
enough for her, butt love her SO
much that believe ! could make her
| happy"
DIDO you?" Carol was frightened.
She reflected that it wasn't so much
| fun as she had expected. There was
something wonderful in his eyes. and
in his voice. Maybe Lark was right
maybe il did hurt! Oh, she really
shouldn't have been quite 30 nice to
him,
she is young--so am but know
what want and if can only have her
III do anything l. His voice broke
little He looked very handsome,
! very grown-up. very manly. Carol
1uiverad. She wanted to run away and
cry. She wanted to put her arms
around him and tel him she was very,
very sorry and she would never do it
again as long as she lived and breath
ed.
"Of course" he went on. Il am not
fool | know there isn't girl like
her in ten thousand, but-she's the one
| | want, and-Carol. do you reckon
there is any chance for me? You ought
, to know. Lark doesn't have secrets
| from you does she? Do you think
she'll have me?"
Certainly this was the surprise of
Carols life. If it was romance she
wanted. here ii was in plenty. She
stopped short in the daisy-bright lane
and stared at him.
Jim Forrest" she demanded, sis il
Lark you want to marry, or me-"
Lark, Of course.
Carol opened her lips and closed
| them. She did it again. Finally she
smoke. We'll. of all the idiots If you
want to marry Lark. what in the world
are you out here proposing to me for?'
I'm not proposing to you he OBJ
iected. I'm just telling you about
| It."
But what for? What's the object?
Why don't you go and rave to her?'
He smiled little. well. guess |
though, telling you first was one way