Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-06

consolingly.
And me-when Babies in Chica.
CO." added Fairy.
|. YES, that's some help. Connie, be
an old maid. Do! implore you"
ooh, Comics got a beau already"
said Carol Its the fat Allen boy.
They don't have dates yet, but they've
got an awful case on. He's going to
make their living by travelling with a
show. You'll have to put up with
auntie- she's beyond the beauing
stage!"
Suits me-" he said contentedly, 81
am getting more than my deserts.
Come on, Grace, we'll start
$50 will we, Connie" said Fairy.
But the boys came, both together,
! and the family group set out together.
Carol and Hartley-one of her high
school admirers-led of by running a
race down the parsonage walk. And
Lark, old, worn and grave, brought up
the rear with Jim Forrest. Jim was a
favorite attendant of the twins. He
had been graduated from high school
the year previous, and was finishing
of at the agricultural college in Ames
But Ames was not far from home, and
he was still frequently on hand to
squire the twins when squires were in
demand. He was curiously generous
and impartial in his attentions-it
was this which so endeared him to the
twins. He made his dates by tele-
phone, invariably. And the converse
lions might almost have been decreed
by law.
MAY l speak to one of the twins? %
The nearest twin was summoned
and then he asked:
Have you twins got dates for the
ball game?-or the party, or the. con-
cert.
And the twin at the telephone would
say, yes, we both have-hard luck.
Jim" Or. II have, but Carol hasn't"
Sometimes 1t was, "No. we haven't
but we're Just crazy to CO." And In
reply to the first Jim always answered,
That's a shame--why didn't you re-
member me and hold or" And to the
second, "Well, ask her II I can come
around for her" And to the third,
Good let's al go together and have
a celebration"
+ For this broad minded devotion the
twins gave him deep seated graft
tude and affection and he always stood
high in their favor.
On this occasion Carol had answer
ed the telephone and in reply to his
query she answered Grossly, "Oh, Jim,
you stupid thing, why didn't you
phone yesterday? would so much
rather go with you than But never
mind. have date, but Lark hasn't.
And you just called in time. too, for
Harvey Lane told Hartley he was go
ing to ask for date"
And Jim had called back excitedly,
Bring her to the phone, quick; don't
waste minute" And Lark was called
and the date was duly scheduled.
Are you scared, Lark" he asked
her as they walked slowly down the
street toward the church.
Pm not scared, JIM she answered
solemnly, but I'm perfectly caver-
nous, If you know what that means"
Il sure do know" he said fervently,
didn't have to do speech at the
commencement exercises? There new
er was completer cavern than I was
that night But l can't figure out why
folks agree to do such things when
they don't have to. had to. 1t was
compulsory.
Lark gazed at him with limpid
troubled eyes. II can't figure out,
either don't know why did. 1t
was a mistake, some way"
At the church, which was gratifying
ly crowded with Sunday School enthu-
siasts. the twins forsook their friends
and slipped along the side aisle to the
dressing room"-commonly utilized
as the store room for worn out song
books, bibles and lesson sheets. There
they sat in throbbing. quivering ST.
lence with the rest of the entertain
ers," until the first strains of the piano
solo broke forth, when they walked Sc
dately out and took their seats along
the side of the platform-an antediluv-
ian custom which has long been dis
carded by everything but Sunday
schools and graduating classes.
Printed programs had been distrib-
uted but the superintendent called of
the numbers also. Not because 1t was
necessary, but because superintend-
ents have to do something on such
occasions and that is the only way to
prevent superfluous speech making.
The program went along smoothly,
with no more stumbles than is custo-
mary at such affairs, and nicely pune
tuated with hand clippings. When
the superintendent read. Recitation
Miss Carol Starr" the applause was
enthusiastic. for Carol was prime
favorite in church and school and
town. With sweet and charming non
chalancs she tripped to the 'front.' Of
the platform and gave a graceful in
clination of her proud young head in
response to the applause. Then her
voice rang out, and the room was
hushed. Nobody ever worried when
Carol spoke piece. Things always
went albright. And back to her place
she walked. her face flushed, her
heart SWELLING high with the gratifca-'