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

of breaking 1t to her gently"
I'm perfectly Disguised with you,
Carol went on, perfectly. Here I've
been expecting you to propose to me
all week, and"
Propose to you! My stars!"
Don: interrupt me-" Carol snap
ped. Last night | lay awake for
hours-look at the rings beneath my
eyes"
II don't see EN-" he interrupted
again. smiling more broadly.
Just thinking out good flowery
rejection for you and then you trot
me out here and propose to Lark!
! Well, II that isn't nerve!"
Jim laughed loudly at this. He was
used to Carol and enjoyed her little
outbursts. II can't think what on
earth made you imagine I'd want to
propose to YOU" he said, shaking mis-
head as though appalled, at the idea.
Carols eyes twinkled at that, but
she did not permit him to see it. why
shouldn't I think so? Didn't you get
new gray suit? And haven't / the
best complexion in Mount Mark? Don't
all the men want to propose to COM
plexion like mine?"
Shows their bum taste" he NUT
tered.
Carol twinkled again. "Of course
she agreed, all men have bum taste,
if it comes to that"
He laughed again. then he sobered.
do you think Lark will"
Il think Lark will turn you down"
said Carol promptly "and ! hope she
does. You aren't good enough for her.
No one in the world is good enough for
Lark except myself. If she should &C
cept you'll don't think she will, but
if she has mental alteration and
does-Tll give you my blessing, and
come and live with you six months in
the year. and Lark shall come and live
with me the other six months, and you
can run the farm and send us an allow
ance. But don't think she'll have
you: II, be disappointed in her ii she
does"
Carol was silent a moment then.
She was remembering many things
Lark's grave face that day in the par
sonage when they had discussed the
love of jim. her unwonted gentleness
and her quiet manners during this
visit. and one night when Carol sud
denly awakening. had found her weep
ing bitterly into her pillow. Lark had
said it was headache, and was better
now, and Carol had gone to sleep
again. but she remembered now that
Lark never had headaches! And she
remembered how very often lately
Lark had put her arms around her
shoulders and looked searchingly into
her face and Lark was always wist-
full. too. Of late! She sighed. Yes. she
caught on at last, had been pushed
on to it," she thought angrily. She
had been a wicked, blind, hateful little
simpletcn or she would have seen 1t
long ago. But she said nothing of this
to jim.
You'd better run along then. and
switch your proposal over to her, or
I'm likely to accept you on my own
account, just for a joke. And be sure
and tell her I'm good and sore that |
didn't get a chance to use my tlowery
rejection. But I'm almost sure she'll
turn you down"
Then Carol stood in the path and
watched Jim as he leaped lightly over
fences and ran through the sweet
meadow. She saw Lark spring to her
feet and then step out from the shade
of an apple tree, and then Jim took
her in his arms.
After that Carol rushed into the
house and up the stairs. She flung
herself on her knees beside her bed
and buried her face in the white
spread.
Lark" she whispered, Lark" She
clenched her hands and her shoulders
shook "My little twin" she cried
again, my nice old Lark" Then she
got up and walked back and forth
across the floor. Sometimes she shook
her fist Sometimes little crooked
smile softened her lips. Once she
stamped her foot and then laughed at
herself. For an hour she paced up
and down. Then she turned on the
light and went to the mirror. where
she smoothed her hair and powdered
her face as carefully as ever.
It's good joke on me-" she said
smiling, but it's just as good one
on Mrs. Forrest. l think III go and
have laugh at her. And I'll pretend
knew 1t all along
She found the woman lying in
hammock on the broad piazza where
a broad shaft Of light from the open
door fell upon her. Carol stood be-
side her, smiling brightly.
Mrs. Forrest" she said, Il know
perfectly delicious secret. Shall tell
you?"
The woman sat up, holding out her
arms Carol drODped on her knees be-
side her. smiling mischievously at the
expression on her face.
Cupid has been at work she said
softly, and your own son has fallen
a victim"
Mrs Forrest shifted slightly. but she
looked lovingly at the fair sweet face.
II am sure can not wonder" she an
swered in a gentle voice. rs it all
settled?"
Il suppose So At any rate, he Is