Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-17

freshman remember you told me you
received nothing but business letters
because you didn't want to take time
to write letters, and"
did n" For second he seemed a
little confused. well, I'm not crazy
about writing letters, as such. But
I'll be so glad to get yours that know
I'll even enjoy answering them.
Inside the parsonage gate they stood
a moment among the rose bushes
Once again she offered he. hand, and
he took it gravely, looking with sob.
er intentness into her face, a little pale
in the moonlight. He noted again the
royal little head with its grownup
crown of hair, and the slender figure
with it's grownup length OF skirt.
Then he put his arms around her
and kissed her warmly upon the child
ish interpreting lips.
A swift red flooded her face and re-
ceding as swiftly left her pale. Her
lips quivered a little and she caught
her hands together. Then sturdily, and
only slightly tremulous, she looked In
to his eyes and laughed. The profess
sor was in nowise deceived by her at.
tempt at lightheartedness, remember.
ing as he did the quick quivering OF
the lips beneath his, and the uncon-
scious yielding Of the supple body in
his arms. He condemned himself men
tally in no uncertain terms for having
yielded to the temptation Of her young
loneliness. Carol still laughed, deter.
mined by her merriment to set the seal
- 81 en-
.Come and walk a little farther,
Carol" he said in low voice. Il want
to say something else Then after
few minutes of silence, he began rath.
er awkwardly, and David Arnold Duke
was not usually awkward:
Carol you'll think I'm a cad to say
what I'm going.to, after doing what ]
have Just done. but I'll have to risk
that. You shouldn't let men kiss you.
It isn't right. You're too pretty and
sweet and fire for it. know you don't
allow it commonly, but don't at all. !
hate to think Of any one even touching
girl like YOU" :.
Carol leaned forward. fitting back
her head, and looking up at him 70.
guishly. her face a-sparkle.
He blushed more deeply. "Oh, !
know It, he said. I'm ashamed OF
myself. But / can't help what you
think Of me- do think you shouldn't
let them and hope you won't. They're
sure to want to"
Eyes, she said quietly, very grown
up indeed just then. yes. they do.
Aren't men funny? They always want
to- Sometimes we hear old women
say Men are all alike never be-
lieve 1t. Fhate old women who say
1t. But-are they all alike, PROBES
sor?"
mo" he said grimly, they are not.
But suppose any man would like to
kiss girl as sweet as you are. But
men are not all alike. Don't you be
lieve it. You won't then, will you?"
Won't believe it? No"
II mean" he said. almost stammer-
ing in his confusion ~ mean you
won't let them touch you"
Carol smiled teasinsly, but in mo-
ment she spoke, and very quietly.
"P'fessor, I'll tell you a blood red Sc
cret if you swear up and down you'll
never tell anybody. I've never told
even Lark--Well, one night, when
was sophomore-do you remember
Bud Garvin?"
"Yes. tall fellow with black hair
and eyes, wasn't he? In the freshman
zoology class"
YES. Well, he took me home from
a party. Hartley took Lark, and they
got in first And Bud, well-he put
his arm around me, and-maybe you
don't know it, Professor, but there's
a big difference in girls, too. Now
some girls are naturally good. Pru-
dence is, and SOS Lark. But Fairy
and well, we've got a lot of the
original Adam in us. Most girls, es-
pecially in books-nice girls, mean,
and you know I'm nice-they can't
even bear to have boys touch them.
P'fessor. like it, honestly l do, il
like the boy. Buds rather nice, and
let :lim-oh. just little, but it made
me nervous and excited. But l liked
it. Prudence was away, and hated
to talk to Lark that night so sneaked
in Fairy's room and asked II l might
sleep with her. She said could, and
told me to turn on the light, it
wouldn't disturb her. But l was SO
hot didn't want any light, so / I'M
dressed as fast as ! could and crept
in. Somehow, from the way | snug
gled up to Fairy she caught on. / was
out of breath, really was ashamed Of
myself. but | wasn't just sure then
I'd ever let him put his arm
around me again or not. But Fairy
turned over and began to talk. Pro-
lessor" she said solemnly. Fairy and
| always pretend to be snippy and sar-
castle and sneer at each other, but in
my heart, l think Fairy is very nearly
as good as Prudence. yes. sir, | do.
Why. Fairy's fine. she's just awfully
fine"
YES, I'm sure she is"
"She said that once. when she was
fifteen, one of the boys at Exminster
kissed her good night. And she didn't
mind it bit But father was putting