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

erness came into the parsonage life.
The girls were certainly growing up
Prudence had been married long,
, long time. Fairy was being graduated
from college, her school days were
over and life was just across the
threshold-its big black door Just
it back and catch glimpse Of what
lay beyond, yes, there was a rosy tinge
showing family through like the light
of the early sun shining through the
night fog, but the door was only a
little ajar! And Fairy was nearly
ready to step through. 1t disturbed
the family great deal
Even the twins were getting along.
They were finishing high school and
beginning to prate of college and such
things, but the twins were STILL well,
they were growing up, perhaps, but
they kept jubilantly young along in the
process, and their enthusiasm for
diplomas and ice cream sodas was so
nearly identical that one couldn't feel
seriously that the twins were Juggling
at their leashes.
And Connie was a freshman herself
rather tall, little awkward, with
sober earnest face, and with an incon-
gruously humorous droop to the cor
ners of her lips, and in the sparkle of
her eyes.
Mr.. Starr looked at them and sigh
ed. 81 tell you, Grace, it's thankless
job, rearing family. Connie told me
today that my collars should have
straight edges now instead of turned
back corners. And Lark reminded me
that got my points mixed up in last
Sundays lesson. I'm getting sick of
this family business, I'm about ready
to-"
And just then, as clear Father"
came floating down the stairway, he
turned his head alertly. What do you
want?" - - a[
"Everybody's OUT came Carols
plaintive voice. "Will you come and
button me up? can't ask auntie to
run clear up here, and can't come
down because I'm In my stocking feet.
My new slippers pinch so don't put
them on until have to. Oh, thanks.
father. you're dear"
After the excitement of the COM
our, the gaiety. ordinary parsonage
life seemed smooth ard pleasant, and
for ten days there was not ruffle on
the surface Of their domestic waters.
1t was on the tenth day that the twins,
strolling down Main street, convers-
ing earnestly together as was their
custom, were accosted by nicely
rounded, pompous man with cordial
Hello, twins"
In an instant they were bright with
smiles, for this was Mr. Raider, editor
and owner Of the Daily News. the big
gest and most popular Of Mount
Marks three daily papers. Looking
forward, as they did, to a literary
career for Lark, they never failed to
show a touching and unnatural defer
ence to any one connected, even ever
SO remotely, with that profession. In
deed, Carol, with the charm Of her
smile, had bewitched the small car
riers to the last lad, and in reply to
her sisters teasing. only answered
stoutly, That's all right-you don't
know what they may turn into one of
these days. We've got to look ahead
to Lark's literary career"
So when humble carriers. and some
Of them black at that, received such
sweet attention, one can we'll imagine
what the nicely rounded, pompous edi-
tor himself called forth.
They did not resent his nicely round.
ed and therefore pointless jokes. They
smiled at them. They did not call the
Daily News the Raider Family Or
gan as they yearned to do. They did
not admit that they urged their father
to put Mr.. Raider on all church COM
mittees to insure publicity. They
swallowed hard and told themselves
that, after all, Mr.. Raider was an edi.
tor, and perhaps he couldn't help edit.
ing his own family to the exclusion
of the rest Of Mount Mark.
When, on this occasion, he looked
Lark up and down with his usual 70.
tund complacency, Carol only gritted
her teeth and reminded her heaving
soul that he was an editor
What are you going to do this sum:
mer, Lark" he asked, without pre-.
amble.
"Why-just nothing. suppose. AS
usual"
Well" he said, frowning plumply,
we're running short of men. I've
heard you're interested in our line,
and thought maybe you could help
us out during vacation. Ho wabout it !?
The work'll be easy apd it'll be fine
experience for you. Well pay you five
dollars week. This is little town,
and we're called little publication,
but our work and our aim and meth
DDS are identical with those of the big
city papers, He swelled visibly, al
most alarmingly. How about it?
You're the one with the literary long.
ings, aren't your"
Lark was utterly speechless. II the
National bank had opened its Golfers
to the always hard pressed twins. she
could not have been more completely
confounded. Carol was in a condition
nearly as serious, but grasping the
gravity of the situation, she rushed in
~, 49, ~, Ao~ Aa~~- r. 4