Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-13
Oh, OH" gurgled Lark, with music in

Oh. OH" gurgled Lark, with music in
her voice.
Carol smiled. ffa
"Oh, isn't it glorious morning?
sang Lark again. isn't everything
wonderful, father?"
Lark Starr cried Carol passion
ately, II should think you'd be asham.
ed of yourself. It's bad enough to turn
your back on your-your lifelong
twin, and raise Barriers between US,
but for you to be so wildly happy
about it is-perfectly wicked"
Lark wheeled about abruptly and
stared at her sister, the fire slowly
dying out of her eyes.
why, Carol" she began slowly, In
a low voice, without music.
"Oh, that's all right. You needn't
try to talk me over. A body'd think
there was nothing in the world but
ugly old newspapers. don't like EN-,
anyhow. l think they're downright
nosey! And we'll never be the same
any more, Larkie, and you're the only
twin I've got, and"
Carols defiance ended in a poorly
suppressed sob and rush Of tears.
Lark threw her gloves on the table.
Il won't go at ALL she said. IL
won't go step. If-if you think for
a minute. Carol, that any silly old
career is going to be any dearer to me
than you are, and If we aren't going
to be just as we've always been,
! won't go step"
Carol wiped her eyes. WELL" she
said very affectionately, IF you feel
like that, it's all right. just wanted
you to say you liked me better than
anything else. OF course you must go,
Lark. / really take all the credit for
you and your talent to myself, and It's
as much an honor for me as 1t is for
you, and want you to go. But don't
you ever go to liking the crazy old
stories any better than you do me-"
F! Then she picked up Lark's- gloves
and the two went out with an arm
around each others waist.
1t was a dreary morning for Carol,
but none of her sisters knew that
most of it was spent in the closet OF
her room, sobbing bitterly. It's just
the way of the world" she mourned,
+ in the tone of one who has lived many
years and suffered untold anguish,
1--WE spend our lives bringing them
up, and loving them. and finding all
our Joy and happiness in them, and
then they 60, and we are left alone"
Lark's morning at the Office was
quiet, but none the less thrilling on
that account Mr.. Raider received
her cordially and with great deal of
unctuous fatherly advice. He took her
into his Office, which was one corner
of the press room glassed in by itself,
and talked over her duties, which, as
far as Lark could gather from his dis
course, appeared NO consist in doing
as she was told.
Nov, remember" he said, in part,
that running newspaper is business.
Pure business We've got to give
folks what they want to hear, and they
want to hear everything that happens.
OF course. it will hurt some people, it
is not pleasant to have private affairs
aired in public papers. but that's the
newspaper job. Folks want to hear
about the private affairs of other
folks. They pay us to find out, and
tell them, and it's our duty to do it.
So don't ever be sQueamish about
coming right out blunt with the plain
facts; that's what we are paid for"
This did not seriously impress Lark.
Theoretically, she realized that he was
right And he talked so impressively
of the press, and Ats mission in the
world. and it's rights and its pride and
it's power, that Lark, looking away
with hope filled eyes. saw high and
mighty figure, immense, all powerful,
standing free, majestic, reckoning her
to come. It was her first view of the
worlds press.
But on the fourth morning. when she
entered the ONCE, Mr.. Raider met her
with more excitment in his manner
than she had evet seen before. AS
rule, excitement does not sit well
on nicely rounded, pink skinned men.
Lark he began hurriedly, do you
know the Days? On Elm street?"
Yes, they are members of our
church l know them"
He leaned forward. big piece OF
news down that way. This morning
at breakfast, Daily shot his daughter
Maisie and the little boy. They are
both dead Daily got away and we
can't get at the bottom OF It, The
family is shut off alone and won't see
any one"
Lark's face had gone white, and she
! clasped her slender hands together
swaying, quivering, bright lights be-
fore her eyes.
ooh, oh!' she murmured brokenly
"Oh. how awful"
Mr. Raider did not observe the
white horror in Bark's face. Eyes
| isn't it?' he said. II want you to 60
right down there"
Yes, indeed" said Lark, though she
quivered at the thought. "Of course
will Lark was a minister's daugh
ter. If people were in trouble, she
must go, of course isn't lawful
!; l never knew of-such thing-be
fore. Maisie was in my class at
school. l never liked her very well
Inn so sorry didnt-oh, I'm so sorry,