Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-10

CHAPTER XVII. (Continued.)
rs Carol sick, Grace?" he asked one
II day, turning suddenly to his sister-ln-
law.
~ She smiled curiously. Mono, think
not. Why"
she seems very-sweet."
Eyes. She feels very-sweet," was
( the enigmatical response. And Mr..
4 Starr muttered something about wom-
en- and geometry and went away, snah,
4 ing his head. And Aunt Grace smlleo
again.
But the months passed away. Lark,
not too absorbed in her own happiness
!. to ind room for her twins a1alrs, AT
last grew troubled. She and Aunt
Grace often held little conferences TO.
( gether when Carol was safety out OF
4 the way.
.'Whatever do you suppose is the
t natter" Lark would wonder ANXIOUS
IL. TO which her aunt always answer
ed patiently, ooh, just wait. ne lsn't
sure she's grown up enough yet.
Then there came quiet nlgnt
when Carol and Mr.. Duke sat in the
living room, idly discussing the wealth
er, and looking at Connie VINO was
deeply immersed in book on the ON
i or side of the big reading lamp. Con
versation between them Jagged SO no.
ticeably that they sighed with rene1
when she finally laid down her oooK
and twisted around in her chair Until
she had them both in full view.
Books are funny she began bright
( ". Il don't believe half the written
stun ever did happen don't peneve
III could. Do girls ever propose MI
( Duke?'
answered laughing. .,o,
"No?" she queried politely. May
h he no one wanted you badly enough.
Ant I wonder If they ever do? writers
say 40. | can't believe it somehow. IL
aeens so-well-unnecessa some
w Carol and were talking ABOUT
n this afternoon"
Carol looked up startled. ...,
"What does Carol think about 1t!
\ he queried. :, a.
binary cases girls were clever enousn
70 get what they wanted without ASK
Ing for it."
Carol moved restlessly in her chair,
her face dropping a little, ana MI
Duke laughed.
"of course; know none OF our girls
~o,,jN do such a thing" said Connie,
..rere m her family pride. "But Car
a says she must admit she'd ike 10
ana some way to make man say
that ANYBODY could see with half an
sve he wanted to say anyhow, only
cornie stopped abruptly. Mr.. Duke
had turned to Carol, his keen eyes
searchinR her face, but Carol sank IN
fhe hie chair and turned her face away
nom him against the leather CUSHION.
"Connie." she said, "of course no
[ GIRL would propose, no girl would want
to-I was only Joking
4 Mr.. Duke laughed openly then.
\ Let's 70 and take walk. shan't we'
Carol? It's grand night
"You needn't go to get rid OF me-
said Connie rising. 81 was just going
anyhow"
litsiy.
"Don't TO-" echoed Carol pleadingly.
Connie stepped to the doorway, then
naused and looked back at them.
sudden illumination came to her as
she scanned their faces, the mans
clear-cut, determined. eager-Carofs
shy. and scared. and-hopeful. She
4 turned quickly back toward her sister,
main darkening her eyes. Carol was
the last of all the girls-it would leave
her alone-and he was too old for her.
Her lips quivered a little, and her face
shadowed more darkly. But they did
not see It. The mans eyes were In
tent on Carols lovely features and
I, Carol was studying her slender fingers.
Connie drew long breath and looked
\ down upon her sister with great pro-
tecting tenderness in her heart. She
i wanted to catch her UP in her strong
Young arms and carry her wildly out
az the room-away from the man who
nat there-waiting for hen
Carol lifted her face at that moment
and turned slowly toward Mr.. Duke.
Connie saw her eyes They were lu-
minous.
Comics tense figure relaxed then.
and she turned at once toward the
door. II am going" she said in low
voice. But she looked back again be-
fore she closed the door after her.
"Carol," she said in a whisper, YOU
you're darling. 1--we always
Thought So" ~