Warren sheaf., 1917-12-05
1asA,y,s21 q

tnaI the uneSC OF IDEAS are not ap-
plicable to all cases by all people. But
It happened that he was spared the
necessity Of dealing with Carol pri-
vately, for matters adjusted them
selves without his assistance.
The second night following was an
eventful one in the parsonage. One
Of the bishops Of the church was ID
Mount Mark for a business conference
with the religious leaders, and was to
spend the night at the parsonage. The
meeting was called for eight-thirty for
the convenience Of the business men
concerned, and was to be held in the
church Offices. The men left early, fol-
lowed shortly by Fairy, who designed
to spend the evening at the Averys'
home, testing their supply Of winter
apples. The twins and Connie, with
the newest and most thrilling book
Mr.. Carnegie afforded the town, went
upstairs to lie on the bed. and take
turns reading aloud. And for few
hours the parsonage was as calm and
peaceful as though 1t were not de-
signed for the housing Of merry min
ister's daughters.
! Aunt Grace sat downstairs darning
stockings. The girls intentions had
been the best in the world, but in less
than year the family darning had
fallen entirely into the capable and
willing hands of the gentle chaperon.
It was half past ten. And suddenly,
from beneath the peach trees clustered
on the south side Of the parsonage, a
burst Of melody arose. s.5ss
"Good morning, Carrie, how are you
this morning?'
The girls sat up abruptly, staring
at one another, as, the curious, ugly
song waited in upon them. Conviction
dawned slowly, sadly, but unquestion-
ably.
The Slaughter-hou quartet was ser
enading Carol in return for her win
some smiles! #s::ssss
Carol herself was literally struck
dumb. Her face. grew crimson, then
white. In her heart she repeated
psalms Of thanksgiving that Fairy was
away, and that her father and the
bishop would not be in until this CO.
lossal disaster was over.
Connie was mortified. It seemed
like wholesale parsonage insult.
Lark, after the first awful realization,
lay back on the bed and rolled con-
vulsively.
The rollicking strains Of 'Budwei-
SER were swung gayly out upon the
night.
Carol writhed in anguish The sere.
made was bad enough, but this unmer-
ciful mocking derision Of her adored
| twin was unendurable.
Then the quartet waxed sentimental.
They sang, and not badly, few old
Southern melodies, and started slowly
around the corner Of the house, still
singing.
It has been said that Aunt Grace
was always kind, always gentle, un-
suspicious and without guile. She had
heard the serenade, and promptly con-
cluded that 1t was the work Of some
, Of the high-school boys. who were
unanimously devoted to Carol. She
had a big box Of chocolates upstairs,
for Comics birthday celebration. She
could get them and make lemonade
and
She opened the door softly and
stepped out, directly in the path Of
the startled youths. Full OF her hos
pitable intent, she was not discerning
as parsonage people need to be.
"Come in, boys = she said cordially.
"the girls will be down in minute =
The appearance Of guardian angel
summoning them to paradise could not
have confounded them more utterly.
They stumbled all over one another in
trying to back away from her. She
laughed softly.
Don't be bashful. We enjoyed It
very much. Yes, come right In
| Undoubtedly they would have de-
Eclined IL only they could have thought
of the proper method Of doing SO. AS
lit was, they only succeeded in sham
bling through the parsonage door, in
stinctively concealing their half
smoked cigarettes beneath their fin.
gers.
Aunt Grace ushered them into the
pleasant living room, and ran up to
summon her nieces.
Left alone, the boys looked at one
another with amazement and with
grief, and the leader, the touching
tenor, said with true musical fervor,
SsVXIo11
In the meantime, the girls, with hor.
ror, had heard their aunt's invitation,
! What IN the world did she mean? Was
1t trick beweensh her and Fairy7 Had
they hired the awful Slaughterers to
bring this disgrace upon the parson.
age? sternly they faced her when she
Opened their door.
Come down, girls-I invited them
In. I'm going to make lemonade and
serve my nice chocolates. Hurry
down.
"You invited them inl'' echoed Con.
ME. .sss
.'.rhe slaughter-house quartette,'
Missed Lark. 81 s s-sss ss