Mexico Missouri message., 1917-12-27

hohSO Ju'S AoA u mOuicutp you bpOlteU
it all by"
"Yes-talk English, Carrie. What
was 1t you tried to do for merr
swell, If you want plain English you
can have It," said Carol. "You know
what professor is, a swell position like
his, and such prospects, and New York
city, and four thousand a year with a
raise for next year, and we tried to
give you good fair chance to land
him squarely, and"
ITO land him"
ITO get him, theni He hasn't any
girl. You could have been engaged to
him this moment-Prof. David Arnold
Duke-if you had wanted to-"
'Oh, is that it?"
"Yes that's it."
Fairy smiled. "Thank you, dear, II
was sweet of you, but you're too late.
1 nm engaged"
Carols lips parted, closed, parted
again. "You--you?"
Exactly So"
Hope flashed into Carols eyes. Fairy
saw 1t, and answered swiftly.
Certainly not. I'm not crazy about
your little professor. I am engaged to
Eugene Babler." She said It with
pride, not unmixed with defiance,
knowing as she did that the twins con-
sidered Gene too undignified for a par
sonage son-in-law. The twins were
strong for parsonage dignityi
"You-arep
II am"
A long instant Carol stared at her.
Then she turned toward the door.
where are you going2"
"Tm going to tell papa"
Fairy laughed. "Papa knows It."
Carol came slowly back and stood by
the dresser again. After a short silence
she moved away once more.
"Where now2"
ITO tell Aunt Grace, then"
Aunt Grace knows 1t, too"
Does Prudence know it7"
EYES,"
Carol swallowed this bitter dill in
silence.
"How long?" she inquired at last.
about a year. Look here, Carol,
I'll show you something. Really I'm
glad you know about 1t. We're pretty
young, and papa thought we ought to
keep 1t dark q while, to make sure.
That's why we didn't tell you. Look
at this" From her cedar chest-a
Christmas gift from Gene-she drew
out a small velvet jewelers. box, and
displayed before the admiring eyes of
Carol plain gold ring with a modest
| diamond.
Carol kissed it. Then she kissed
Fairy twice.
Il know you'll be awfully happy,
Fairy" she said soberly. "And I'm
glad Of it. Butt can't honestly be-
lieve there's any man good enough for
our girls. Babbie's nice, and dear, and
all that, and he's so crazy about you,
and-do you love him" Her eyes were
wide, rather wondering, as she put this
question softly.
Fairy put her arm about her sisters
shoulders, and her fine steady eyes met
Carols clearly.
eyes," she said frankly, "I love him
WILL all my uSdFL.
'Is that what makes you $3.50
shiny, and smiley, and starry all the
timer"
II guess it is. 1t is the most Won
derful thing in the world, Carol. You
can't imagine it-beforehand. 1t is
magical it is heavenly"
eyes, suppose it is. Prudence says
so, too. I can't imagine 1t, I kind of
wish / could. Can't go and tell Con-
ME and Lark2 1 want to tell some.
bodyw
''Yes, tell them. We decided not to
let you know just yet, but since-yes,
tell them, and bring them up to see It,"
Carol kissed her again, and went
out, gently closing the door behind her.
In the hallway she stopped and staret
at the wall for an unseeing moment.
Then she clenched and shook a stern
white fist at the door.
II don't care" she muttered, ''they're
not good enough for Prudence and
Fairyi They're not! just believe
despise men, all of 'em, unless It's
daddy and Duckr' She smiled little
and then looked grim once more. "Eu.
gene Babler, and a little queen like
Fairy! think that must be heavens
notion Of a joke" She sighed again.
"Oh, well, it's something to have some
thing to tell I'm glad found It out
ahead Of Lark!"