Mexico Missouri message., 1917-12-27
CHAPTER VI.
MAKING Matches.


Aunt Grace sat In q low rocker with
A bit of embroidery In her hands. And
Fairy sat at the table, formidable ar
ray of books before her. Aunt Grace
was gazing idly at her sewing basket,
n soft smile on her lips. And Fairy
was staring thoughtfully into the twl-
light, soft glow In her eyes. Aunt
Grace was thinking of the jolly parsOn-
age family. and how pleasant 1t was
to live with them. And Fairy was
thinking-ah, Fairy was twenty, and
twenty-year-olds always stare into the
twilight, with dreamy far-seelng eyes.
In upon this peaceful scene burst the
twins, flushed, tempestuous, in spite of
their seventeen years. Their hurry to
speak had rendered them incapable of
speech, so they stood in the doorway
painting breathlessly for a moment,
while Fairy and her aunt, withdrawn
thus rudely from dreamland, looked at
them interrogatively.
eyes, think so, too" began Fairy,
'Rnd the twins endeavored to crush her
with their lofty scorn. But 1t is not
easy TO express lofty scorn when one
is red in the face, perspirey and short
of breath. So the twins decided of
necessity to overlook the offense just
this once.
Finally, recovering their vocal pow
ers simultaneously, they cried in uni
son:
"Duckie!"
"DuclI! In the yardI Do you mean
a live one? Where did 1t come from?"
calculated their aunt.
"They mean Professor Duck of their
freshman year." explained Fairy com
always make a fuss over him. They
feel grateful to him for showing them
through freshman science-thats ALL
"That's ALL" gasped Carol. "Why
Fairy Starr, do you know he's en-
ployed by the-SOciety of-a-a sclen'
'tific research Organizatlon-or some.
thlng-in New York city, and gets four
thousand dollars year and has pros.
pects-all kinds of prospects" |"
"Yes, know 1t. You haven't seen
him, auntie. He's tall, and has wrinkles
around his eyes, and dictatorial nose
and steel gray eyes. He calls the twins
song-birds, and they're so dattered
they adore him. He sends them candy
for Christmas. You know that Duckie
they rave so much about. It's the very
man. Is he here"
"He's In town." said Lark.
"Golng to stay week." added Carol
"And he said he wanted to have lots
of good times with us, and so-we-
why, of course 1t was very sudden, and
we didn't have time to ask"
"'But parsonage doors are always
open"
"And I don't know how he ever
wOrmed 1t out Of US, but-one of u.s.
81 can't remember which oneI"
'Invited him to come for dinner to-
night, and he's coming
Goodness" said Aunt Grace. eve
are going to have potato soup and
toast"
'It1l keep" said Carol. "Of course
we're sorry to inconvenience you al
this late hour, but Larkie and I will
tell Connie what to do, so you won't
have much bother. Let's see, now, we
must think up pretty fair meal. -Four
thousand year-and prospects I"
Aunt Grace turned questioning eyes
toward the older sister. -
"All right" said Fairy, smiling. "It's
evidently settled. Think up your menu
twins, and put Connie to work"
as he nice" Aunt Grace queried.
@'Yes, think he is. He used to go
with our college bunch some. know
him pretty we'll He brought me home
from things time or two"
Carol leaned forward and looked Mt
her handsome sister with sudden in
fentness. ale asked about you" she
said, keen eyes on Fairy's. she asked
particularly about you"
''Did he? Thanks. Yes, he's not
bad. He's pretty good in a crowd"
BY the force of her magnetic gaze,
Carol drew Lark out of the room, and
the door closed behind them. A few
minutes later they returned. There
was about them an air Of subdued ex-
-cltement, suggestive of intrigue, that
S'airy found disturbing.
'You needn't plan any nonsense,
twins" she cautioned. 'He's no beau
OF mine"
~of course not" they assured her
pleasantly. "We're too old for mis-
chief. Seventeen, and sensible for our
yearsi Say, Fairy, you'll be nice to
Ducde, won't your Can't you try to
SlAke It pleasant for him this week?