Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-11-29

4
mention 1t to father. We've turned
over a new leaf now, and quit for
good. But we were matching-and
they made q bargain that whenever
1t was my turn, one Of them would
throw heads and one tails, and that
way never could win anything. And
1 didn't catch on till saw Jim wink,
and so thought 1t was only right to
give the pennies to the heather"
'How Is your mother, Jim7"
"Just fine, Miss Prudence, thank
you. She said to tell you she would
send basket Of red Junes tomorrow,
IL you want them. The twins can eat
them, know. Carol ate twenty-five
when they were out Saturday."
ayes, did, and I'm glad of it," said
Carol stoutly. "Such apples you never
saw, Prudence. They're about as big
as a thimble, and two-thirds core.
They're good, they're fine, I'll say
that-but there's nothing to them. If
had ranch as big as yours, Jim,
I'll bet you a dollar I'd have apples
bigger than a diner
"'Bet you q dollar" quoted Fairy.
"Well, TIL wager my soul, If that
sounds more like Shakespeare. Don't
go away, Jim; we're not fighting. This
is just the way Fairy and 1 make love
to each other. You're perfectly well
come to stay, but be careful of your
grammar, for now that Fairy's a SEN
ior-will be next year, If she lives
she even tries to teach father the ap-
proved method of doing q ministerial
sneeze in the pulpit"
"Think I'd better CO." decided the
tall, good-looking youth, laughing as
he looked with frank, boyish admira-
ton into Carols sparkling face. "With
Fairy after my grammar, and you to
criticize my manner and my morals, I
see right now that a parsonage is no
safe place for farmers son." And
laughing again, he thrust his cap into
his pocket and walked quickly out the
new cement parsonage walk. But at
the gate he paused to call back, Don't
make a mistake, Carol, and use the
heathen's pennies for candy"
The girls on the porch laughed, and
five pairs of eyes gazed after the tall
figure rapidly disappearing.
"He's NICE" said Prudence.
YES" assented Carol. 1--WE got a
notion to marry him after a little.
That farm Of his is worth about ten
thousand"
"Are you going to wait until he asks
your"
Certainly notl Anybody can marry
man after he asks her. The thing
to do, II you want to be really original
and interesting, is to marry him be-
fore he asks you, and surprise him."
"Yes," agreed Lark, eff you wait I'M
til he asks you he's likely to think it
over once too often and not ask you
at ALL"
Doesn't that sound exactly like q
book, now1" demanded Carol proudly.
Fairy couldn't have said that!
mo" said Fairy, II couldn't. Thank
goodness IL have what is commonly
known as brains. Look 1t up in the
dictionary, twins. It's something you
ought to know about"
"oh, Prudence" cried Lark dramat-
ically II forgot to tell you. You can't
get married after ALL"
For ten seconds Prudence, as well
as Fairy and their aunt, stared in
speeches. amazement. Then Pru-
dence smiled.
"oh, can't II WHATS the Joke nowr
"Jokei It's no joke. Carols sick,
that's what's the Joke. You can't get
married without Carol, can you7"
A burst Of gay laughter greeted this
announcement.
"Carol sickI She acts sickp
"She looks sIck!"
"Where is she sickT
Carol leaned Imply back against the
pillar, trying to compose her bright
face into semblance of illness. ain
my tummy," she announced weakly.
This called forth more laughter.
TITS her conscience" said Fairy.
TITS matching pennies, Maybe she
swallowed one"
"It's probably those two pieces Of
pie she ate for dinner, and the one
that vanished from the pantry shortly
after" suggested Aunt Grace.
= Carol sat up quickly. "Welcome
| home, Aunt Gracew abe cried. 'Did
, you have pleasant visitT'
"Caroll" reproved Prudence.
II didn't mean 1t for impudence
auntie," said Carol, getting up and
. bending affectionately over the ham.
mock, gently caressing the brown hail
: just beginning to'silver about her fore
! head. "But It does amuse me so Il
hear a lady Of your age and dignity