Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-12-28

the Averys' porch, had heard the sere-
made. After the first shock, and after
the helpless laughter that followed,
she babe her friends good night.
"Oh, I've just got to CO." she said.
'It's joke on Carol. l wouldn't miss
it for twenty-five bushels of apples
even as good as these are"
Her eyes twinkling with delight, she
ran home and waited behind the rose
bushes until the moment for her ap-
pearance seemed at hand Then she
stepped into the room where her out
ragged sisters were stoically passing
precious and luscious chocolates to to-
bacco-saturated youths.
Good evening"" she said. 1.-THE
Averys and I enjoyed the concert, too.
I do love to hear music sutdoors on
still nights like these. Carol, maybe
your friends would like a drink. Are
there any lemons, auntie? We might
have a little lemonade"
Carol wrthed helplessly. "Ili make
It," she said, and rushed to the kitchen
life out of the lemons. But she did not
waste time. Her fathers wrinkles were
nearly as bad as Fairy's own-and the
bishop!
I'D wish it would choke 'em If it
wouldn't take so long" she muttered
passionately, as she hurried in, with
the pitcher and glasses, ready TO serve
the "slums" with her own chaste
hands.
She was just serving the melting
tenor, when she heard her fathers
voice In the hall.
'Too late" she said aloud, and with
such despair in her voice that Fairy re-
Tented and mentally promised to "see
her through" "a.
Mr.. Starts eyes twinkled freely
when he saw the guests in his home,
and the gentle bishops puzzled inter-
est nearly sent them all off into laugh
ter. Fairy had no idea of the young
mems names, but she said, quickly, to
spare Carol: ... .
1--WE have been serenaded tonight,
doctor-you just missed it. These are
the Mount Mark troubadours. You are
lucky to get here in time for the lemon
ade."
But when she saw the bishop glance
concernedly from the yellow fingers to
the dull eyes and the brown-streaked
mouths, her gravity nearly forsook her.
The Slaughterers, already dashed to
the ground by embarrassment, were
entirely routed by the presence Of the
bishop. With incOherent apologies,
they rose to their unsteady feet and In
a cloud of breezy odors, made their es-
cape.
Mr.. Starr laughed q little, Aunt
Grace put her arm protectingly about
Carols rigid shoulders, and the bishop
said, "Well, well, WE'LL" with gentle in
quiry.
ave call them the Slaughter-house
quartette," Fairy began cheerfully.
"They are the lower strata of Mount
Mark, and they make the nights hide
Gus with their choice selection of popu-
lar airs. The parsonage is divided
about them. Some of us think we
should treat them with proud and cold
disdain. Some think we should re-
gard them with tender, gentle, err
smiling pity. And evidently they ap-
preciated the smiles, for they gave us
serenade in return for them. Aunt
Grace did not know their history so
she invited them In, thinking they were
just ordinary schoolboys. 1t is home
mission work run aground"
The bishop nodded sympathetically
"One has to be so careful" he said
$50 extremely careful with characters
like those. No doubt they meant well
by their serenade, but-girls especially
have to be very careful. I think as q
rule it Is safer to let men show the
tender pity and women the fine dis.
dain. I don't imagine they would come
serenading your father and mel You
carried it off beautifully, girls. I am
sure your father was proud Of you.
was myself. I'm glad you are Method
lists. Not many girls so young could
handle a difficult matter as neatly as
you did"
EYES," said Mr.. Starr, but his eyes
twinkled toward Carol once more :
Eyes. indeed l think we are well
cleared Of disagreeable business"
, But Carol looked at Fairy with such
humble, passionate gratitude that tears
came to Fairys eyes and she turned
quickly away.
"Carol is sweet girl" she thought
: II wonder If things will work out fol
her just right-to make her as happy
as she ought to be. She's so-lOvely.'