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


of with, her.
"You would laugh to see her, Aunt
Grace" Fairy explained. "They are
generally half intoxicated, sometimes
wholly. And Carol trips by, clean,
white and shining. They are always
lounging against the store windows or
posts for support, bleary-eyed, Gissl-
pated, swaggery, staggery. Carol mods
and smiles as only Carol can, Good
morning, boys! Isn't this a lovely day?
Are you feeling we'll? And they grin
at her and sway overwhelmingly against
one another, and say, 'Mornin', Carol
Carol Is the only really decent person
in town that has anything to do with
them"
Carol means all right" declared
Lark angrily.
"Yes, indeed" assented Fairy. "They
call them the Slaughter-house quartet,
auntie because whenever they are
sober enough to walk without police
assistance, they wander through the
streets slaughtering the peace and Sc
renity of the quiet town with their
rendition of all the late, disgraceful
sentimental ditties. They are in many
ways striking characters. I do not
wholly misunderstood their attraction
| for romantic Carol. They are some
thing like the troubadours Of old
only more So"
Carols face was crimson. 81 don't
| like them" she cried, "but I'm sorry
for them. l want to show them that
the decent element, we Christians, are
sorry for them and want to make them
! better"
Carol wants to be an influence"
Fairy continued. "Of course it Is a
little embarrassing for the rest Of us
to have her on such friendly terms
with the most uncomfortable charac-
tiers in all Mount Mark. But Carol is
like so many refOrmers-in the pres
ence of one great truth she has eyes
for it only, ignoring a thousand other,
greater truths"
Il am sorry for Them" Carol repeat
ed, more weakly abashed by the pres
ence of the united family. Fairy's dis
.
occurred in private.
Mr.. Starr mentally resolved that he
would talk this over with Carol when
the others were not present, for he
knew from her face and her voice
that she was really sensitive on the
subject. And he knew, too, that it is
difficult to explain to the very young
that the finest 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 in
Mount Mark for 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
J turns reading aloud. And for a 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 a year the family darning had
fallen entirely into the capable and
willing hands Of the gentle chaperon.
1t was half past ten. And suddenly,
| from beneath the peach trees clustered
! on the south side of the parsonage, a
burst Of melody arose.
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-house quartet was SER
enading Carol in return for her win
some smiles!
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
l. bishop would not be in until this CO.
: lossal disaster was over.
Connie was mortified. 1t seemed
like a wholesale parsonage insult
Lark, after the first awful realization
o lay back on the bed and rolled con
vulsively.
n The rolllcking strains Of "Budwei-
S ser" were swung gayly out upon the
night.
e Carol writhed in anguish. The sere'
!, made was bad enough, but this unmer
s ciful hooking derision Of her adoret
10 | twin was InpndurohIp