Mexico Missouri message., 1917-12-20

helpfully. "Tve had pieces with wors
lines than that. THE imprint of :
dainty foot for instance. When yo,
say, The wind went drifting o'er tn,
lea,' you must kind Of let your voic,
glide along, very rhythmically, very
"Windily," suggested Connie, who re
mained to witness the exhibition.
"You keep STILL Constance Starr, OF
you can get out Of here! It's no laugh
ing matter can tell you, and you have
to keep out or won't help and then
"Tll keep still. But 1t ought to be
windlly, you know, since it's the wind
meant 1t for a joke" she informed
them. The twins had a very disheart
ening way Of failing to recognize Con
MES jokes-it took the life out OF
them.
"Now read 1t aloud, Lark, so can
see II you get the proper expression u
Carol continued, when Connie was ut.
terly subdued.
Lark obediently but unhappily read
the quaint poem aloud and Carol said
it was very good. "You must read 1t
aloud often, very often. Thntll give
you q better idea of the accent. Now
put 1t away, and don't look at 1t again
tonight IF you keep it up too long
you'll get so dead sick Of 1t you can't
speak It at ALL"
By the evening Of the Sunday-school
Colcert-they were cOncerting for the
sake Of hundred-dollar subscription
to church repairs-Lark had mastered
her recitation so perfectly that the
minds of the parsonage were nearly at
peace. She still felt a deep resentment
toward the situation, but this was par
tally counter-balanced by the salts
faction Of seeing her name In print, d.
rectly beneath Carols on the program
Recitation ................ Miss Carol Starr.
Recitation .......-......., Miss Lark Starr.
It looked very we'll indeed, and the
whole family took a proper interest in
1t. No one gave Carols recitation q
second thought. She always recited,
and did it easily and well. 1t was quite
a commonplace occurrence for her.
On the night Of the concert she su-
perintended Lark's dressing with ma
ternal care. "You look all right" she
said, "just fine. Now don't get scared,
Lark. It's so silly. Remember that
you know all those people by heart,
you can talk a blue streak to any of
them. There's no use"
''But I can't talk blue streak to the
whole houseful at once" Lark pro-
tested. ut makes me have such a.
hollow feellng-to see so many white
faces gazing up, and it's hot, and"
"Stop that" came the stern COM
mand. "You don't want to get cold
feet before you start. If you do acci-
dentally forget once or twice, don't
worry. know the piece as well as
you do, and I can prompt you from be-
hind without anyone noticing it. But
you won't forget" She kissed her.
you'll do fine, Larlde, just as fine as
you look, and 1t couldn't be better than !
that"
Just then Connie ran in. "Fairy |
wants to know If you are getting stage |
fright, Lark? My, you do look nice |
Now, for goodness sake, Lark, remem-
Der the parsonage, and don't make a
fizzle of It,"
"Who says fizzle?" demanded their
father from the doorway. "Never say
die, my girl. Why, Lark, I never saw
you look so sweet. You have your hair
fixed new way haven't your"
"Carol did it," was the shy reply.
1T does look nice, doesn't it? I'm not
scared, father, not q bit-yet! But
there's a hollow feeling Have the
boys conner"
mo, but they'll be here In a minute.
Iim's late. 1 do get sore at Jim-Pd
forty times rather go with him than
he always puts off ask
ng us until the last minute and then l
have a date and you get him. / be-
ieve he does it on purpose. Come on
Town."
And Grace looked at the pale sweet
lace with gratified delight, and kissed
ler warmly. Her father walked around
Ter, nodding approval.
Aunt Grace" he said soIemnly, ats
wretched business, having a parson-
lge full of daughters. Just as soon as
hey reach the age of beauty, grace
md charm, they turn their backs on
heir fathers and smile on fairer lads"
You've got me, father" said Connie
.onsolingly.
"And me-when Babbie's in Chica-
o." added Fairy.
"Yes, that's some help. Connie, be
IN old maid. Dol implore you"
"Oh, Comics got a beau already"
aid Carol. 'It's the fat Allen boy.
they don't have dates yet, but they've
,ot an awful case on. He's going to