Mexico Missouri message., 1917-12-06

the Averys' porch, had heard the sere.
made. After the first shock, and after
the helpless laughter that followed,
she bade her friends good night.
"0h, I've just got to CO." she said.
"Its a joke on Carol. wouldn't miss
1t 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. "The
Averys and enjoyed the concert, too.
I do love to hear music outdoors on
still nights like these. Carol, maybe
your friends would like drink. Are
there any lemons, auntie? We might
have little lemonade"
Carol wrlthed helplessly. "I'll make
It," she said, and rushed to the kitchen
to vent her fury by shaking the very
life out Of the lemons. But she did not
waste time. Her fathers twinkles were
nearly as bad as Fairy's own-and the
bishop!
ard wish 1t would choke 'em IL 1t
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"
Mr.. Starr's 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 1t. These are
the Mount hIark 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, swell, 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 COLI
disdain. Some think we should re
gard them with a tender, gentle, err
smiling pity. And evidently they ap
preciated the smiles, for they gave u!
a serenade in return for them. Aun
Grace did not know their history, 81
she invited them in, thinking they wert
Just ordinary schoolboys. 1t is homt
mission work run aground"
The bishop nodded sympathetically
"One has to be so careful" he said
$50 extremely careful with character
like those. No doubt they meant wei
by their serenade, but-girls especial.
have to be very careful. / think as {
rule 1t is safer to let men show tn
tender pity and women the fine dis
dain. don't imagine they would com
II serenading your father and me! Yo'
| carried it off beautifully, girls. ar
sure your father was proud of you.
was myself. I'm glad you are Method
lists. Not many girls so young c>nl
handle q difficult matter as neatly o
you did,"
eyes," said Mr.. Starr, but his eye
twinkled toward Carol once more
"yes, indeed, / think we are we
. cleared of dlsagreeable business"
e But Carol looked at Fairy with sue
:? humble, passionate gratitude that tear
d came to Fairy's eyes and she turne
quickly away.
:. "Carol is a sweet GIRL" she though
? "I wonder IL things will work out fc
her just right--to make her as happ
as she ought to be. She's so-loVely