The Taney County republican., 1917-12-13
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when they were out Saturday"
ayes, did, and I'm glad of it," said .
Carol stoutIy. "Such apples you never
saw, Prudence. They're about rs big
as thlmblc, and two-thrds core.
They're good they're fine, I'll say
that-but there's nothing to them. If
l had n ranch aS big as yours, Jim.
I'll bet you n dollar I'd have apples
bigger than a dime"
"'Bct you a dollar" quoted Fairy.
"Wcll I'll wager my soul, If that
sounds more like Shakespeare. Don't
60 away, jim; we're not fighting. This
Is lust the way Fairy and | make love
to each other. You're perfectly well
come to stay. but be careful Of your
grammar, for now that Fairys a sen
ior-Will he next year, If she lives
she even tries to teach father the ap-
proved method of doing a ministerial
snccze in the pulpit"
"Thnk I'd better CO." decided the
tall, good-looking youth, laughing rs
he looked with frank, boyish admira-
tion into Carols sparkling face, "With
Fairy after my grammar, and you TO
criticize my manner ana my morals, |
see right now that 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 n mistake, Carol and use the
heuthcn's pennies for candy"
The girls on the porch laughed, and
five pairs of eyes gazcd after the tall
figure rapidly disappearing.
"He's nice" said Prudence.
"Yes," assented Carol. "I've got a
notion to marry him after little.
That farm Of his Is worth about ten
thousand"
"Arc you going to wait until he asks
Your
Certainly not! Anybody can marry
man after he asks her. The thing
to do If you want to be really original
and interesting, is to marry him be-
fore he asks you, and surprise him."
"les," agreed Lark, 'If you wait I'M
I'll he asks you he's likely to think 1t
over once too often and not ask you
at ALL"
doesn't that sound exactly like n
/ book, now?" demanded Carol proudly.
"Fatry couldn't have said thatw
"NO," said Fairy, 81 couldn't Thank
goodness Il have what is commonly
known as brains. Look it up in the
dlctioaary, twins. It's something you
ought to know about"
"Oh, Prudence" cried Lark dramat-
ically ~ forgot to tell you. You can't
get married after all."
For ten seconds Prudence rs well
as Fairy and their aunt stared in
spccchless amazcmcnt. Then Pru-
denCe smiled.
"Oh, can't |? What's the Joke nowH''
Joke! It's no Joke. Carols sick,
that's what's the Joke. You can't get
married without Carol, can your
A hurst Of gay laughter greeted this
announcement.
"Carol sick She acts sickl"
"Shc looks sick !"
"WhCre is she slCk?"
Carol leaned Imply back against the
pillar, trying to compose her bright
face into q sCmblanCe Of illness. "In
my tummy," she announced weakly.
This called forth more laughter
ats her conscience" said Fairy.
"lt's 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 Grace" she cried. "Did
you have a pleasant vlslt?"
Carroll" reprOved Prudence.
II didn't mean 1t for impudence
auntip,' said Carol, getting up and
bending al'ectlonately over the ham.
mock gently caresslng the brown hair
just beginning to silver about her fore
head. "But II does amuse me so to
hear lady of your age and dignity
indulge in such lavish conversational
exercises"
Lark swallowed with n forced effort
"Did 1t hurt, Carol? How did you get
ii all out In one breathT
Lark, l do wish you wouldn't gulr
that way when folks use big words
said Fairy. at loOks-awful."
"Well, l won't when I get to be as
old and grabbed as-father," said Lark,
"Sit down, Carol, and remember
you're SICK"
Carol obedlently sat down, and
looked sicker than ever.
"You can laugh If you like" she said,
II am sick-at least, I was this after
noon. I've been feeling very queer for
three or four days. I don't think I'm
quite over 1t yet"
"Ple! You were right, Aunt Grace
That's the way pie works."
"1ts not pie at ALL" declared Carol
heatedly. "And didn't take that piece
out Of the pantry. at least, not ex-
Gctly. I caught Connie sneaklng 1t,
and I gave her q good calling down,
and she hung her head and skunk away
In disgrace. But she had taken such
big bites that Il looked sort of mn.