Mexico Missouri message., 1917-11-15
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pered, isn't it awful7 It's the begin
ming of the end Of everything. Out
siders have to come in now and take
care Of us, and Prudencell get mar
ried, and then Fairy will, and maybe
us twins-I mean, we twins. And then
there1l only be father and Connie left,
and Miss Greet, or someone, will get
ahead of father after all-and Con-
NEIL have to live with a stepmother,
and-it1l never seem like home any
more, and"
Connie burst into loud and mourn
full walls.
you're very silly, Carol" Fairy said
sternly. prudence will be at the head
of things for nearly a year, and-I
think we're mighty lucky to get Aunt
Grace. It's not many women would be
willing to leave q fine, stylish home,
with n hundred dollars a month to
spend on just herself, and with a maid
to wait on her, and come to an ugly
old house like this to take care of a
preacher and a riOtous family like
ours. It's very generous of Aunt
Grace-very."
Eyes, it is" admitted Lark. "And
as long as she was our aunt with her
fine home, and her hundred dollars q
month, and her maid, 1 loved her
dearly. Butt don't want anybody
coming in to manage us. We can man
age ourselves. We"
1--WE need a chaperon," put in Fairy
deftly. ut isn't proper for US to live
without one, you know. We're too
young. 1t isn't-conventlonal."
"And for goodness sake, Connie"
said Carol, remember and call her our
chaperon, and don't talk about house
keeper. There's some style to
chaperon."
Eyes, indeed" said Fairy cheerfully.
"And she wears such pretty clothes,
and has such pretty manners that she
parsonage. We can put on lots more
style, of course. And then 1t was aw-
fully nice of her to send so much of
her good frrniture-the piano, for in
stance, to take the place of that old
tin pan of ours. And do you remem-
Der, girls, that you mustn't ask her
to darn your stockings and wash your
and do your tasks about
the house. 1t would be disgraceful.
And be careful not to hint for things
you want, for, of course, Aunt Grace
will trot off and buy them for you,
and papa will not like 1t. You twins'll
have to be very careful to quit dream
Ing about silk stockings, for instance"
There was tinge of sarcasm in Fai-
RVS voice as she said this.
"Fairy, we did dream about silk
stockings-you don't need to believe
it if you don't want to. But we did
dream about them, just the same I"
Carol sighed. II think could be more
recOnciled to Aunt Grace If 1 thought
she'd give me pair of silk stockings.
You know, Fairy, sometimes lately II
like Aunt Grace-any
more"
"That's very foolish and very wick
3D." declared Fairy. II love her dear
ly. I'm so glad she's come to live
with u.s."
"Are you?" asked Connie innocently.
"Then why did you go up in the attic
and cry all the morning when Pru-
dence was fixing the room for herr"
Fairy blushed, and caught her under
lip between her teeth for minute.
And then, in changed voice she said,
II do love her, and-I am glad-but
I keep thinking ahead to when Pru-
dence gets married, and-and-oh,
girls, when she is gone tit won't
be any home to me at ALP
For moment there was a stricken
silence.
"oh, pooh" Carol said at last,
bravely. "You wouldn't want Prue to
stick around and be an old maid, would
your l think she's mighty lucky to
get a fellow as nice as Jerry Harmer
myself. I'll bet you don't make out
half as well, Fairy. I think she'd be
awfully silly not to gobble him right
up while she has a chance. For my
own part, / don't believe In old maids.
1 think 1t is religious duty for folks
to get married, and-and-you know
what mean-race suicide, you know"
She nodded her head sagely, winking
one eye in most intelligent fashion.
sand Aunt Grace is so quiet she'll
not be any bother at ALL" added Lark.
"She won't scold a bit.-Maybe Carol
and will get chance to spend some
OF our spending money when she takes
charge. Prudence confiscates it all for
punishment. 1 think it's going to be
lots Of fun having Aunt Grace with
u.s."
'Pm going to take my dime and buy
her something" Connie announced sud-
denly.
al didn't know you had dime" said
Lark.
Connie flushed a little. "Yes-Oh.