The Taney County republican., 1917-12-13


Don't You remember Lark, I said my
head aChedY
"Yes, and her eyes got red and
hleary when she was reading. And
and there was something else too.
Carol, what"
"Your eyes are hloOdshot, Carol,
They do look bad" Prudence exam.
incd them closely. "Now, CGroi Starr, /
don't You touch another book or maya
zine until after the wedding. IF you .
think I want blOodshot bridesmaid ,
you're mistaken"
They al turned to look across tn" |
yard Nt Connie just turning in. Con
ME always walked, as Carol said, "aS |,
If she mostly wasn't there" But she
usually "arrlvcd" by the time she got |
within speaking distance Of her sister
Goodness, Pruc, aren't you going
to do anything hut eat after you move
. TO DeS M0inCS? Carol and | We're
/ counting the napkins last nlght--waS
/ it a hundred and scventy-six, Carol,
! or-somc awful number I know. Carol
piled them up In two piles and we
kncclci on them to say our prayers,
and-T can't say for SUrc, hut think
Carol pushed me. Anyhow. I lost my
balance, ana usually I'm pretty well
balanced. | topplcd over right after
God save ana Carol screamed the
napkins -- Prucs wedding napkins
1t was an awful funny effect; I
couldn't finish my prayers"
carol Starr. Fifteen years old
and"
That's very much exaggerated
story, Prue. Connie blamed it on me
rs usual She piled them up herself
TO see If there were two feet of them
she put her stockings on the floor first
50 the dust wouldn't rub them off. 1t
was Lark'S turn to sweep and You
know how Lark sweeps, and Connie
was very careful, indeed, and"
"Comc on, Fairy, and see the veil"
"The veil Did 1t comeY
With n joyous, undignlfiCd whoop
the parsonage girls scrambled to their
feet and rushed indoors In fine Kill
kenny tumble Aunt Grace looked
; after them, thOughtfully, smiling for a
second and then with a girlish shrug
of her slender shoulders she slipped
out and followed them inside.
The twins were undenlably lazy, ard
slept as late of mornings as the par
sonage law allowed. So 1t was that
when Lark skipped into the dining
room, three minutes late for breakfast,
she found the whole family, with the
execution of Carol, well In the midst
of their meal.
"She was Sick" she began quickly,
then, intcrrupting hprsolf-"Oh, good
morning! Beg pardon for forgetting
my manners. But Carol was sick, Pru-
dcnce, and hope you and Fairy are
ashamed of yourselves--and aunde,
t0o--for making fun of her. She
couldn't sleep all night, and rolled and
tossed, and her head hurt and she
talked in her sleep, and"
, 81 thought she didn't sleep"
"Wcil. she didn't sleep much, but
when she did she mumbled and said
things and"
Then the dininC-ro0m door opened
again, and Carol--her hair about her
LiloIdcrs, her feet bare enycloped in
, 4 soft clingIng klmono of faded blue
staked majeStically into the room
There was woe in her eyes, and her
voice was tragic.
= at Is gone" she said. "Tt is gone ~
Her appearance was uncanny, to say
! the least, and the family gazed at her
, with some concern, despite the fact
= that Carols yagaries were so common
Os usually to elicit small respect.
- "Gonew she cried striking her
palms together. Gone"
t "If you do anything to spoil that
wedding. papa'll whip you, if you are
s fifteen years old" said Fairy.
Lark srrang to her sisters side.
"Whats gone, Curric?" she pleaded
with tears. "Whats gomez Are you
out Of your head2"
@ "No! Out of my complexion" was
t the dramatic answer.
n Even Lark fell back, for the moment,
stunned. "Y-your complexion" she
:. Paltcrod.
"Look Look at me, Lark. Don't
g yOu see? My complexion Is gone
my beautiful complexion that I loved.
( Look at me! Oh, | would gladly have
Q sacrificed a leg, or an arm, Arb or
Y an eye, but not my dear complexion ~
Sure enough, now that they looked
@ carefully, they could indeed perceive
L that the usual soft creamineSs Of Car
DIS skin was prickled and SPARED
with ugly red splOtches. Her eyes
!, were watery, shot with blood. For a
! time they gazed in silence, then they
l. BURST into laughter.
r "Ple" cried fairy. TITS raspberry
: ole, coming out, Carolw
o The corners Of Carols lips twItched
Y slightly, and It was with difficulty that
] she maintained her wounded regal
bearing. But Lark, always quick to
!. 'esent an indlgnity to this twin of her
t heart. turned upon them angrlly.
"Falry Starr! You are wicked, un.
feeling thing! You sit there and
y .augh and tnlk about pie when Carol