Mexico Missouri message., 1918-03-07

neSs was not habitunl to this young
man of the Iowa farm. He was not
an awkward, ignorant, gangling farm
hand we meet In books and see on
stages. He had attended the high
school In Mount Mark, and had been
graduated from the state agricultural
college with high honors. he was q
farmer. as his father had been before
him, but he was a farmer Of the new
era, one Of those men who takes plain
farming and makes Il a profession,
almost fine art. Usually he was self
possessed. assertive, confident, but, in
the presence of this sparkling twin, for
once he was abashed.
Carol was In an ecstasy Of delight.
She was not a man-eater, perhaps, but
she was early romance-mad.
The callow youths of Mount Mark,
Of the Epworth league, and the col
lege, were almost unanimous In lay
ing their alteration at Carols feet. But
Carol saw the elasticity, the buoyan-
cy, of loves like these, and she couldn't
really count them. She felt that she
was ripe for bit of solid experience
now, and there was nothing callow
about Jim-he was solid enough. And
now, although she could see that his
feelings stirred, she felt nothing but
excitement and curiosity. A proposal,
a real oneI 1t was imminent, she
felt It.
"Carol," he began abruptly, II am.
In love-"
q "A-are you7" Carol had not ex-
pected him to begin In just that way.
"Yes; 1 have been for a long time,
with the sweetest and dearest girl in
the world. / know am not half good
enough for her, butt love her so
much that-I believe could make her
happy"
"D-do your Carol was frightened.
She reflected that 1t wasn't so much
fun as she had expected. There was
something wonderful In his eyes, and
in his voice. Maybe Lark was right
maybe 1t did hurtl oh, she really
shouldn't have been quite so nice to
himI
"She is young-so am but I know
what want, and If can only have
her, I'll do anything +" His voice
broke q little. He looked very hand
some, very grown-up, very manly.
Carol quivered. She wanted to run
away and cry. She wanted to put her
arms around him and tell him she was
very, very sorry and she would never
do 1t again as long as she lived and
breathed.
"Of course" he went on, 81 am not
fool. know there isn't girl like
her In ten thousand, but-she's the
one want, and-Carol, do you reckon
there Is any chance for me7 You
ought to know. Lark doesn't have
secrets from you, does she? Do you
think she'll have mer
Certainly this was the surprise Of
Carols life. II it was romance she
wanted, here 1t was in plenty. She
stopped short in the daisy-bright lane
and stared at him.
"Jim Forrest" she demanded, sis it
Lark you want to marry, or me?"
Lark, Of course"
Carol opened her lips and closed
them. She did it again. Finally she
| spoke. swell, of all the idiots! If
you want to marry Lark, what in the
world are you out here proposing to
me for?"
"Tm not proposing to you," he OBJ
jected. 'Tm just telling you about 1t"
"But what for? What's the object?
Why don't you go and rave to herT
He smiled a little. swell, / guess
1 thought telling you first was one way
of breaking 1t to her gently"
'Tm perfectly disgusted with you
Carol went on, perfectly. Here I've
been expecting you to propose to me
all week, and"
Propose to you'll My stars"
"Don't interrupt me-" Carol snapped
Last night l lay awake for hours
look at the rings beneath my eyes
II don't see 'em," he interrupted
again, smiling more broadly.
"Just thinking out a good flowerJ
rejection for you, and then you trot
me out here and propose to Lark
Well, If that isn't nerve"
Jim laughed loudly at this. He was
used to Carol, and enjoyed her little
outbursts. II can't think what OF
earth made you imagine I'd want tt
propose to you," he said, shaking hi
head as though appalled, at the idea.
Carols eyes twinkled at that, bu
she did not permit him to see II
"Why shouldn't 1 think so2 Didn'
you get new gray suit? And haven
the best complexion in Mount Mark
Don't all the men want to propose t.
! complexion like miner"
He laughed again, then he sobered
do you think Lark will"
? 81 think Lark win turn you down,
| said Carol promptly, "and I hope sh
/ does. You aren't good enough for hel
} No one in the world is good enoug
for Lark except myself. If she shoul
i accept you'll don't think she will, bu
l If she has a mental alteration an
3 does--In give you my blessing, an
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