Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-04-18
CHAPTER ViIi-contInued.

CHAPTER VIIl-contInued.
-
"Oh, no, ] like to be out in the night
air. want to talk to you about be-
ing a preacher, you know. / think 1t
Is the most wonderful thing in the
world, ] certainly do" Her eyes were
upon his face now seriously. II didn't
say much, / was surprised, and l was
ashamed. too, professor, for / never
could do 1t in the world. Neveri 1t
always makes me feel cheap and exas-
perated when / see how much nicer
other folks are than I. But do think
It is wonderful. Really sometimes
have thought you ought to be a preach
er, because you're so nice. So many
preachers aren't, and that's the kind
we need"
The professor put his other hand
over Carols, which was restlessly fin
gering the crease in his sleeve. He
did not speak. Her girlish, impulsive
words touched him very deeply.
81 wouldn't want the girls to know
1t, they'd think 1t was so funny, but"
She paused uncertainty, and looked
questioningly into his face. Maybe
you won't understand what I mean,
but sometimes I'd like to be good my
self. AwfuIly good, mean" She
smiled whimsicaly. wouldn't Connie
scream If she heard that? Now you
won't give me away, will you? But /
mean 1t. / don't think of it very
often, but sometimes, why, Professor,
honestly, wouldn't care if were as
good as Prudencei" She paused dra-
matically, and the professor pressed
the slender hand more closely in his.
"Oh,- don't worry about it. i sup
pose one hasn't any business to expect
a good complexion and just natural
goodness, both at once, but" She
smiled again. give thousand dollars"
she added dreamily. Five thousand
dollars What shall call you now?
P'fesser is not appropriate any more,
is it?''
"Can me David, won't you, Carol?
o. Dave"
Carol gasped. ooh, mercy! What
would Prudence sayT' She giggled
Ynerrily. "Oh, mercyr' She was silent
q moment then. ''rll have to be con-
tented with plain Mr.. Duke, suppose,
until you get D. D. Duckie, D. D."
she added laughingly. But in an in
slant she was sober again. II do love
our job. If 1 were a man I'd be
minister myself. Wouldn't / be
peach?"
ua 1ouohod +oo rooovarino his ooua-
nimity as her customary buoyant
brightness returned to her.
you are" he said, and Carol an
swered:
Thanks" very dryly. 1--WE must go
back now" she added presently. And
they turned at once, walking slowly
back toward the parsonage
"Can't you write to me little often
er, Carol? / hate to be bother, but
my uncle never writes letters, and /
like to know how my friends here are
getting along, marriages, and deaths,
and just plain gossip. I'll like 1t very
much If you can. / do enjoy good
correspondence with"
"Do your she asked sweetly. 'How
you have changedl When I was
freshman I remember you told me you
received nothing but business letters,
because you didn't want to take time
10 write letters, and"
ibid II" For second he seemed
little confused. "Well, I'm not crazy
about writing letters, as such. But I'll
be SO glad to get yours that know I'll
even enjoy answering Them
Inside the parsonage gate they stood
q moment among the rose bushes.
Once again she offered her hand, and
he took 1t gravely, looking with sober
tntentness into her face, little pale
In the moonlight. He noted again the
goyal little head with its grown-up
crown of hair, and the slender figure
with it's grown-up length Of skirt.
Then he put his arms around her,
and kissed her warmly upon the child
ish. interpreting lips.
A swift red flooded her face, and re-
ceding as swiftly, left her pale. Her
Alps Quivered little, and she caught
her hands together. Then sturdily,
and only slightly tremulous, she looked
into his eyes and laughed. The profess
sor was in nowise deceived by her at
tempt at light-heartedness, remember
tng as he did the quick quivering lips
beneath his, and the unconscious yield
ing of the supple body in his arms.
He condemned himself mentally in no
uncertain terms for having yielded to
the temptation Of her young hoveliness.
Carol still laughed, determined by her
merriment to set the seal of insignifi-
canoe upon the act.
"Come and walk a little farther,
Carol" he said In a low voice. II want
20 say something else" Then after q