Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-02-27

copyright The Bobbs-Merriu campaay)
Its awfully dusty" he said. "You
shouldn't have 'dolled up so. Shall I
put your purse in my pocket? Don't
forget you promised to feed the chick
ens-Im counting on you to do 1t for
me-
Then he stepped in beside Carol,
Laughing into her bright face, and the
good-bys rang back and forth as the
car rolled away beneath the heavy
arch of oak leaves that rooted in
Maple avenue.
The twins fairly reveled in the glo-
ries of the country through the golden
days that followed, and enjoyed every
minute of every day, and begrudged
the hours they spent in sleep. The
time slipped by like banana SKINS"
declared Carol GROSSLY, and refused to
explain her comparison. And the last
day Of their visit came. Supper was
over at seven o'clock and Lark said,
with something of usefulness In her
for farewell weep all by myself. And
don't any Of you disturb me-Im so
ugly when I cry"
So she set out alone, and Jim,
little awkwardly, suggested that Carol
take turn or so up and down the
lane with him. Mrs. Forrest stood at
the window and watched them, tear
ful-eyed, but with tenderness.
my little boy" she said to herself,
my little boy. But she's a dear,
sweet, pretty girl"
In the meantime, Jim was acQuit-
ting himself badly. His face was pale.
He was nervous, i'll at ease. He STAN
mered when he spoke. Self-conscious-
ness was not habitual 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 a
farmer, as his father had been before
him, but he was farmer of the new
era, one of those men who takes plain
farming and makes it 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 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
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 one! It was imminent, she
felt it.
Carol" he began abruptly, II am
lin love-"
"A-are you?' Carol had not ex-
lpected him to begin in just that way
Eyes; have been for a long time,
with the sweetest and dearest girl in
the world. know I am not half good
enough for her, butt love her so
!much that believe I could make her
lhappy.'
DIDO you?" Carol was frightened.
She reflected that it 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 it did hurt! Oh, she really
shouldn't have been quite so nice to
him!
"She is young-so am but know
what I want, and if can only have
her. I'll do anything Il" His voice
broke a little. He looked very hand
some, very grown-up, very manly.
Carol luivered. 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