Mexico Missouri message., 1918-03-07
CHAPTER xV--contInued.
is

| laughing at tnelr Ironuc energy.
"And I put out these white dresses
for you to wear. and"
"Grncious, auntiel They button In
the back and have sixty buttons
apiece. Wen never have time to
fasten them" expostulated Carol,
without diminishing her speed.
"TTl button while you powder, thatn
be time enough"
II won't have time to powder" called
back Carol from the bathroom, where
she was splashing the water at a reck-
less rate. "Tll wear a veil and pow
der when I get there. Did you pack
any clean handkercbiefs, auntie7 I'm
clear out. II you didn't put any in,
you'd better go and borrow Comics.
Lucky thing she's not here"
Shining with zeal and soap. Carol
dashed out, and Lark dashed In.
"Are there any holes in these stock
ingsT Carol turned around, lifting
her skirts for inspection. "Well, I'm
sorry, won't have time to change
them. Did they come in the auto?
Goodi" She was brushing her hair as
she talked. eyes, we had a luncheon,
all pie, though. We played tennis
this morning; we were intending to
come home right along, or we'd have
phoned you. We were playing with
George Castle and Fritzie Zale.-Is 1t
sticking out any placer She lowered
her head backward for her aunt to see.
"Stick a pin In It, will your Thanks.
They dared us to go to the pie counter
and see which couple could eat the
most pieces of lemon pie, the couple
which lost paying for all the pie. It's
not like betting, you know; It's a
kind of reward of merit, like Sunday
school prize. No, I won't put on my
slippers till the last thing, my heels
sore, my tennis shoe rubbed the skin
of. My feet seem to be getting ten
der. Think it's old agef"
Lark now emerged from the bath
room, and both twins performed q fly
ing exchange Of dresses.
"Who won?"
clark and George ate eleven pieces,
and Fritzie and only nine. So Fritzie
paid. Then we went on the campus
and played mumble-te-peg, or what
ever you call it. It is French
auntie."
"Did they ask us to stay a whole
week, auntie" inquired Lark.
"Yes. Jim was wearing his new
gray suit and looked very nice. I've
never been out to their home. Is II
very nlceT
"Um, swellr This was from Carol,
Lark being less slangily inclined,
'They have about sixteen rooms, and
two maids-they call them 'girls'-and
electric lights, and private water sup.
ply, and-and-horses, and cows-oh
it's great We've always been awfully
fond of Jim. The incest thing about
him is that he always takes a girl
home when he goes to class things and
socials. can't endure fellow who
walks home by himself. Jim always
asks Larkie and me first, and If we
are taken he gets someone else. MoSt
boys, If they can't get first choice, pike
Off alone"
"Now, Carol" said Aunt Grace, smil
ing. "Be easy on him. He's so nice
| IL WOulu De u SndIne To-
Carol threw up her eyes in horror
I'm shocked" she cried. Then sht
dimpled. "But wouldn't hurt Jim fol
anything. I'm very fond of him. d.
you really think there are any-er-
Indications"
"Oh. don't know anything about II
I'm just judging by the rest Of th'
community"
Lark was performing the really diff
ficult feat of putting on and buttonini
her slippers standing on one foot TO
the purpose and STOPPING low. He
face was flushed from the exertion.
''Do you think he's crazy about you
Carol7" she inquired, rather seriously
and without looking up from the sho
she was so laboriously buttoning.
"Oh, don't know. There are a fey
circumstances which seem to poin
that way. Take that new gray suit 70
instance. Now you know yourseli
Lark, he didn't need a new gray sui
and when a man gets a brand-neN
suit for no apparent reason, you ca
generally put 1t down that he's wal
ing romantic. Then there's his mothe
she's begun telling me all his goo
points, and how cute he was when
was born, and she showed me one of hi
curls and lot of his baby pictures
It made Jim wild when he came In an
caught her at 1t, and she tells me no
good he is and how much money he
got. That's pointed, very. But mui
confess" she concluded candidly, ''thi
Jim himself doesn't act very loverly
HE thinks lots of you, know" sal
Lark, seriously. whenever he's aloI
with me he praises you every minu
of the time"
'That's nothing. When he's aloI
with me he praises you all the tim
too. Where's my hat, Lark7 I'll b
Connie wore It, the little sinnerl No
what shall do7'
"You left 1t in the barn yesterday
don't you remember you hung 1t on Il
Il harness hook when we went ont 4