Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-03

4
could not have been more completely
confounded. Carol was in a condition
nearly as serious, but grasping the
gravity of the situation, she rushed
into the breach headlong.
"Yes-yes," she gasped. "She's lit
erary. Oh, she's very literary"
Mr.. Raider smiled. "Well, would you
like to try your hand out with me?"
Again Carol sprang to her sisters
relief.
"Yes, indeed she would" she cried.
'Yes, indeed" And then, determined
to impress upon him that the Daily
News was the one to profit chiefly from
the innovation, she added, "And it's
lucky day for the Daily News, too, ]
tell you. There aren't many Larks in
Mount Mark, in n literary way, mean,
and-the Daily News needs some-that
| Is, 1 think-new blood-anyhow, Lark
will be just fine"
"All right. Come in, Monday morn
ing at eight, Lark, and I'll set you to
work. 1t won't be anything very i'm
portant. You can write up the church
news, and parties, and goings away,
and things like that. It'll be good
training. You can study our papers
between now and then, to catch our
STYLE"
Carol lifted her head little higher.
If Mr.. Raider thought her talented twin
would be confined to the ordinary style
of the Daily News, which Carol consid-
cred atrociously lacking in any style at
all, he would be most gloriously mis-
taken, that's certainl
1t is q significant fact that after Mr..
Raider went back into the sanctum of
the Daily News, the twins walked
along for one full block without speak
ing. Such a thing had never hap
pened before in all the years Of their
| twinship. At the end of the block,
Carol turned her head restlessly. They
were eight blocks from home. But the
| twins couldn't run on the street, it was
so undignified. She looked longingly
about for q buggy bound their way.
Even a grocery cart would have been
welome though humbling conveyance.
Lark" she said, 'I'm afraid we'Il be
late for dinner. And auntie told us
to hurry back. Maybe we'd better rum"
Running is a good expression for
emotion, and Lark promptly struck out
at a pace that did full credit to her
1.-THE young limbs. Down the street
they raced, little tendrils of hair flying
about their flushed and shining faces,
faster, faster, breathless, painting, their
gladness fairly overfiowlng. And many
people turned to look, wondering what
in the world possessed the leisurely,
dignified parsonage twins.
Aunt Grace sat up in her hammock
to look, Fairy ran out to the porch, and
Mr.. Starr laid down his book. Had the
long and dearly desired war been de-
clared at last?
But when the twins reached the
porch, they paused sheepishly, shyly.
"What's the matter?" chorused the
family.
"Are-are we late for dlnner?" Carol
demanded earnestly, as though their
lives depended on the answer.
The family stared in concerted
amusement. When before this had the
twins shown anxiety about their late
ness for meals-unless q favorite des-
sert or salad was all consumed in their
absence. And 1t was only half past
fourl
Carol gently showed Connie of the
cushion upon which she had dropped,
and arranged it tenderly In a chair.
"Slt down and rest, Larkie," she said
in a soft and loving voice. "Are you
nearly tired to death?"
Lark sank, painting, into the chair,
and gazed about the circle with bril-
liant eyes.
sect her a drink, can't you, Con-
nie?" said Carol Indignantly. "Can't
you see the poor thing is just tired to
death? She ran the whole way home !"
"What in the world?" began their
father curiously.
"Had sunstrokeT' Queried Fairy,
smiling.
you're both crazy" declared Con-
ME, coming back with the water.
you're trying to fool us. ! won't ask
any questions. You don't catch me
this time."
"Why don't you lie down and let
Lark use you for a footstool, Carol?"
suggested their father, with twinkling
eyes.
II would, IL she wanted footstool," !"
said Carol positively. I'D love to do
it. I'd be proud to do 1t. Pd consider
1t an honor"