Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-24

fortlngly, her eyes glowing. "That's
all right. We just meant beaux, you
know. We didn't include uncles, and
fathers, and old schOolteachers, and
things like that. You don't count.
That isn't breaking my pledge"
The professor smiled, but he remem-
bered the quivering lips and the re-
laxing Of the 1.-THE body, and the forced
| laughter, and was not deceived.
you're such a strange girl, Carol.
You're so honest, usually, so kind
hearted, so generous. But you always
seem trying to make yourself look. bad,
not physically, that isn't what 1 mean" -"
Carol smiled, and her loving fingers ca
ressed her soft cheek. "But you try
to make folks think you are vain and
selfish, when you are not. Why do you
do It? Everyone knows what you
really are. All over Mount Mark they
say you are the best little kid in town." /"
"They do" she said Indignantly.
"Well, they'd better not. Here I've
spent years building up my reputation
to suit myself, and then they go and
shatter 1t like that. They'd better
leave me alone"
''But what's the objectT
"Why, now, p'fessor," she said, care
fully choosing her words, "you know,
it's a pretty hard JOB living up to a
good reputation. Look at Prudence
and Fairy and Lark. Everyone just
naturally expects them to be angeli-
cally and dlshearteningly good. And
If they aren't, folks talk. But take me
now. No one expects anything Of me,
and If once In q while do happen to
turn out all right by accident, it's a
sort Of joyful surprise to the whole
community. It's lots more fun sur
prislng folks by being better than they
expect, than shocking them by turning
out worse than they think you will"
"But 1t doesn't do you any good"
he assured her. "You can't fool them.
Mount Mark knows its Carol"
you're not goingY' she said, as. he
released her hand and Strengthened the
collar Of his coat.
Eyes, your father will chase me of
II don't go now. How about the let
ters, Carol? Think you can manage
little oftenerP
"rd love to. It's so inspiring to get
letter from a fiye-thousand-d -dollars-a-
year scientist; mean, a was-once. Do
my letters sound all right? / don't
want to get too chummy, you know"
Get as chummy as you can," he
urged her. II enjoy it."
I'll have to be more dignified If
you're going to Mccormick. Presbyte-
rian! The Presbyterians are very dig
nitied. I'll have to be formal from this
on. Dear sir: Respectfully yours. Is
that properT"
He took her hands in his. "Goodby,
little pal. Thank you for coming out,
and for telling me the things you have.
You have done me good You are
breath Of fresh, sweet air."
She moved her fingers slightly in his
hand, and he looked down at them.
Then he lifted them and looked again,
admiring the slender fingers and the
pink nails.
"Don't look" she entreated. They're
teaching me things. I can't help 1t.
This spot on my thumb is fried egg,
here are three doughRuts on my arm
see them? And here's a regular PAN
cake" ~She pointed out the pancake
In her palm, sorrowfully.
Teaching you things, are theyT
"Yes, have to darn.s Look at the
tips of my fingers, that's where the
needle rusted off on me. Here's where
cut slice of bread out of my thumb
Isn't life serious2"
'Yes, very serious" He looked
thoughtfully down at her hands again
rs they lay curled up In his own.
Every, very serious"
"GOodby."
"Goodby." He held her hand a mo-
ment longer, and then turned suddenly
away. She watched until he was out
of sight, and then slipped upstairs, un-
dressed in the dark and crept between
the covers. Lark apparently was
sound asleep. Carol giggled softly to
herself few times, and Lark opened
one eye, asking, "What's amatter2"
"oh, such a good joke on p'fessor,"
whispered Carol, squeezing her twin
with rapture. HE doesn't know it yet,
but he'll be so disgusted with himself
when he finds 1t out"
"What In the world is it7" Lark was
more coherent now.
II can't tell you, but you'll certainly
scream If you ever do know It,"
''You can't tell me?" Lark was wide
awnke, and quite aghast.
"No, I truly can't"
Lark drew away from the encircling
arm with as much dignity as could
be expressed in the dark and In bed.
and sent out a series of deep breaths,
as If to indicate that snores were close
at hand.
Carol laughed to herself for a while,
until Lark really slept, then she buried
her head in the pillow and her throat
swelled with sobs that were heavy but
soundless.
The next morning was Lark's turn
for nnakino, Tho had And x.uhan oha