Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-02-28
CHAPTER xIv-contInued.

In late with tennis racquet as though
she had Just returned from a game.
That will be STACEY, won't it2 Lark
must be the sweet young daughter of
the house She must wear her silver
null, her gray slippers, and"
"What are you going to wearT
"Who, mel Oh, have other plans
for myself" Carol hooked rather I'M
easily at her aunt. It'll come to me
little later"
Eyes, indeed" said Connie. "Carol
has something extra up her sleeve.
She's had the mIllionaire's son in her
minds eye ever since father introduced
his pocketboOk into the conversation"
Carol was unabashed. my interest
is solely from fnmily viewpoint.
have no Interior motive"
Her eyes sparkled eagerly. "You
know, auntie darling"
"Now, Carol, don't you suggest any
thingJ
"Oh, no indeed, dearest, how could
YOU think of such a thing2" disclaimed
Carol instantly. ITS such q very tiny
thing, but it will mean q whole lot on
the general impression Of million
aires son. We've simply got to have
a maid! To open the door, and cour-
stesy, and take his hat, and serve the
dinner, and He's used to 1t, you
know, and IL we haven't one he'll go
back TO, Cleveland and say, "Ah, bah
tJove, I had to hang up my own hat,
don't you known
That's supposed to be English, but
Il don't believe it. Anyhow, it isn't
Cleveland" said Connie fatty.
''Well, he'd think we were awfully
.acheap and hard up, and Andy Hedges,
fSr, would pity father, and maybe
send him ten dollars, and-nO, we've
got to have a maid!"
eve might get Mamie Sickey," sug-
gested Lark.
"She's SO ugly"
"Or Fay Greer" interposed Aunt
Grace.
"She'd spill the SOUP"
S9Then there's nobody but Ada Lone"
decided Connie.
"She hasn't anything fit to wear" OBJ
1ected Carol.
"Of whom were you thinking,
Carroll" asked her aunt, moving I'M
easily In her chair.
Carol flung herself at her aunt's
Anees. ''Me I" she cried.
'As usual" Connie calculated dryly.
'tOh, Carol" walled Lark. 1--WE can't
think OF things to talk about when you
aaren't there to keep us stirred up"
'Tm beginning to see daylight" said
connie. She looked speculatively at
Lark. "Well, it's not half bad, Carol,
and apologize"
Don't you think 1t is a glorious
Sdea, CONNER" cried Carol rapturously.
eyes, think it is.'
Carol caught her sisters hand. Here
was an ally worth having. "You know
how sensible Connie is, auntie. She
sees how utterly preposterOus it would
DE TO think of entertaining a million
aires son without maid"
you're too pretty" protested Lark.
lied try to kiss YOU"
"'Oh, no, sir, oh, please, SIR" sim
Dered Carol, with an adorable curtesy,
"'you'd better wait for the ladies,
sir"
"Oh, Carol, think you're awful
said their aunt, unhappily. 81 know
your father won't like It,"
Like it? He'll love it. Won't he,
CONNER
''Wen, I'm not sure he'll be crazy
about 1t, but it'll be all over when he
gets home" said Connie.
"And you're very much in favor of
st, aren't you, Connie preciOus?"
-'sBut what's the idea2" mOurned
lark. "What's the sense in it? Fa,
tfler said to he good to him, and you
know I can't think Of things to say to
= millIonaire's son. oh, Carol, don't be
so mean"
But Carol stood firm, and the others
yielded to her persuasions. Even Aunt
Grace allowed Der qualms to be quietet
and entered into her part as semi-inva
Hid auntie with genuine zest.
At three they were all arrayed, ready
for the presentation. They assembled
socially in the parlor, the dainty mait
ready to fly to her post at seconds
warning. At four o'clock, they were {
little tagged and near the point of ex
asperation, but they still held theIl
characters admirably. At half pas
-four a telegram message was phoneC
out from the station.
Delayed In coming. VIII write yoI
later. Very sorry. Andy Hedges, Jr."
Only the absolute righteousness of /
saved Carol from a rage. She LOOKED
from the girlish tennis girl to the semi
1rValid auntie, and then to the swee
young daughter of the house, and burs
Rut laughing. The others, though tired
aervous and disappointed, Joined he
AmeFrily, and the vexation was swep
away.
The next morning, Aunt Grace wen
s&s usual to the all-day meeting Of tn,
aAdIes' Aid in the church parlors
Carol and Lark, with light lunch
went out for few hours of springtim'
happlness beside the creek two mile
anom town.
SWELL come hack right after lunch