The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-08-02
CHAPTER VII.
Lark's Literary Venture.
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As commencement drew near, ana
Fairy began planning momentous
things for her graduation, a little
soberness came into the parsonage
life. The girls were certainly grow
ing up. Prudence had been married
long, long time. Fairy was being grad
uated from college. her school days
were over, and life was just across the
threshold-its big black door just
slixhtly ajar waiting for her to press II
back and catch a glimpse Of what lay
beyond.
Even the twins were getting along.
They were finishing high school, and
beginning to prate Of college and such
thingH but the twins were still, well,
they were growing up, perhaps, but
they kept juhilantly young along In the
process, and their enthusiasm for
diplomas and ice cream sodas was so
nearly Identical that one couldn't feel
seriously that the twins were tugging
at their leashes.
And Connie was a freshman herself
rather tall, little awkward, with
sober earnest face, and with an incon-
gr0uSly humorous droop to the corners
Of her lips, and In the sparkle Of her
eyes.
Mr. Starr looked at them and sighed.
Il tell you. Grace, it's thankless Job,
rearing a family. Connie told me to-
day that my collars should have
straight edges now instead OF turned
back corners. And Lark reminded me
that l got my points mixed up In last
Sundays lesson. I'm getting sick of
This family business, I'm about ready
to"
And Just then, as 4 clear Father"
came floating down the stairway, he
turned his head alertly. What do you
want?F
"Eyerybody's out" came Carols
plaluFive voice. "Wlll you come and
button me up. l can't ask auntie to
run clear up here, and l can't come
down because I'm in my stocking feet.
Ny new slippers pinch so don't put
them on until l have to. Oh. thanks,
father, you're q dear
After the excitement Of the COM
mencement, the commotion, the CLAM
our, the gayety, ordinary parsonage
life seemed smooth and pleasant, and
for ten days there was not ruftie on
the surface Of their domestic waters.
1t was on the tenth day that the twins,
strolltng down aAzta street.. couversing
earnestly together as was their Gus
tom were accnsret! BY a nicely round
ed poupous man WITH cnrvtial.
Hello, wins
In an Instant shey vera bright win
smile sGr chis vaa Mr. 2aiGer, ss..-6r
and owner ar he La.ly News :ae aix-
gest and a,osr ,spuiar II Mounr Harx's
three daily 5apera. LGnV.ng forward
as they III, 70 A literary carser enr
Lark they never .ailet. 20 shov A
touching ard 1urarTIral tetsreuce ca
anyone connected, even ever 40 re-
motely, with that profession
They dit cot resent his nicely
rounded and therefore potnt!ess jokes
They smiled at them. They I'D not
call the Daily News the Raider Fam
lily Organ" az they yea-nefi 70 10. They
did not admit that they Urged cheir IA
ther to put Mr.. Raider or All ct.Irct.
committees to Insure publicity They
swallowed hard. and told themselves
that. after all, Mr.. Raider rss an sii-
tor, and perhaps he couldn't help e.'t-
Ing his own family to the exclusion Of
the rest of Mount Mark
When, on this occasion. he looked
Lark up and down with his usual ro-
tund complacency, Carol only gritted
her teeth and reminded her heaving
soul that he was an editor.
"What are you going to do this sum-
mur, Lnrk? he aaked, without pre-
amble.
"Why-just nothing, I suppose. As
usual"
Well" he said, frowning plumply,
we're running short Of men. I've
heard you're interested In our line, and
l thought maybe you could help Us out
during vacation. How about itf The
workll be easy and it'll be fine expert
ence for you. Wen pay you five dol
lars a week. This is little town, and
we're called a little publication, but
our work and our aim and methods are
identical with those Of the big city pa
pers." He swelled visibly, almost
llarmingly. "How about 1t? You're
the one with the literary longings.
aren't your
Lark was utterly speechless. II the
National bank had opened its Golfers