Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-03-07
CHAPTE v.
Substitution,

The twins came in at dinner-time
wrapped in unwonted silence. Lark's
face was darkened by an anxious
shadow, while Carol wore an express
sion of heroic determination.
whats up" Connie asked, when
the rest of the family dismissed the
matter with amused glances.
Lark sighed and looked at Carol,
seeming to seek courage from the Spar
tan countenance.
Carol squared her shoulders.
swell, go on" Connie urged. Don't
be silly. You know you're crazy to tell
us about it, you only want to be
coaxed."
Lark sighed again. and gazed appeal
angly at her stout-hearted twin. Carol
never could resist the appeal of those
pleading eyes.
"Larkfe promised to speak a piece
at the Sunday-school concert two
weeks from tomorrow" she vouch-
safed, as unconcernedly as possible.
"Mercy!" calculated Connie, with an
establishment that was not altogether
complimentary.
Careful, Larkie." cautioned Fairy
you'll disgrace the parsonage if you
don't watch out"
Nonsense" declared their father,
Lark can speak as well as anybody if
she just keeps good grip on herself
and doesn't get stage fright"
Aunt Grace smiled gently.
Connie frowned. TITS risky bust
ness" she said. Lark can't speak any
more than a rabbit, and"
Il know it." was the humble admis-
sion.
Don't be goose, Con-" interrupted
Carol. "Of course Lark can speak a
piece. She must learn it, learn it,
learn 1t, so she can rattle it off back
wards with her eyes shut. That's the
whole secret. OF course she can
speak"
How did IT happenY' inquired
Fairy.
Il don't know" Lark said sorrow
fully. Nothing was ever farther from
my thoughts, / assure you. The first
thing knew, Mrs. Curtiss was thank
aug Lie LUZ luy pIOHllSt, anu 1dTOl was
marching me off like grim DEATH"
Carol smiled, relieved now that the
family commentary was over. "It was
very natural. Mrs. Curtiss begged her
to do 1t, and Lark refused. That al
ways happens, every time the Sunday
school gives an entertainment. But
Mrs. Curtiss went on to say how badly
the Sunday school needs the money,
and how big a drawing card it would
be for both of us twins to be on the
program, one right after the other, and
now well 1t would look for the par
sonage, and 1t never occurred to me to
warn Lark, for ] never dreamed of her
doing it"
Il thought it wouldn't hurt me to try
it once" Lark volunteered in her own
defense.
Amt Grace nodded, with a smile of
interested approval.
"Pm proud of you. Lark, quite proud
of you," her father said warmly. Its
big thing for you to make such
plunge-just fine"
I'm proud of you now, too" Connie
said darby. '4I'he question is, will we
be proud of you after the concerto"
Lark sighed dolofously.
"Oh, poohi" encouraged Carol "Any-
body can speak a silly little old piece.
AXE that. And it win look so nice to
have our names right together on the
program It'n bring out all the high
school folks, sure"
Eyes, they'll come to hear Lark, all
light" Fairy smiled "But she'll make
It go, of course. And it will give Carol
a chance to show her cleverness by
telling her how to do it,"
So as soon as supper was over, Carol
said decidedly, Now, Connie you'll
have to help me with the dishes the
next two weeks, for Lark's got to prac-
tice on that piece. Lark, you must
read it over, very thoughtfully first to
get the meaning. Then just read it
and read it and read it, dozen times,
a hundred times, over and over and
ever. And pretty soon you'll know it."
'sI'll bet don't" was the discourage
ing retort, as Lark, with pronounced
distaste, took the slip of paper and sat
No"h Al llc colueE IL redu the DlOOm-
Ing thing" as she muttered GROSSLY to
herself.
Connie and Carol did up the dishes
In dreadful silence, and then Carol re-
turned to the charge. "How many
times did you read it"
Fourteen and a half" was the pa
dent answer. tits silly thing, Carol.
There's no sense to it. The wind went
drifting DER the lea"