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

mot Dit OF IL, he said. Let me
take the cherries"
Connie helplessly passed them down
to him, and saw him carefully deposit
Ing them on the ground. "Just give me
your hand"
And what could Connie do? She
couldn't sternly order a millionaire's
son to mosy around the house and
mind his own business until she got
some decent clothes on, though that
was what she yearned to do. Instead
she held out a slender hand, grlmy and
red, with a few ugly scratches here
and there, and allowed herself to be
helped ANONYMOUSLY out from the shell
tering branches into the garish light of
day.
She looked at him reproachfully. He
never so much as smiled.
Laugh If you like" she said bitter
~. 81 looked in the mirror. I know all
about It."
"Run along" he said, 'but don't be
gone long, will you? Can you trust me
with the cherries"
Connie walked into the house with
great decorum, afraid the ragged skirts
might swing revealingly, but the young
man bent over the cherries while she
made her escape.
It was another Connie who appeared
little later, typical tennis girl all in
white from the velvet band in her hair
to the canvas shoes on her dainty feet.
She held out the slender hand. no long
er grimy and stained but it's whiteness
still married with sorry scratches.
81 am glad to see you" she said
gracefully, though I can only pray you
won't carry a mental picture Of me
very long"
I'm afraid I will, though" he said
teasingly.
"Then please don't paint me verbally
for my sisters ears; they are always
too bad they are out. You'll stay for
luncheon with me, won't you? I'm all
alone-we'll have it In the yard"
at sounds tempting, but-perhaps
had better come again later in the
afternoon"
"You may do that, too" said Connie
"But since you are here, I'm afraid
must insist that you help amuse me-
And she added ruefully, "Since have
done so well amusing you this morn
ing"
"Why, he's just like anybody else,'
she was thinking with relief. ''It's NJ
trouble to talk to him, at all. He's nice
in spite of the millions"
He stayed for luncheon, he ever
helped carry the folding table out be
meath the cherry tree, and trotteC
docilely back and forth with plates anC
glasses, as Connie decreed.
1t was not until they were at lunch
con that the grand idea visited Connie
Back to her remembrance flashed thu
thousand witty sallies of Carol ant
Lark, the hundreds of times she hat
| suffered at their hands. And for TIL
| first time in her life, she saw a clea
way of getting even. And million
aires son! Never was such reveng
fairly crying to be perpetrated.
"Will you do something for me, MI
HedgesT" she asked. Connie was onl,
sixteen, but something that is born II
woman told her to lower her eyes shy
ly, and then look up at him quickly be
meath her lashes. And she saw in
flash the ruse worked.
Then she told him softly, very pref
tily.
'But won't she dislike me, if I do?
he asked.
mo, she won't" said Connie. ever
family of good laughers. We enjo
joke nearly as much when it's on us
as when we are on top"
So it was arranged, and shortly aft
err luncheon the young man in the i'm
maculate spring suit took his depal
ture. Then Connie summoned her aun
by phone, and told her she must haste
home to help "get ready for the mi
lionaire's son." 1t was after two whe
the twins arrived, and Connie and thei
aunt hurried them so violently tina
they hadn't time to ask how Comm
got her information.
He had arrived A millionaire's son
Instantly their enthusiasm returned t
them. The cushions on the couch wer
carefully arranged for the reclining O
the semi-invalid aunt, who, with tn
sweet young daughter of the house
was upstairs waiting to be summoned
Connie, with the tennis racquet, wa
In the shed, waiting to arrive theatr
cally. Carol, in her trim black cow
with a white cap and apron, was
dream.
And when he came she ushered hir
in, courtesying in a way known Onl
on the stage, and took his hat an
stick, and said softly:
"Yes, sir-please come In, SIR
call the ladies'"
She knew she was bewitching, O
course, since she had done it on puI
pose, and she lifted her eyes just "a
enough beneath the lashes to give tn
properly coquettish effect. He caugh
her hand, and drew her slowly towar
him, admiration In his eyes, but trep
dalton in his heart, as he followed Cor
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