The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-03-14

1 ~
boys, If they can't get first choice, pike
of alone"
"Now, Carol" said Aunt Grace, smIl-
ing. "Be easy on him. He's so nice
It would be a shame to"
| Carol threw up her eyes In horror.
"T'm shocked" she cried. Then she
dImpled. "But wouldn't hurt Jim for
anything, I'm very fond of him. DO
you really think there are any--er--
Indications"
"Oh, I don't know anything about It.
I'm Just judging by the rest of the
community"
Lark was performing the really diff
ficult feat Of putting on and buttonlng
her slippers standing on one foot for
the purpose and STOPPING low. Her
face was flushed from the exprtion.
"DO you think he's crazy about you
. Carolr she inquired, rather seriously,
and without looking up from the shoe
she was so laborlously buttoning.
"Oh. I don't know. There are n few
circumstances which seem to point
q that way. Take that new gray suit for
instance. Now you know yourself,
Lark, he didn't need new gray suit,
and when man gets a brand-new
suit for no apparent reason, you can
generally put II down that he's wax
ing romantic. Then there's his mother
she's begun telling me all his good
points, and how cute he was when he
was born, and she showed me one of his
curls and n lot Of his baby pictures
It made Jim wild when he came In and
caught her at 1t, and she tells me how
good he is and how much money he's
got. That's pointed, very. But must
confess" she concluded Candldly. "that
Jim himself doesn't act very loverly."
"He thinks lots Of you, I know" said
Lark, seriously. whenever he's alone
with me he praises you every minute
of the time"
"Trhat's nothing. When he's alone
with me he praises you all the time,
too. Where's my hat Lark7 I'll bet
Connie wore II, the little sinner! Now
what shall I do7"
"You left It In the barn yesterday
don't you remember you hung It on the
harness hook when we went out for
eggs, and"
"Oh, so I did, There comes Connie
now" Carol thrust her head out of
the window. "Connle, run out to the
barn and bring my hat, will you? It's
on the harness hook. And hurry Don't
stop to ask questions, just trot along
and do as you're told"
Carol returned again to her toilet.
"Well, I guess have time to powder
after all. I don't suppose we'll need
to take any money, auntlc, do you? We
won't be able to spend II in the coun-
try
"I think you'd better take little.
They might drive to town, or 30 to n
social, or something"
"Can't do It. Haven't cent"
"Well, guess I can lend you lit
tle," was the smiling reply 1t was
standing joke in the family that Carol
had been financially hard pressed ever
since she began using powder several
years previous.
"Are you fond Of Jim, Carolf" Lark
jumped away backward in the CONVEX
sation, asking the question gravely, her
eyes upon her sisters face.
"Huml Yes, I am," was the light
retOrt. "Dldn't Prudence teach us TO
love everybodyT
"Don't be silly. I mean IL he pro-
poses to you, are you going to turn him
down, or notT
"What would you advise, Lark1'
Carols brows were painfully knitted
"Hes got five hundred acres of land.
worth at least hundred an ncre, and
a lot Of money In the bank---hls mother
didn't say how much, but I imagine
several thousand anyhow. And he has
that nice big house, and an auto, and
oh, everything nicel Think of the |
fruit trees, Larklel And he's good. |
looking, too. And his mother says he
Is always good.natured even before |
breakfast, and that's very exceptional,
you Rnowi Very! I don't know that |
I could do much better, DO you,
auntle7 I'm sure I'd look cute In o
sunbonnet and apron, milking the |
cows' So, boss, SO, there, now! So,
boss I"
"Why, Carolp
"But there are objections, too. They |
have pigs. I can't bear pigs Pooooey, |
pooooeyl The filthy little thlngsl |
don't know--Jlm and the gray suit |
and the auto and the cows are very
nice, but when l think of jim and
overalls and pigs and onions and |
freckles I have goose flesh. Here they |
come! Where's that other slipper7 |
Oh, it's clear under the bed ~ She |
wriggled after 1t, coming out again |
breathleSs. "Dld rub the powder all
offT she asked, anxlously.
The low honk of the car sounded |
outside, and the twins dumped q mis-
eellaneoug assortment of toilet aEti. !