Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-03
CHAPTER VII.
Lark's Literary Venture.


As commencement drew near, and
Fairy began planning mOmentous
'things for her graduation, a little
s0berness came into the parsonage
life. The girls were certainly grow
ing up. Prudence had been married n
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
slightly ajar waiting for her to press 1t
back and catch glimpse of what lay
beyond.
Even the twins were getting along.
They were finishing high school, and
beginning to prate of college and such
things, but the twins were still, we'll
they were growing up, perhaps, but
they kept jubilantly 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 n
sober earnest face, and with an incon-
ErousIy humorous droop to the corners
of her lips, and in the sparkle of her
eyes.
Mr.. Starr looked at them and sighed.
81 tell you, Grace, it's a 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 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 a clear ''Father"
came floating down the stairway, he
turned his head alertly. "What do you
want?"
''Everybody's out" came Carols
pIaintive voice. "Will you come and
button me up. 1 can't ask auntie to
run clear up here, and 1 can't come
down because I'm in my stocking feet.
My new slippers pinch so l don't put
them on until have to. Oh, thanks,
father, you're a dear"
After the excitement of the COM
ymencement, the commotion, the CLAM
our, the gayety, ordinary parsonage
life seemed smooth and pleasant, and
fer ten days there was not a ruffie on
the surface of their domestic waters.
1t was on the tenth day that the twins,
'stroIllng down Main street, conversing
earnestly together as was their GUS
tom, were accOsted by nicely round
sd, pompOus man with a cordial,
Hello, twins"
In an instant they were bright with
smiles, for this was Mr.. Raider, editor
and owner of the Daily News, the big
sest and most popular of Mount Marks
three daily papers. Looking forward,
as they did, TO a literary career for
lark, they never failed to show a
touching and unnatural Difference to
anyone connected, even ever so re-
Inotely, with that profession.
They did not resent his nicely
rounded and therefore pointless Jokes.
They smiled at them. They did not
call the Daily News the Raider Fam
ny Organ" as they yearned to do. They
did not admit that they urged their fa-
ther to put Mr.. Raider on all church
committees to insure publicity. They
swallowed hard, and told themselves
that, after all, Mr.. Raider was an edi-
'tSr, and perhaps he couldn't help edit
aRg 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-
ftEmd cOmplacency, Carol only gritted
her teeth and reminded her heavIng
soul that he was an editor.
'What are you going to do this sum-
,"nur, LarkS" he asked, without pre-
ambIe.
-Why-just nothing, 1 suppose. AS
usual"
WELL" he said, frowning plumply,
we're running short of men. I've
tAcard you're interested In our line, and
TShOaght maybe you could help US out
Earring vacation. How about it9 The
NV0rkn be easy and it'll be fine expert
eeaoe for you. Wen pay you five dol
J1Mrs a week. This is little town, and
"SRe're called q little publication, but
sur work and our aim and methods are
identical with those of the big city pa
lpers." He swelled vislbly, almost
aAanningIy. "How about 1t? You're
eAe one with the literary longings,
Anenit your"
LArk was utterly speechless. If the
aAak10nai bNlk had opened its Golfers