Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-10-30
CHAPTER W Continued.

Stagg was quite as much immersed in
business as formerly. Yet there were
times, when she and the child were
alone, that Mrs. kennedy unbent. in
greater or less degree. And on the
part of Joseph Stagg, he found himself
thinking of sunny-haired, blue-eyed
"Hannah's Car'lyn" with increasing
frequency.
Didn't you ever have any little
girls, Aunty ROse?" Carolyn May ask
ed the housekeeper on one of these in
innate occasions. "Or little bOys2 |
mean of your very own"
Yes" said Aunty Rose in matter
of-fact tone. '"Three. But only to
have them in my arms for very little
while. Each died soon after coming
to me. There was something quite
wrong with them all, so the doctors
said"
"Oh, my dear! All three of themT
sighed Carolyn May.
1.-TWO girls and boy. Only one
lived to be three months old. They
are all buried behind the church yon-
der"
The next morning early Carolyn
May, with Prince, went over into the
churchyard and found the three little
stones in a row. She knew they must
be the right ones. for there was big
ger stone, with the inscription, Frank
Kennedy beloved spouse of Rose Ken
nedy." upon it.
The names on the three little stones
were Emeline. Frank, Jr., and Clarissa.
Weeds and tall grass had begun TO
sprout about the little, lozenge-shaped
stones and about the taller one.
While she was thus engaged a tall
man in black-looking rather "weedy"
himself, If the truth were told-came
across the graveyard AMI stood beside
her. He wore q broad band of crepe
around his hat and on his arm, and
was very grave and serious-looking.
"Who are you, little girl?" he asked,
his voice being quite agreeable and
his tone kindly.
I'm Car'lyn May, if you please"
she replied, looking up at him frankly.
"Carlyn May Stage" he asked.
You're Mr. Stages little girl? I've
heard of you"
"Car'lyn May Cameron" she correct
ed seriously. I'm only staying with
Uncle Joe. He is my guardian, and he
had to take me, of course, when my
papa and mamma were lost at sea-"
"IndeedY returned the gentleman.
"Do you know who l ann"
"T-I think" said Carolyn May,
doubtfully, that you must be the I'M
dertaker."
For moment the gentleman looked
startled. Then he flushed little. but
his eyes twinkled.
"1'he undertaken" he murmured.
do look like that?"
excuse me, sir" said Carolyn May.
81 don't really know you. you know.
Maybe you're not the undertaken"
mo, | am not. Though our under
taker. Mr.. Snivvins. is very good
man."
Eyes, sir" said the little girl. po-
Iitely.
a am the pastor here-your pastor.
l hope" he said. putting a kind hand
upon her head.
"Oh, / know you now!" said Caro-
Uncle Joe says is going to get a stran-
gle hold on Satan now that vacation
is over"
Rev. Alton briggs looked rather odd
again. The shocking frankness of the
child came pretty near to flooring
him.
'T-ahem! Your uncle compliments
me-" he said drily. "You don't know
that he is ready to do his share, do
your"
His share?" repeated the puzzled
little girl.
Toward strangling the Evil One"
pursued the minister, a wry smile curl
Ing the corners of his lips.
Has he got q share in it. too?"
asked Carolyn May.
81 think we all should have" said
the minister. looking down at her with
returning kindliness in his glance.
"Even little girls like you"
Carolyn May looked at him quite Sc
riousiy.
do you s'pose," she asked him con-
fidentially. that Satan is really
wicked enough TO trouble little girls?'
1t was a startling bit of new phiIoso-
ply thus suggested, and Mr. briggs
shook his head in grave doubt. But 1t
gave him something to think of all that
day; and the first sermon preached in
The Corners church that autumn
SEEMED rather different from most Of
those solid. lndigestibla eiscourses that
the good man was wcIt TO droEe out
to his parishiOners.
Dunno but it is worth while 10 give
the parsOn a vacation" pronounced
Uncle Joe al the dinner table Seems
TO me his sermon this morning seemed
10 have new snap % it. Mebbe he'll
give old Satan q hard -ub this winter.
after all