Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-03-20
his face. Carol made no comment, Only
ran up to her room and locked the door

ousy LOT Whlle. VI course failed to
see the sterling worth of Jim Forrest /
see 1t now, though I think he's a prince.
and as near worth being in your family
| as anybody could be. I'm sure we'll be
great friends, and tell Lark for me that
! l am waxing enthusiastic over his good
qualities even to the point of being in
articulate. Tell her how happy am
over 1t. good deal happier than I've been
| Cor the past several days, and I am wish.
ing them both world of joy. Tn hav-
Ing one myself, and find it well worth
,',>'ng. 1 could shake you. Carol, for
| p1ay'hS such trick on me. I can just see
YOU crouch down and giggle when you
,eau TINS. You wait, my lady. My turn
IS coming. I think I'll run down to
mount Mack next week to see my uncle
mes not very WE'LL Don't have any dates.
Sincerely D.. D.
And Carol laughed again, and wiped
her eyes.
The Rev. Mr.. Dukes devotion to his
elderly uncle in Mount Mark was
most beautiful thing to see. Every few
weeks he iran down for a few days."
ana If he spent most of his time re-
counting his uncle's symptoms before
the sympathetic STAIRS, no one could
be surprised at that. He and Mr..
Starr naturally had much in common,
both ministers, and both-at any rate,
he was very devoted to his uncle, and
carol grew up very, very fast, and
smiled great deal, but laughed much
less frequently than in other days.
Ihere was shy sweetness about her
that made her father watch her anx-
iOusly.
us Carol sick, Grace?" he asked one
day, turning suddenly to his sister-in-
law.
She smiled curiously. "N-no, think
not. Why?"
she seems very-sweet."
Yes. She feels very-sweet," was
the enlgmatic response. And Mr.. Starr
muttered something about women and
geometry and went away, shaking his
head. And aunt Grace smiled again.
But the months passed away. Lark,
not too absorbed in her own happiness
to find room for her twins affairs, at
last grew troubled. She and Aunt
Grace often held little conferences to-
gether when Carol was safely out of
the way.
whatever do you suppose is the
matter" Lark would wonder anxious
ly. To which aunt always answered
patiently, "Oh, just wait. He isn't sure
she's grown-up enough yet"
Then there came a quiet night when
Carol and Mr.. Duke sat in the living
room, idly discussing the weather, and
looking at Connie, who was deeply i'm
mersed in book on the other side Of
the big reading lamp. Conversation
between them Jagged so noticeably
that they sighed with relief when she
finally laid down her book, and twisted
around in her chair until she had them
both in full view.
Books are funny" she began bright
~. IT don't believe half the written
stuff ever did happen-I don't believe
it could. Do girls ever propose, Mr..
Duke?"
No one ever proposed to me-" he an
swered, laughing.
mop" she queried politely. maybe
no one wanted you badly enough. But
lwonder If they ever do? Writers, say
so. can't believe it somehow. It
seems so-well - unnecessary, some
way. Carol and I were talking about
1t this afternoon"
Carol looked up startled.
"What does Carol think about it,"
he queried
swell, she said she thought in ordi-
nary cases girls were clever enough to
get what they wanted without asking
for it."
Carol moved restlessly in her chair,
her face dropping a little, and Mr..
Duke laughed.
"Of course I know none Of our girls
would do such a thing" said Connie,
serene in her family pride. "But Carol
says she must admit she'd like to find
some. way to make man say what
anybody could see with half an eye
ne wanted to say anyhow, only"
Connie stopped abruptly. Mr.. Duke
had turned to Carol, his keen eyes
searching her face, but Carol sank in
the big chair and turned her face away
from him against the leather cushion.
Connie" she said, "of course no
girl would propose, no girl would
want to--I was only Joking"
Mr.. Duke laughed openly then. sLet's
go and take a walk, shan't we, Carol?
It's grand night" s
"You needn't go to get rid Of me-"
said Connie, rising. II was just going
anyhow -.
"Oh, don't CO." said Mr.. Duke DO.
itely.
"Don't co." echoed Carol pleadingly.
Connie stepped to the doorway, then
paused and looked back at them. Sud-
den illumination came to her as she
scanned their faces, the mans clear.
cut, determined, eager-carol's shy and
scared and-hopeful. She turned quick.
~ back toward her sister, pain darken.
Ing her eyes. Carol was the last Of
all the girls-it would leave her alone
and he was too old for her. Her lipe
qufvered a little, and her face shad.