Mexico Missouri message., 1918-03-28

patiently, "Oh, just wait. He isn't sure
she's grown-up enough yet"
Then there came q 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 notlceably
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
ly. 81 don't believe half the written
stuff ever did happen--I don't believe
it could. Do girls ever propose, Mr..
Duke2"
No one ever proposed to me-" he an
swered, laughing.
"NO2" she querled politely. Maybe
no one wanted you badly enough. But
wonder If they ever do? Writers say
so. I can't believe it somehow. 1t
seems so-well - unnecessary, some
way. Carol and were talking about
1t this afternoon"
Carol looked up startled.
"What does Carol think about it?"
he queried.
"Well, 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 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 a man say what
anybody could see with half an eye
he 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- was only Joking"
Mr.. Duke laughed openly then. Lets
20 and take walk, shan't we, Carol?
It's grand night"
"You needn't go to get rid of me-"
said Connie, rising. II was Just going
anyhow"
"oh, don't CO." said Mr.. Duke po-
litely.
Don't CO." echoed Carol pleadlngly.
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
ly 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 lips
quivered a little, and her face shad-
owed more darkly. But they did not
see 1t. The mans eyes were intent on
CAROLS lovely features, and Carol was
studying her slender fingers. Connie
drew a long breath, and looked down
upon her sister with a great protecting
tenderness in her heart. She wanted
to catch her up in her strong young
arms and carry her wildly out Of the
room-away from the man who sat
there-walting for her
Carol lifted her face at that moment,
and turned slowly toward Mr.. Duke.
Connie saw her eyes. They were lumi-
nous.
Comics tense figure relaxed then,
and she turned Mt once toward the
door. CT am going" she said in low
voice. But she looked back again be-
fore she closed the door after her.
'Carol," she said in whisper, "you-
you're a darling. 1--we always
thought So"
Carol did not hear her-she did not
hear the door closing behind her-she
had forgotten Connie was there.
Mr.. Duke stood up and walked
quickly across the room and Carol rose
to meet him. He put his arms about
her, strongly, without hesitating.
"Carol," he said, "my little song
bird"-and he laughed, but very ten
derby, "would you like to know how to
make me say what you know / want
to say?''
I'll" she began TREMENDOUSLY,
clasping her hands against her breast,
and looking intently, as If fascinated,
at his square, firm chin so very near
her eyes. She had never observed 1t
so near at hand before. She thought
it was lovely chin-in another man
she would have called it distinctly
glossy"
"You would try to make me when
you know I've been gritting my teeth
for years, waiting for you to get grown
up. You've been awfully slow about 1t,
Carol, and I've been in such hurry
for YOU"
She rested Imply In his arms now,
breathing in little broken signs, not
trying to speak.
"You have known II long time,
haven't you? And I thought was
hiding it so cleverly." He drew her
closer in his arms. "You are too
young for me, Carol" he said regret
1 II