Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-24
CHAPTER VIII-contlnued.

"Oh, no, like to be out In the night
air. / want to talk to you about be,
Ing a preacher, you know. / think II
is the most wonderful thing in the
world, certainly do" Her eyes were
upon his face now seriously. 81 didn't
say much, was surprised, and I was
ashamed, too, professor, for / never
could do II in the world. Neveri II
always makes me feel cheap and exas.
perated when i see how much nicer
other folks are than /. But do think
It is wonderful. Really sometimes
have thought you ought to be preach.
er, because you're so nice. So many
preachers aren't, and that's the kind
we need"
The professor put his other hand
over Carols, which was restlessIy fin.
gering the crease in his sleeve. He
did not speak. Her girllsh, impulsive
words touched him very deeply.
II wouldn't want the girls to know
II, they'd think 1t was so funny, but"
She paused uncertainty, and looked
questiOningly into his face. "Maybe
you won't understand what l mean,
but sometimes I'd like to be good my
self. Awfully good, mean" She
smiled whimsicaly. Wouldn't Connie
scream If she heard that? Now you
won't give me away, will you? But l
mean 1t. / don't think of it very
often, but sometimes, why, Professor,
honestly, wouldn't cnre If / were as
good as Prudencew She paused dra-
matcally, and the professor pressed
the slender hand more closely in his.
"oh, don't worry about 1t. l sup
pose one hasn't any business to expect
a good complexion and Just natural
goodness, both at once, but" She
smiled again. "Five thousand dollars, I"
she added dreamIly. "Five thousand
dollarsl What shall l call you now?
P'fesser is not appropriate any more,
is it?''
"Call me David, won't you, Caroll
Or Dave"
Carol gasped. "Oh. mercyi What
would Prudence sayT She giggled
merrily. "Oh, mercyI" She was silent
a moment then. "I1l have to be con-
tented with plain Mr.. Duke, 1 suppose,
until you get d. d, Duckie, d. d."
she added laughingly. But in an in
stant she was sober again. 81 do love
our job. II I were a man I'd be a
minister myself. Wouldn't 1 be a
peachT
He laughed, too, recovering his equa-
nimity as her customary buoyant
brightness returned to her.
"You are" he said, and Carol an
swered:
''Thanks," very dryly. ave must go
back now" she added presently. And
they turned at once, walking slowly
back toward the parsonage.
Cant you write to me little often
er, Carol? hate to be a bother, but
my uncle never writes letters, and
like to know how my friends here are
getting along, marriages, and deaths,
and just plain gossip. I'll like It very
much If you can. / do enjoy q good
with"
do your" she asked sweetly. "How
you have changed When / was a
freshman remember you told me you
received nothing but business letters,
because you didn't want to take time
to write letters, and"
did I2' For a second he seemed
little confused. 'TWell, I'm not crazy
about writing letters, as such. But I'll
be SO glad to get yours that know I'll
even enjoy answering them"
Inside the parsonage gate they stood
a moment among the rose bushes.
Once again she offered her hand, and
he took 1t gravely, looking with sober
into her face, little pale
In the moonlight. He noted again the
royal little head with its grown-up
crown OF hair, and the slender figure
with its grOwn-up length of skirt.
Then he put his arms around her,
and kissed her warmly upon the child
lsh, unexpecting lips.
A swift red flooded her face, and re-
ceding as swiftly, left her pale. Her
lips quivered little, and she caught
her hands together. Then sturdily,
and only slightly tremulous, she looked
Into his eyes and laughed. The profess
sor was In nOwise deceived by her at
tempt at ight-heartedness, remember
ing as he did the quick quivering lips
beneath his, and the unconscious yield
ing of the supple body In his arms.
He condemned himself mentally in no
uncertain terms for having yielded to
The temptation of her young hoveliness.
Carol still laughed. determined by her
nerriment to set the seal Of insignia
,ance upon the act.
~Come and walk little farther,
Carol" he said In a low voice. II want
o say something else." Then after 0