Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-01-30
copyright. The Bobbs-Merrin company9
CHAPTER XII.
The Connie Problem.

The Connie Problem.
! Mr.. Starr was getting ready to go to
conference, and the girls lowered about
him with anxious eyes. This was their
fifth conference since coming to Mount
rMark-the time limit for Methodist
ministers was five years. The STAIRS,
therefore, would be transferred, and
where? Small wonder that the girls fol-
lowed him around the house and spoke
in soft voices and looked with tender
eyes at the old parsonage and the wide
lawn. They would be leaving next
week. Already the curtains were down,
and Numbered, and packed. The trunks
were filled, the books were boxed. Yes,
they were leaving, but whittier were
they bound?
sect your ecclesiastical dander up,
father" Carol urged, "don't let them
give us church fight, or twenty
thousand-dollar debt on thousand
dollar congregation"
"We don't care for big salary or a
stylish congregation" Lark added, "but
we don't want to 60 back to washpans
and kerosene lamps again."
The conference was held in Fairfield,
and he informed the girls casually that
he would be home on the first train
after the assignments were made. He
said it casually, for he did not wish
them to know how perturbed he was
over the coming change. During the
conference he tried in many and devi-
Gus ways to learn the will of the au-
thorities regarding his future, but he
found no clue. And at home the girls
were discussing the matter very little,
but thinking of nothing else. They
were determined to be pleased about
It.
Just the same on Wednesday eve
ming, the girls sat silent, with intense
~ flushed faces and painfully shining
eyes, watching the clock, listening for
the footstep. They had deliberately
remained away from the station. They
thought they could face it better with
in the friendly walls of the parsonage.
It was all settled now, father knew
where they were going. Oh, why hadn't
he wired? It must be terribly bed
then, he evidently wanted to break it
to them gently. ...- r. e.
Maybe it was circuit! There was
the whistle now! Only a few minutes
now. Suppose his salary were cut
doWn-good-by to silk stockings and
kid gloves-cheap, but kid just the
same! Suppose the parsonage would
be old-fashioned! Suppose there wasn't
any parsonage at all, and they would
have to pay rent! Sup Then the
door slammed.
Carol and Lark picked up their darn
Ing, and Connie bent earnestly over her
magazine. Aunt Grace covered a yawn
with her slender fingers and looked
out Of the window. 81
"Hello!" ~
"Why, hello, papa! Back already?"
They dropped darning and magazine
and flew to welcome him home:
"Come and sit DOWN. my, it
seemed long time ~ 1--WE had lots
of fun, father 'Was it nice confer
ence?" "Mr. James sent us two bush.
els Of potatoes :" "We're going to have
chicken tomorrow-the Ladies' Aiders
sent it with their farewell love-"
"Wasn't it dandy day?' r.
swell, it's all settled"
Eyes, we supposed it would be- Was
the conference good? We read ac
counts Of it every day, and acted stuck
up when it said nice things about YOU
1--WE are to-"
"Ju-just a minute, father inter
rupted Connie anxiously. 1--WE dom
care a snap where it is, honestly VIZ
don't. We're just crazy about it
wherever it is. We've got it all settled
You needn't be afraid to tell u.s.
Afraid to tell us!" Knocked thu
twins Indignantly. "What kind of slave
drivers do you think we are?"
"Father knows we're all right. G.
on, daddy, who's to be our next flock 2
I'VE haven't any, We
The girls faces paled. Haven't any
You mean
Il mean we're to stay in Noun
Mark"
"Stay in What?"
Mount Mark. They
They extended the limit" erie
Connie, springing up. I.
NO" he denied, laughing. "The
made me presiding elder, an
we're
"A presiding elder Father! Honest
"? They
"They ought to have made you
bishop" cried Carol loyalty. "I've bee
expecting it all my life. That's wher
the next jump'll land you.''
II pity the next parsonage bunch,
said Connie sympathetically
why? There's nothing the matte
with our church r. 81.
"Oh, no, that isn't what I mean. Br
the next minister's family can't DO,
sibly come up to us, and so =
The others broke her sentence Wit
their laughter.