Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-02-22
CHAPTER XII. .
The Connie Problem.

Mr. Starr was getting ready to go to
him with anxious eyes. This was their
fifth conference Since coming to Mount
Mark-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?
Get your ecclesiastical dander up,
father" Carol urged, don't let them
give us church fight, or a twenty
dollar congregation"
1--WE don't care for big salary or q
stylish congregation" Lark added, "but
we don't want to go 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 fir"t 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 devil
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
ly 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.
1t was all settled now. father knew
where they We're going. Oh, why hadn't
he wired? 1t must be terribly bad
then, he evidently wanted to break Il
TO them gently.
Maybe 1t was a circuit There was
the whistle now! Only 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-fashoned 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 yawn
with her slender fingers and looked
out of the window.
"Hellow
"Why, hello, papa! Back already?"
They dropped darning and magazine
and flew to welcome him home.
Come and sit down" my, It
seemed a long timer 1--WE had lots
of fun, father" "Was it nice confer
ence?" "Mr. James sent us two bush
els of potatoes I" "We're going to have
chicken tOmOrrow-the Ladies' Aiders
sent II with their farewell love-"
wasn't 1t dandy dayT
well, It's all settled"
"Yes, we supposed 1t would be. Was
the conference good? We read &C.
counts Of it every day, and acted stuck
up when it said nice things about you"
1--WE are to"
"Ju-just minute, father" inter-
rupted Connie anxiously. 1--WE don't
care snap where 1t is, honestly we
don't. We're just crazy about 1t,
wherever 1t Is. We've got 1t all settled.
You needn't be afraid to tell us"
afraid to tell u.s." Knocked the
twins Indignantly. "What kind of slave
drivers do you think we are?"
"Father knows we're all right. Go
on, daddy, who's to be our next fiock?"
1--WE haven't any, we"
The girls faces paled. Haven't any?
You mean"
II mean we're to stay In Mount
Mark"
"Stay in What"