The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-09-27

| man OF the Iowa farIn. he was not
an awkward, ignorant, gangling farm
hand we meet in books and see on
stages. He had attended the high
| school in Mount Mark, and had been
graduated from the state agricultural
, college with high honors. He was a
farmer, as his father had been before
him, but he was a farmer of the new
era, one Of those men who takes plain
farming and makes 1t a profession,
| almost q fine art. Usually he was self
possessed, assertive, confident, but, In
the presence Of this sparkling twin. for
| once he was abashed.
Carol was in an ecstasy Of delight.
She was not a man-eater, perhaps. but
| she was early romance-mad.
The callow youths Of Mount Mark,
of the Epworth league, and the col
lege. were almost unanimous in lay
ing their adorat ton at Carols feet. But
| Carol saw the elasticity. the buoyan-
cy, of loves like these and she couldn't
| really count them. She felt that she
was ripe for bit OF solid experience
| now, and there was nothing callow
| about Jim-he was solid enough. And
now, although she could see that his
feelings stirred. she felt nothing but
excitement and curiosity. A proposal.
real onel 1t was imminent. she
felt 1t.
Carol" he began abruptly. II am
In love-"
"A-are your" Carol had not ex-
pected him to begin in Just that way.
YES; have been for a long time,
with the sweetest and dearest girl in
the world. l know am not half good
enough for her. butt love her 80
much that-I believe could make her
happy"
DIDO your Carol was frightened.
She reflected that 1t wasn't SO much
fun as she had expected. There was
something wonderful in his eyes. and
in his voice. Maybe Lark was right
maybe 1t did hurt! oh, she really
shouldn't have been quite 80 nice to
himl
''She IL young-so am but know
what want, and II I can only have
her, TIL do anything l." His voice
broke . little. He looked very hand
some, very grown-up. very manly.
Carol quivered. She wanted to run
away and cry. She wanted to put her
arms around him and tell him she was
very. very sorry and she would never
do II again as long as she lived and
breathed.
"Of course" he went on, II am not
a fool l know there isn't girl like
her in ten thousand, but-she's the
one want, and-Carol. do you reckon
&c chon MOI Won
ought to know. Lark doesn't have
secrets from you, does she? Do you
think she'll have meY
Certainly this was the surprise Of
Carols life. II 1t was romance she
wanted. here 1t was in plenty. She
stopped short in the daisy-bright lane
and stared at him.
Jim Forrest" she demanded, sis it
Lark you want to marry, or mel"
Lark, of coursev
Carol opened her lips and closed
| them. She did 1t again. Finally she
spoke. We'll, of all the idiots. II
you want to marry Lark, what in the
world are you out here proposing to
me fori'
I'm not proposing to you," he OBJ
jected. I'm just telling you about it"
But what for? What's the object?
Why don't you 60 and rave to herr
He smiled little. "Well, l guess
thought telling you first was one way
of breaking 1t to her gently"
I'm perfectly disgusted with you"
Carol went on, perfectly. Here I've
been expecting you to propose to me
all week, and"
Propose to you! My starsw
Don't interrupt me-" Carol snapped.
Last night lay awake for hours
look at the rings beneath my eyes"
Il don't see EN-" he interrupted
again, smiling more broadly.
| Just thinking out a good flowery
rejection for you. and then you trot
me out here and propose to Lark!
Well. II that isn't nerve!'
Jim laughed loudly at this. He was
used to Carol. and enjoyed her little
outbursts. Il can't think what on
earth made you imagine I'd want to
propose to you." he said, shaking his
head as though appalled, at the idea.
Carols eyes twinkled at that, but
she did not permit him to see it.
why shouldn't / think SO? Didn't
you get new gray suit? And haven't
l the best complexion In Mount Mark2
Don't all the men want to propose to
complexion like mine7"
He laughed again, then he sobered.
DO you think Lark will"
II think Lark will turn you down."
said Carol promptly, ''and hope she
does. You aren't good enough for her.
No one in the world Is good enough
for Lark except myself. II she should
accept you-I don't think she will, but
II she has a mental alteration and
does-Tll give you my blessing. and
| come and live With Won six months in