Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-03-21

was 1t you tried to DO for me!"
"Well if you want plain English you
can have it." said Carol. you know
what professor is, swell position like
his, and such prospects, and New York
city, and four thousand year with
raise for next year, and we tried to
give you a good fair chance to land
him squarely, and"
"To land him"
ITO get him, then! He hasn't any
girl. You could have been engaged to
him this moment-Prof David Arnold
Duke-if you had wanted to-"
ooh, is that it?"
eyes, that's it,"
Fairy smiled. "Thank you, dear, 1t
was sweet of you, but you're too late.
I am engaged"
Carols lips parted, closed, parted
again. "You-you?"
Exactly so.''
Hope flashed into Carols eyes. Fairy
saw 1T, and answered swiftly.
Certainly not. I'm not crazy about
your little professor. am engaged to
Eugene Babler." She said it with
pride, not unmixed with defiance,
knowing as she did that the twins con-
sidered Gene too undignified for par.
sonage son-in-law. The twins were
strong for parsonage dignity
''You-are?"
II am"
A long instant Carol stared at her.
Then she turned toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
'Tm going to tell papa"
Fairy laughed. "Papa knows it."
Carol came slowly back and stood by
the dresser again. After short silence
she moved away once more.
"Where now?"
ITO tell Aunt Grace, then"
"Aunt Grace knows it, too"
"Does Prudence know it?"
EYES,"
Carol swallowed this bitter phi in
silence.
"How longw she inquired at last.
About year. Look here, Carol,
I'll show you something. Really I'm
glad you know about it. We're pretty
young, and papa thought we ought to
keep it dark while, to make sure.
That's why we didn't tell you. Look
at this" From her cedar chest-a
Christmas gift from Gene-she drew
out small velvet jewelers. box, and
displayed before the admiring eyes of
Carol plain gold ring with modest
diamond.
Carol kissed it. Then she kissed
Fairy twice.
II know you'll be awfully happy,
Fairy" she said soberly. "And I'm
glad Of it. Butt can't honestly be-
Heve there's any man good enough for
our girls. Babies nice, and dear, and
all that, and he's SO crazy about you,
and-do you love him?' Her eyes we're
wide, rather wondering, as she put this
question softly.
Fairy put her arm about her sisters
shoulders, and her fine steady eyes met
Carols clearly.
Eyes," she said frankly, II love him
with all my heart"
SIS that what makes you $3.50
shiny, and smiley, and starry all the
inner
II guess it is. 1t is the most won
derful thing in the world, Carol. You
can't imagine it-beforehand. It is
magical; it is heavenly"
"Yes, suppose it is. Prudence says
so, too. can't imagine it, kind Of
wish could. Can't I go and tell Con-
ME and Lark? I want to tell some
body!''
"Yes, tell them. We decided not to
let you know just yet, but since-yes,
tell them, and bring them up to see it,"
Carol kissed her again, and went
out, gently closing the door behind her.
In the hallway she stopped and stared
at the wall for an unseeing moment.
Then she clenched and shook a stern
white fist at the door.
II don't care" she muttered, "they're
not good enough for Prudence and
Fairy! They're not just believe ]
despise men, all Of 'em, unless it's
daddy and Duck!'' She smiled a little
and then looked grim once more. "Eu-
gene Babler, and little queen like
Fairy! / think that must be heavens
notion of a joke" She sighed again.
ooh, well, it's something to have some
thing to tell I'm glad found 1t out
ahead of Lark"