The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-08-30
CHAPTER x-Continued.

Connie might, I suppose"
Connie" she contradicted prompt
ly, will probably marry a genius. or
rascal. or a millionaire"
He looked dazed at that
She leaned forward a little. "Carol
might"
"Carol-"
"she might" She watched him mar
rowly, q smile In her eyes
Carols too worldly"
You don't believe that"
mo not really. Carol-she-why,
you know what / think Of II, Carol
wouldn't be half bad for a minister's
wife She has a sense of humor that
IS very important. She's generous.
she's patient, she's unsefish good
miXer-some Of the ladies might think
her complexion wasn't real, but
Grace, Carol wouldn't be half bad,'
"Oh, William" she sighed, cant you
remember that you are a Methodist
minister, and grandfather, and
grow up Hitler"
After that Mr.. Starr returned to
normal again, only many times he and
Connie had little outings together, and
talked a great deal. And Aunt Grace
seeing 1t, smiled with satisfaction. But
the twins and Fairy settled 1t in their
own minds by saying. Father was just
a little jealous Of all the beau1. He
was looking for a pal, and he's found
Connie"
But In spite of his new devotion to
Connie, Mr.. Starr also spent great
deal of time with Fairy. 1--WE must
get fast chums, Fairy" he often said
to her. This is our last chance. We
have to get cemented for a lifetime,
you know"
And Fairy, when he said SO, caught
his hand and laughed little tremu-
lously.
Indeed he was right when he said 1t
was his last chance with Fairy In the
parsonage. Two weeks before her
commencement she had slipped into
the library and closed the door eau
tiously behind her.
Father" she said, would you be
very sorry II didn't teach school after
an7"
mot bit" came the ready answer.
II mean II I-you see, father, since
you sent me to college feei as If
ought to work and-help cut"
''That's nonsense" he said. drawing
the tall girl down to his knees ~ can
take care of my own family. thanks
Are you trying to run me out Of .py
Job? II you want to work, ah right.
do 1t, but for yourself, and not foS uS.
Or If you want to do anything sase,"
he did not meet her eyes, IL you wnut
to stay at home year or so before
you get married, II would please us
better than anything else. And when
you want to marry Gene, we're expect
Ing 1t, you know"
Of his coat uneasily. do you care
how soon l get marriedT'
"Are you still sure 1t Is GeneT
Yes, I'm sure"
"Then / think you should choose
your own time. am In no hurry. But
any time-it's for you and Gene to de-
eide"
Then you haven't set your heart on
my teachingf'
II set my heart on giving you the
best chance possible. And / have done
~. VI thC iVohi ~ uNPNhuo oh you'
You may work, or you may stay at
home while. Ionly want you to be
happy, Fairy"
But doesn't II seem foolish to go
clear through college, and spend the
money, and then-marry without using
the educationf"
II do not think SO. They've been
fine years, and you are finer because
of them. There's just as much oppor-
tunlty to use your fineness In a home
Of your own as In a public school.
That's the way look at It,"
You don't think I'm too young1"
You're pretty young" he said slow
ly. II can hardly say. Fairy. You've
always been capable and self-pos-
sessed. When you and Gene get so
crazy about each other you can't bear
to be apart any longer. It's all right
here"
She put her arm around his neck and
rubbed her fingers over his cheek low
lngly.
You understand, don't you, father
that I'm Just going to be plain married
when the dms d0mes1 Not a wedding
like Prudence's. Gene, and the girls,
and Prue and Jerry, and you, father,
that is ALL"
Eyes, all right. It's your day, you
know"
"And we won't talk much about II
beforehand. We all know how we feel
about things. 1t would be silly for me
TO try to tell you what a grand, sweet
father you've been to rs. I can't tell
you-if I tried I'd only cry. You know
what I think"
His face was against hers. and his
eyes were away from her, so Fairy did
not see the moisture In his eyes when
ae said in low voice:
"Yes I know Fairy, And I don't