Mexico Missouri message., 1918-03-07


sonage when they had discussed the
love Of Jim, her unwonted gentleness
and her quiet manners during this
visit, and one night when Carol, sud-
denly awakening, had found her weep
ing bitterly into her pillow. Lark had
said 1t was headache, and was better
now, and Carol had gone to sleep
again, but she remembered now that
Lark never had headachesi And she
remembered how very often lately
Lark had put her arms around her
shoulders and looked searchingly into
her face, and Lark was always visit
ful, too. Of latei She sighed. Yes,
she caught on at last, 'had been
pushed on to It," she thought angrily.
She had been q wicked, blind, hateful
little simpleton or she would have seen
II long ago. But she said nothing of
this to Jim.
''You'd better run along then and
switch your proposal over to her, or
I'm likely to accept you on my own
account, Just for Joke. And be sure
and tell her I'm good and sore that /
didn't get a chance to use my fiowery
rejection. But I'm almost sure she'll
turn You down."
Then Carol stood in the path and
watched Jim as he leaped lightly over
fences and ran through the sweet
meadow. She saw Lark spring to her
feet and step out from the shade Of an
apple tree. and then Jim took her in
his arms.
After that, Carol rushed into the
house and up the stairs. She flung
herself on her knees beside the bed
and buried her face In the white
spread.
Lark" she whispered, "Larki" She
clenched her hands, and her shoulders
shook. "My little twin" she cried
again, "my nice old Lark" Then she
got up and walked back and forth
across the floor. Sometimes she shook
her fist. Sometimes a little crooked
smile softened her lips. Once she
stamped her foot, and then laughed at
herself. For an hour she paced up
and down. Then she turned on the
light and went to the mirror, where
she smoothed her hair and powdered
her face as carefully as ever.
'It's just a good joke on me-" she
said, smiling, "but it's just as good
one on Mrs. Forrest. 1 think I'll go
and have laugh at her. And I'll pre-
tend 1 knew it all along"
She found the woman lying In a
hammock on the broad piazza where a
broad shaft of light from the open door
fell upon her. Carol stood beside her,
smiling brightly.
"Mrs. Forrest" she said, 81 know a
perfectly delicious secret. Shall tell
you2"
The woman sat up, holding out her
arms. Carol dropped on her knees
beside her, smiling mischievously at
the expression on her face.
"Cupid has been at work." she said
softly, "and your own son has fallen
a victim"
Mrs. Forrest shifted slightly, but she
looked lovingly at the fair, sweet face.
'I am sure I cannot WONDER" she an
swered in a gentle voice. "Is It all
settledT
"I suppose so. At any rate he is
proposing to her in the orchard, and
I am pretty sure she's going to accept
him."
Mrs. Forests arms fell away from
Carols shoulders. "Larkl" she ejacu-
lated.
"Yes-didn't you know it?" Carols
voice was mildly and innocently sur
prised.
Lark" Mrs. Forrest was plainly
dumfounded. T-I thought it was
youw
"Mew Carol was intensely aston
ished. 'Me2 Oh, dear Mrs. Forrest,
whatever in the world made you think
that"
"Why--I don't know" she faltered
weakly, II just naturally supposed 1t
was you. / asked him once where he
left his heart, and he said, AT the par
sonage,' and so of course thought II
was you."
Carol laughed gayly. "What joke"
she cried. "But you are more fortu-
nate than you expected, for 1t is my
precious old Larkie. But don't be too
glad about it, or you may hurt my feel.
ings."
swell, I am surprised, confess, but
I believe 1 like Lark as well as dc
you, and of course Jim's the one to
decide. People say Lark is more SEN
sible than you are, but it takes good
bit of a man to get beyond face as
pretty as yours. I'm kind o proud
of Jimr'
- -
After Fairy's wedding Carol natu
rally felt lonely. They had been suct
constant companions that the parting
was sorrowful for both. Carols
thoughts frequently dwelt on theil
days of mischief in the old parsonage
before Prudence was married, remem
} bering especially one April fool jokt
! that was decidedly on the twins.
CTo BE CoNTINUED)
Makes Eggs Tell Their Age.
A novel and rapid way whereby Il