The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-02-21
AIT~oR q 'HyelaGHcE rHEr S4RSa&EGs-
CHAPTER XII.
The Connie Problem.

Ai' S'"ii was EeltlHS ready 10 20 tC
conference, and the girls hovercd about
him with anxious eyes. This was their
nth conference since coming to Mount
Mark-the time limit for Methodist
ministers was five years. Tile STAIRS,
therefore would be transferred. and
where? Small wonder that the girls fol-
lowed him around the house and smoke
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 laundered and packed. The trunks
were filed, the books were boxed, Yes,
they were leaving but whittier were
they bound2
Get your ecclesiastical dander M.
father" Carol urged, "don't let them
give us church fight, or twenty
thOusand-dollNr debt on thousand.
dollar congregation"
I'VE don't care for big salary or a
stylish congregation" Lark added "but
we don't want to 90 back to washpans
hAiN ihNA''NHN itlAl'n uSSllH,
The conference was held in Fairfield,
and he informed the girls casually that
he would be home on the fret train
after the assignments were made. He
said 1t casually, for ne did not wish
them to know how perturbed he was
over the coming change. During the
conference he tried In many and devl-
Ous ways to learn the will of the au.
thOrities regarding MS 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
II.
Just the same, on Wednesday eve.
ming, the girls Snt silent, with intense
ly flushed faces and painfully shining
eyes, watching the clock, listening for
the fOOtstcp. They had deliberately
remained away from the station. They
thought they could face it better with
in the friendly walls Of the parsonage.
II was all settled now, father knew
where they were going. Oh, why hadn't
he wired? 1t must be terribly bad
then, he evidently wanted to break It
to them gently.
Maybe II was circuit! There was
the whistle now! Only n few minutes
now. Suppose his salary were cut
down-good.by to silk stockings and
KID gloyeS-chcap, but kid, Just the
same! Suppose the parsonage would
be old-f0shiOned! Suppose there wasn't
any parsonage at all, and they would
have to pay remit 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 ana looked
out Of the window.
Hello"
why, hello, papal Back already?"
They dropped darning and magazine
and flew to welcome him home
Come and sit down. "My. 1t
seemed long time!" 1--WE had lots
Of fun, father" "Was 1t a nice confer.
enceT "Nlr. James sent us two bush.
els Of potatoes" "We're going to have
chicken tomorrOw--thc Ladies' Alders
sant it with their farewell love-"
Wasn't 1t dandy day?"
We'll, it's all settled"
YES, we supposed 1t would be. Was
the conference good2 We read nc.
counts of 1t every day. and acted stuck
up when 1t said nice things about you"
I'VE are to-"
"Ju-just a minute, fatner" inter.
runted Connie anxlOusly. I'VE don't
care q snap where 1t Is, honestly we
don't. We're just crazy about It.
wherever It Is. We've got it all settled.
You needn't be afraid to tell u.s."
Afraid to tell u.s." mocked 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 fockf"
I'VE haven't any, We"
The girls faces paled. Haven't anyi
You mean"
Il mean we're to stay in Mount
Mark"
"Stay in What?"
mount Mark. They"
They extended the limit" cried
Connie, springlng up.
NO" he denied, laughing. "They
made me a presiding elder, and
we're"
"a presiding elder Father Honest.
ly? They" ,
"They ought to have made you a
bishop" cried Carol Loyalty. i've been
expecting 1t all my life. That's where
the next jump'll land you"
~ pity the next parsonage bunch,
said Connie syrnpathetically.
"Why? There's nothing the matter
with our churchp
'oh, no, that isn't what mean, But