The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-02-07
CHAPTER X.
The End OF Fairy.
D AN1NoR e f9e4lENcE Qr Va EaRlQHNGL--

ne Emo OF rdlTy
Now that the twins had attained to
the dignity of eighteen years, and
were respectable students at the thor
oughly respectable Presbyterian col
lege, they had dates very frequently.
And it was along about this time that
Mr.. Starr developed a sudden interest
in the evening callers at his home He
bObbPd up UnannOunCed In most uncX-
pected places and Mt most unexpected
hours. He walked about the house
with a sharp, sly look in his eyes in a
way that could only be described as
Carol said, by downright nOiSneSs."
The girls discussed this new phase Of
his character when they were alone,
but decided not to mention it to him,
for fear of hurting his feelings. MAY
be he's got n new kind of n sermon up
his BRAIN" said Carol. "NIaybe hc's
beginning to realize that his clothes
are wearing out again." suggested
Lark. Hes too young for second
childhood" Connie thought. So they
WulCHeu MN CuTlOuSlN.
Aunt Grace, too, observed this queer
devotion on the part of the minister,
and finally her curiosity overcame her
habit of keeping silent.
"William," she said gently, whats
the matter with you lately? Is there
anything on your mindY
Mr.. Starr started nervously. "My
mind? OF course not, Why?"
"You seem to he looking for some
thing. You watch the girls so closely,
you're always hanging around, and"
He smiled broadly. "Thanks for
thnt. Hanging around in my own
parsonage. That is the gratitude of
loving familyW
Aunt Grace smiled. "Well l see
there's nothing much the matter with
you. I was seriously worried. |
thought there was something wrong
and"
"Sort of mentally unbalanced, Is that
It? Oh, no, I'm just watching my
family"
She looked up quickly. watching
the family! You mean"
"Carol," he said briefly.
"CarOl! You're watching"
"Oh, only in the most honorable way,
Of course. You see" he gave his ex
PLANTATION with an air of relief "Pru.
dence always says J must keep an eye
on Carol. She's so pretty, and the boys
get stuck on her, and-thats what
Prudence says. forgot all about It
for while. But lately I have begun
to notice that the boys are older, and
we don't want Carol falling in love
with the wrong man, | got uneasy,
/ decided to watch out. Tin the head
Of this family, you know"
"Such an idea !" sCOffed Aunt Grace,
who was not at all Of a scofIing ma
true.
Carol was born for lovers, Prudence
snys so. And these mems girls have
to he watched, or the wrong fellow will
get ahead. and"
"Carol doesn't need watchlng-not
any more at least"
"Im not really watching her, you
know. I'm just keeping my eyes open."
'But Carols all right. That's one
time Prudence was away of" She
smiled as she recognized q bit Of Car
ol's slang upon his lips. Don't worry
about her. You needn't keep an eye
On her any more. She's coming, nll
right"
"YOu don't think there's any danger
Of her falling In love with the wrong
manT
mo"
"Thcre aren't mnny worth.havinl
fellows in Mount Mark, you know"
"CarOl won't fall In love with 6
Mount Mark fellow"
"You seem very positive"
ayes, I'm positive"
He looked thoughtful for while
"Well, Prudence always told me t.
watch Carol, so could help her If sh'
needed It,"
"Glrls always need their fathers
came the quick reply. "But Carol doe
not need you particularly. There
only one Of them who will require es
pecial attention"
"Th0ts what Prudence says"
"Yes, just one--not Carol"
mot CarOlw He looked at her II
astOnIshment. "Why, Fairy and Lar
are-different. They're all right. The
don't need attention"
mo. It's the other one"
"The other onel That's ALL"
"There's Connie"
"Conniep
"Yes."
"COnnle"
ayes"
"You don't mean Connie"
Aunt Grace smiled.
"Why, Grace, you're-you're off. F.
cuse me for saying II, but-yOu'r