Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-02-01
CHAPTER VlII-Continued.

"Oh, no, like to be out in the night
air. want to talk to you about be-
Ing preacher, you know. I think 1t
is the most wonderful thing in the
world, certainly do" Her eyes were
upon his face now seriously. 81 didn't
say much, l was surprised, and l was
ashamed, too, professor, for l never
could do it in the world. Never! II
always makes me feel cheap and exas-
perated when 1 see how much nicer
other folks are than 1. But do think
1t is wonderful. Really sometimes
have thought you ought to be preach.
er, because you're so nice. So many
preachers aren't, and that's the kind
we need"
The professor put his other hand
over Carols, which was restlessly fin
gering the crease in his sleeve. He
did not speak. Her girlish, impulsive
words touched him very deeply.
81 wouldn't want the girls to know
1t, they'd think it was so funny, but
She paused uncertainty and looked
Questioningly into his face. MAYBE
you won't understand what / mean,
but sometimes I'd like to be good my
self. Awfully good, 1 mean" She
smiled whimsicaly. wouldn't Connie
scream if she heard that? Now you
won't give me away, will you? But
mean it. / don't think of it very
often, but sometimes, why, Professor,
honestly, wouldn't care If were as
good as Prudencew She paused dra-
matically, and the professor pressed
"Oh, don't worry about it. l sup
pose one hasn't any business to expect
"a good complexion and just natural
goodness, both at once, but" She
smiled again. give thousand dollars,
she added dreamily. give thousand
dollars! What shall I call you nowi
P'fesser Is not appropriate any more,
rs itT'
"Call me David, won't you, Carols
OR Dave"
Carol gasped. "Oh, mercy! What
would Prudence say? She giggled
merrily. "Oh, mercyw She was silent
a moment then. "I'll have to be CON
tented with plain Mr.. Duke, suppose
until you get D. D. Duckie, D. d.
she added laughingly. But in an in
slant she was sober again. II do love
our job. If I were man I'd be q
minister myself. Wouldn't l be q
peachT
He laughed, too, recovering his equa
nimity as her customary buoyant
brightness returned to her.
You are" he said, and Carol an.
swered:
Thanks" very dryly 1--WE must &c
back now" she added presently. And
they turned at once, walking slowly
back toward the parsonage.
Cant you write to me a little often.
er, Carol? / hate to be a bother, but
my uncle never writes letters, and
like to know how my friends here are
getting along, marriages, and deaths
and just plain gossip. I'll like it very
much if you can. l do enjoy good
correspondence With
do your" she asked sweetly. 'How
you have changed! When / was q
freshman l remember you told me you
received nothing but business letters
because you didn't want to take time
to write letters, and"
"Did II" For a second he seemed a
little confused. "Well, I'm not crazy
about writing letters, as such. But I'll
be so glad to get yours that know I'll
even enjoy answering them"
Inside the parsonage gate they stood
a moment among the rose bushes.
Once again she offered her hand, and
he took it gravely, looking with sober
intentness into her face, little pale
In the moonlight. He noted again the
royal little head with its grown-up
crown of hair, and the slender figure
with its grown-up length of skirt.
Then he put his arms around her,
and kissed her warmly upon the child
ish, interpreting lips.
A swift red flooded her face, and re-
ceding as swiftly, left her pale. Her
lips quivered little, and she caught
her hands together. Then sturdily,
and only slightly tremulous, she looked
into his eyes and laughed. The profess
sor was in nowise deceived by her at
tempt at ight-heartedness, remember
ing as he did the quick quivering lips
beneath his, and the unconscious yield
ing of the supple body in his arms.
He condemned himself mentally in no
uncertain terms for having yielded to
The temptation of her young Eoveliness.
Carol still laughed, determined by her
merriment to set the seal of insignia-
canoe upon the act.
"Come and walk little farther,
Carol" he said in low voice. II want
10 say something else" Then after a