The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-01-31


oil right. We just meant beaux, yor
know. We didn't include uncles, ant
fathers, and old schoolteachers, ant
things like that. You don't count
That isn't breaking my pledge"
The professor smiled, but he rcmcm
bered the quivoring lips, and the re.
laXinG Of the 1.-THE body, and the forced
laughter, and was not deceived.
you're such strange girl, Carol
You're so honest, usually, so kind.
hearted, so generons. But you always
seem trying TO make yourself look bad
not physically, that isn't what mean
Carol smiled, and her loving fingers ca.
resSed her soft cheek. "But YOU try
to make folks think you are vain and
selfish, when you are not. Why do YOU
do 1t? Everyone knows what YOU
really are. All over Mount Mark they
say you are the best little kid in town."
"They do!" she said Indignantly,
swell, they'd better not. Here I've
spent years building mp my reputation
to suit myself, and then they go and
shatter it like that. They'd better
leave me alone"
"But what's the object?'
"Why, now, p'fessor," she said, care
fully choosing her words, "you know,
It's pretty hard Job living up to a
good reputation, Look at Prudence
and Fairy and Lark. Everyone just
naturally expects them TO be angeli-
cally and disheartcningly good. And
If they aren't, folks talk. But take me
now. No one expects anything of me,
and If once in n while / do happen to
turn out all right by accident, it's
sort of joyful surprise TO the whole
community. It's lots more fun sur
prlslng folks by being better than they
expect, than shocking them by turning
out worse than they think you will"
"But 1t doesn't do you any good"
he assured her. "YOu can't fool them,
Mount Mark knows It's Carol"
"You're not gongT she said, as he
released her hand and Strengthened the
collar of his coat.
"Yes, your father viii chase me off
if don't 20 now. How about the let
ters Carol? Think you can manage
q little oftener?"
I'D love to. It's so inspiring to get
q letter from Il Observation-Disclosures
year scientist; mean, wUs-Once. Do
my letters sound all right? l don't
want to get too chummy, you know"
"Get as chumny MS you can," he
urged her. Il enjoy it."
"I'll have to he more dlgnihed If
you're going to Mccormick. Presbyte-
rlan! The Presbytcrious are very dig
nlflcd. I'll have to be formal from this
on. Dear sir: Respectfully yours. Is
that propcr?"
He took her hands in his. "Goodby,
little pal. Thank you for coming out,
and for telling me the things you have,
You have done me good. You are
bI'Ulh VI litSllf SNGtl ull'
She moved her fingers slightly in his
hand, and he looked down at them.
Then he lifted them and looked again
admlrlng the slender fingers and the
pink nails.
"DOn't look" she cntrcatcd. They're
teaching ME things. | can't help It,
This spot on my thumb is fried egg
here are three doughnuts on my arm
see them? And here's q regular pan
cake" She pointed out the pancake
In her palm, sorrowfully.
Teaching you things, are theyF,
"YcS, l have 10 darn. Look at the
tips Of my fingers, that's where the
needle rusted of on mo. Here's where
I cut q slice of bread out of my thumb!
Isn't life serious?"
"Yes, very serious" He looked
thOughtfully down at her hands again
as they lay curled up in his own.
"Yery, very serious
"GOOdby."
"GOOdby." He held her hand a mo-
nient longer, and then turned suddenly .
away. She watched until he was out
Of sight, and then slipped upstairs, I'M
dressed in the dark and crept between
the covers. Lark apparently was
sound asleep. Carol glggled softly to
herself few times, and Lark opened
one eye, asking. "Whats amatter?"
"Oh, such q good joke on p'fessor,"
whispered Carol. squeezing her twin
with rapture. "He doesn't know 1t yet,
but he'll be so disgusted with himself
when he finds It out"
"What in the world Is it7' Lark was
more coherent now.
II can't tell you, but you'll certainly
scream If you ever do know It."
"You can't tell mcT Lark was wide
awake, and quite aghast.
mo, / truly can't"
Lark drew away from the encircling
arm with as much dignity as could
be expressed In the dark and in bed,
and sent out a series of deep breaths,