The state herald., 1918-02-01

called the customary Hello" Then.
"Yes. just minute. It's for you,
Carol"
Carol rose darkly. "It's Joe," she
said In q dungeon-dark voice. "He's
broken, foresee 1t. II there's any
thing I despise and abominate It's a
breaker Of dates. Men have no busi-
ness being broken, except their hearts,
when girls are mixed up in it.-Helo7
oh; oh.h-h! Yes-it's professor!
How are you7-Yes. indeed-oh. yes,
I'm going to be home. Yes, indeed.
Come about eight. OF course I'll be
here-nothIng important-it didn't
amount to anything at ADJUST little
old everyday nffalr.-Yes, 1 can ar
range It nicely.--We're so anxious to
see you-All right--Good-by."
She turned back 70 the table, her
face flushed, eyes shining. 'It's pro-
fessor! He's in town lust overnight,
and he's coming out. I'll have to phone
joe"
Anything despise and abomlnate
it's a breaker Of dates" chanted Con-
ME.
"Oh's that's different" explained
Carol. "This is professor! Besides,
this will sort of even up for the
Thanksgiving banquet last year."
"But that was Phil and this Is Joe !"
"Oh, that's all right. It's just the
principle, you know, nothing personal
about It,"
She stood thoughtfully beside the
table, her brows puckered unbecom-
ingly.
II think" she said at last slowly.
with wary eyes on her fathers quiet
face, II think I'll let the tuck out Of my
old rose dress. It's too short"
'TOo shortl Why, Carol" inter
rupted her aunt.
TOO short for the occasion, I mean.
I'll put 1t back tomorrow" Once more
her eyes turned cautiously fatherward.
"You see. professor still has the little
twinnie' idea in his brain, and I'm GO
Ing to get It out. 1t isn't consistent
with our FIVE feet seven. We're grown
up. Professor has got to see 1t. You
skoot upstairs. Connie, won't you,
there's dear. and bring 1t down. both
Of them, Lark's too. Lark--where did
you put that ripping knife? Aunt
Grace. will you put the iron on for me?
n perfectly right that professor
should see we're growing up. Wen have
to emphasize 1t something extra. or he
might overlook It. II makes him feel
Methuselish because he's so aw.ully
smart. But I'll soon change his mind
for him."
In less than two minutes the whole
family was engaged In growing Carol
up for the occasion. They didn't see
any sense In 1t. but Carol seemed so
unalterably convinced that It was nee
essary that they hated to question her
motives.
II her Idea had been utterly to dunn
found the unsuspecting professor, she
succeeded admirably. Carefully she
planned her appearance. giving him
Just the proper interval Of patient wait
ing In the presence Of her aunt and
sisters. Then. a slow parting Of the
curtains and Carol stood out, brightly,
gladly. her slender hands held out In
welcome. Carol. with long skirts swish
ing around her white-slippered feet,
her slender throat rising cream.white
above the soft fold Of old rose lace, her
graceful head with Its royal crown of
bronze-gold hair, tilted most charm.
ingly.
The professor sprnng to his feet and
stared at her. "Why. Carol" he ex-
claimed soberly. almost sadly, as he
crossed the room and took her hand.
''Why, Caroli Whatever have ycu been
doing to yourself overnight"
OF course. It was far more "over-
night" than the professor knew, but
Carol saw to II that there was nothing
to arouse his suspicion on that score.
He lifted her hand high. and looked
frankly down the long lines OF her
skirt, with the white toes Of her slip.
pers showing beneath. He shcok his
head. And though he smiled again. his
voice was sober.
"rm beginning to feel my age" he
said.
This was not what Carol wanted, and
she resumed her old childish manner
with gleeful laugh.
"whnt on earth are you doing In
Mount Mark again. P'fessor" When
Carol wished to be particularly coy,
she said "p'fessor." II didn't sound OK.
nctly cultured, but spoken In Ca,l's
voice wns really Irresistible.
"Why. cnme to see you before your
lnir turned gray, and wrinkles marred
you"
wrinkles won't mar mine" cried
Carol emphaticaliy. "Not ever! use
up n whole jar Of cold cream every
three weeksl won't have 'em. wrin.
klcs! P'fessor, you don't know what n
time ! have keeping myself young"
She Joined In the peal Of laughter
that rnng out as this nge.wise state.
/ mcnt fell from her Inns.