The state herald., 1918-03-01
CHAPTER XII.
The Connie Problem.

Mr.. Starr was getting ready to go to
conference, and the girls hovered about
him with anxious eyes. This was their
fifth conference since coming to Mount
Mark-the time limit for Methodist
ministers was I'VE years. Tie STAIRS,
therefore. Weald..be transferred, and
where? Small wonder that the girls fol-
lowed him around the house and spoke
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 filled, the books were boxed. Yes.
they were leaving. but whittier were
they boundf
"Get your ecclesiastical dander up.
father" Carol urged, ''don't let them
give us a church fight. or twenty
thousand-dollar debt on a thousand.
dollar congregation"
1--WE don't care for big salary or
stylish congregation" Lark added, ''but
we don't want to 20 back to washpans
and kerosene lamps again"
The conference was held In Fairfield.
and he informed the girls casually that
he would be home on the firr. train
after the assignments were made. He
said It casually. for he did not wish
them to know how perturbed he was
over the coming change. During the
conference he tried In many and devi-
Gus ways to learn the will Of the au-
thorities regarding his future. but he
found no clue. And at home the girls
we're 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 sat silent. with Intense
iy flushed faces and painfully shining
eyes. watching the clock. listening for
the footstep. They had deliberately
remained away from the station. They
thought they could face II better with.
In the friendly walls Of the parsonage.
It was all settled now. father knew
where they were going. Oh. why hadn't
he wiredf II must be terribly bad
then, he evidently wanted to break II
to them gently.
Maybe II was circuiti There was
the whistle nowl Only a few minutes
now. Suppose his salary were cut
down-good.by to silk stockings and
kid gloves--cheap. but kid, Just the
samei Suppose the parsonage would
be old.fnshioned! Suppose there wasn't
any parsonage at all. and they would
have to pay remit Sup Then thu
door slammed.
Carol and Lark picked up their darn
ing. and Connie bent earnestly over hel
magazine. Aunt Grnce covered yawr
with her slender fingers and looked
out Of the window.
"Heiloi"
"why. hello. papai Back alrendyr'
They dropped darning and magaxin,
and new to welcome him home.
"Come and ait DOWN." my, 4
seemed long timer 1--WE had lot
Of fun. father" "was Il nice confer
encer "Mr. James sent us two bush
els Of potatoesi" "we're going TO hav'
chicken tomorr0w-the Ladies' Alder,
sent II with their farewell love-
"wasn't II q dandy dayr'
"well, It's all settled"
ayes. we supposed II would be. Wa
the conference Eoodf We read nc
counts Of II every day. md acted stuck
up when II said nice things about you
uxyo = po to-
"Ju-just minute. father" inter
rupted Comfy nnxiousiy. 1--WE don
care q snap where II In. honestly ",
don't. We're Just crnxy about II
wherever Il II. We've got II all settled
You needn't DO nfrnid to tell u.s."
| afraid 10 tell usi" mocked tn
twins Indignantly. "whnt kind Of slave
drivers do you think we nrei"
"Fnther knows we're NIL right. q,
on, dnddy. who's 70 bc our next flock Z
Eve hnven't any. wc-"
The girls faces paled. Haven't any
You mean"
~ mean wore to stay In Noun
Mark"