The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-11-30
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The Story of Carol Kenncott
ny SINCLAIR LEWIS
Copyright isee Harcourt a Howe Inc


knife would make an excellent dag.
ger with which TO KIN Uncle Whit.
tier 1t would slide In easily. The
headlines would be terrible.
kennlcott said judictously, 'roh, I
don't want to be unjust 10 him. I
believe he took his physical exam.
nation for military service. Got
varicose Veins-not bad. but enough
TO disqualify him Tho | viii say
no doesn't look like fellow that
would be so awful darn crazy to
poke his hayonet into a Huns CUTS"
WIN Please
well, he don't. Looks soft 90 me.
And they say he told Del snafflin.
when he was getting haircut on
saturday, that he wished he could
play the piano"
isn't II wonderful how much We
all know about one another In a
town like this" said Carol limo
Gently.
kennicott was suspicious. but
Aunt Bessie. serving the floating
island pudding. agreed. Yes. IL Is
wonderful Folks can get away with
all sorts OF moannc.s and sins In
these terrible cities. but they can't
here. was noticing this tailor Eel.
low this morning. and when Mrs
Riggs offered 10 share her hymn.
book with him. he shook his head
and all the while we was singing
he Just stood there like bump on
a log and never opened bis mouth
Everybody says he's got an idea that
all than what tho rest Of US have.
hut II rhat's what he calls good man.
ners. l want TO know
Carol again studied the carving.
knife. Blood on the Wilderness OF a
tahlcelo,h might be gorgeous
Then:
.'rool, Neurotic smpossibIiist, Tell
ing yourself orchard fairy-taies---at
thirty. Dear Lord. am I really
thirty That hoy can't be more than
twenty-five"
She went calling.
Boarding with the Widow Borart
was Fern Mullins. a Eirl OF twenty
two who was 10 be teacher OF Eng.
fish. French. and gymnastics in the
high school this coming session
Fern Mullins had come TO town
early. for the six.wceks normal
course for country teachers. Carol
had noticed her on the street. had
heard almost as much about her as
about Erik vaiborr She was tall.
weedy. pretty. and lncurahiy rakish.
Whether she wore low MILDLY col
lar or dressed reticentiy for school
in black stat with a ht.h.neckcd
blouse. she was airy. fiippant ''she
looks like an absolute tosty." said all
the Mrs. sam Ciarks. disapprovingiy.
and all the Juanita Haydocks. en-
viousiy.
That sunday evening. sitting IN
hsggy canvas iawn-chairs bcside the
house. the Kennicotts saw Fern
laughing with cy Bogart who. tho
stiIl junior in high school. was now
n lump OF q man. only two or three
years younger than Fern. Cy had
TO go downtown for wcsrhty matters
connected with the pooi-psrior. Fern
dropped on the Bogart porch. her
chin In her hands.
"shc looks lonely said Keunicots
-she does. poor soul. believe III
90 over and speak 20 her. was
introduced 10 her at Dawes but I
haven't called" Carol was slipping
across the lawn. white figure in
the dimne&s. family brushing the
dewy grass. She was thinking Of
Erik and OF the fact that her feet
were wet. and she was casual In her
greeting: Hello. The doctor and I
wondered II you were lonely
Resentfuily. II ann
Carol concentrated on her. my
dear. you sound 90, I know how IL
is. used to be tired when I was
on the job was a librarian. What
was your coIiegsg was Blodgest."
More intsrestcdiy. II went to the
u" Fern meant the University OF
Minnesota.
You must have had = splendid
time. Biodgett was q bit dull
where werc you a lbrarian,-
chailengtngiy.
st Paul--the main library
'Honest7 On dear, wish I was
back in the Cities. This Is my first
year OF teaching. and I'm scared
stiff. aid have the best time in
college. dramatics and basket.bail
and fussing and dancina--I'm simply
crazy about dancing. And here. ex-
cept when I have tho kids in gym
nasium class. or when I'm chaperon-
ing the basketball team on n trip
out-of.town. I won't dare 20 move
abovo a whisper. I guess they don't