Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-12-05

reaSSured her sister. "lt'S-Oh, just
IA rehearsal"
"Why. it's little Cinderella-just got
a fall from her pumpkin" chortled
Eddy Jackson, and a ukulele caught
its cue and whined into the wedding
march.
But Ginger turned away from them,
co.nfully, bit too scornfully, for one
of the Tapping mules, too large for
her. slid from her slender foot Gin
ger, as she felt 1t slipping, in sudden
CONSERVATION, hesitated for the barest
fraction of a second. 1t was too long.
Eddy Jackson saw and seized it, and
ran to kneel mockingly at her unslip-
pered foot.
cinderella, the prince returns your
glass slipper"
In the midst of their merry laugh
ter, the ukulele's sudden hush silenced
them.
"See here, somebody ought to intro
duce me-" protested the player, plain.
lively. "YOu forget I'm stranger
| wasn't even. invited His eyes wan
dered to the bottom step of the circu-
lar staircase where Miriam sat just
as she had dropped in that first shock
ing moment, STILL rapt and breathless.
"Oh, forgot" apOlogized Eddy
Jackson. "Everybody's supposed to
know everybody in Red Thrush This
is our old friend Tub Andrews. lie
went to school with US when he was
a kid, but they moved to Detroit, and
now he's come back to help run the
First National bank. Janitor, aren't
you, Tub?"
Assistant janitor," said Tub An
drews pleasantly. "But next week
they are going to promote me to
stamp-licker Pleased to meet you"
He dropped down on the step beside
Miriam. "Why didn't you go into
the beauty pageant and give your sis
ter run for her compleXiOn?"
T?" Miriam was shocked with
Amusement. "She!'
"Sure. l was one of the judges.
Your sister had it easy, the way it
was But If you had been against
her--well-me-Pm one gentleman
who don't"
"Dont whatY' Miriam followed the
Guilty. but with interest
prefer EN-" He indicated the
golden Marjory with light wave of
his ukulele. "They freckle on the
nose, and peel on the neck, and go
dark In streaks-their hair does. I'm
blonde myself. | know all about en-"
"I'm going to turn you all out now"
called Marjory, with smile that took
the sting from her light dismissal Il
want to go upstairs and see my father,
and all my sisters have to come along.
You've been perfectly marvellous to
NEEDY, you're an angel"
81 know it," he agreed, brisllly.
With much laughter, many light sal
lies, hundred gay words. the happy
group dispersed slowly.
"I'll come and take you for ride
tomorrow" said Tub Andrews to
Miriam. "If you have not objection
to fivvers.'
81 haven't. | like them"
81 don't. l only drive them. About
eight, them"
And then, breathlessly, with Ginger
still in the forbidden gown and the
ridiculous curtain, the four girls ran
upstairs into their fathers room and
flung themselves upon his bed where
he sat erect, waiting. knowing they
would come TO him. MarjOry dropped
on her knees beside the bed, and
buried her bright face in his shoulders,
laughing, with tears in the laughter.
"Father-I got it. 1t was unan-
imous."
81 had sort of vague idea maybe
you got it," he said, teasingly, but
with tender warmth, transferring her
from his shoulder to the curve of his
arm, where he held her closely. ct
just seemed to me there couldn't pos
sibly be such a racket without some
prize to show for it."
"Father, give me your hand"
Into the outstretched palm she
pressed five small round pieces. gold,
lilly uOlldTS III dll, anu CuIleu Ills
fingers tightly upon the treasure
"Oh. my dear" he began protest
ingly.
Father, don't say word. Why,
Providence put on that beauty pageant
to give us the money for you to go
to Chicago again. Oh, father, we
knew you were just putting it off be-
cause you couldn't afford it And
now you can. For your eyes, darling"
The silence that followed was so
slight as to be barely noticeable. and
his voice was only slightly husky as
he said:
you're nice girl Marjory. And
you are quite right-the eyes need
care, and ! hadn't the money. 1t is
a Joy to take it from you-One of my
girls. You're more tran good looking,
Marjory, you're just plain nice. You're
all nice. l wish they'd offer four
prizes the next time-the proceeds
would run the parsonage for year."
CHAPTER Ill