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Show fl L i' - SOUTH CACHE COURIER. HYRUM, UTAH PHJDENCC Huesforvi $Ethel ($ AUTHOK rtf PMOOKE Of Hit fMJQMAG- B- CAROL INVOLUNTARILY SPOILS e MUmUM WEDDING ALL PLANS AND THE BIG EVENT OF THE FAMILY, THE CONGREGATION AND THE TOWN IS POSTPONED. Synopsis. The story opens In the home of the Rev. Mr. Starr where Prudence, his eldest daughter and feminine head of the house, consisting of her father, herself, her sister Fairy, the twins Carol and Lark and Connie, the youngest, are awaiting the arrival of their aunt Grace. Liveliness of the smaller members of the family results disastrously for their appearance. Carol and Lark Investigate Christian Science. CHAPTER III thats Continued. matter, Re feald Fairy more thoughtfully. hasnt wanted to yet. You see, hes a man and can go by himself without having it look as though nobody wantRum a different ed to be seen with him. And hes a stranger over there, and doesnt need to get chummy with the girls. The boys here all know me, and ask me to go, and a man, you see, can just be passive and nothing happens. But a girls got to be downright negative, and its no joke. One misses so many good times. You see the cases are dif- ferent, Prue." thats Yes, absent-mindedl- y, so," Prudence assented counting off ten more threads. Then you would object if he had dates? queried Aunt Grace smilingly. Oh, no, not at all if there was any occasion for it but there Isnt. And I think I would be justified in objecting if he deliberately made occasions for himself, dont you? Yes, that would be different, Pru- dence chimed in, such miles away in her voice that Fairy turned on he Indignantly. Prudence Starr, you make me wild, Cant you drop that evershe said. lasting hemstitching, embroidering, tatting, crocheting, for ten minutes to talk to me? What in the world are you going to do with It all, anyhow? Are you intending to carpet your floors with it? This is a napkin,- Prudence exThe set cost plained She sighed. me fifteen dollars. The clouds Did the veil come? vanished magically from Fairys face, and she leaned forward with that joy of wedding anticipation that rules in good-naturedl- y. woman-worl- d. its beautiful. Come and see Wait until I pull four more threads. it. Its gorgeous. I still think youre making a great I mistake," declared Fairy earnestly. dont believe in big, showy church weddings. Youd better change it yet. A little home affair with just the family thats the way to do it. All this Yes, . satin-gow- n, elabora- orange-blosso- wonted affection for the heathen? mocked Fairy. Trying to be a blank verse, Fairy? Keep It up, you havent far to go! There. they are! Look at them, Aunt Grace. They cheated. They tried to get all my pennies by nefarious methods, and And so Carol stole them all, and ran! Sit down, Jim. My, its hot. Give me back my pennies, Carol. inThe heathen "The heathen Not a penny do you sisted Carol. get. . You see, Aunt Grace, we were matching pennies youd hotter not mention it to father. Weve turned over a new leaf now, and quit for But we were matching and good. they made a bargain that whenever it was my turn, one of them would throw heads and one tails, and that way I never could win anything. And I didnt catch on till I saw Jim wink, and so I thought it was only right to give the pennies to the heathen." How is your mother, Jim?" Just fine, Miss Prudence, thank you. She said to tell you she would send a basket of red Junes tomorrow, if you want them. The twins can eat thepi, I know, Carol atfwtwenty-two- , when they were out Satuwiay. Yes, I did, and Im glaa of it, said Carol stoutly. Such apples you nevei saw, Prudence. Theyre about as big as a thimble, and s core. Theyre good,, theyre fine, Ill say that but theres nothing to them. If I had a ranch as big as yours, Jim, Ill bet you a dollar- - Id have apples bigger than a dime! Bet you a dollar, quoted Fairy. Well, Ill wager my soul, if that sounds more like Shakespeare. Dont go away, Jim ; were not fighting. This is just the way Fairy and I make love to each other. Youre perfectly welcome to stay, but be careful of your grammar, for now that Fairys a -will be next year, if she lives she even tries to teach father the approved method of doing a ministerial sneeze in the pulpit. Think Id better go, decided the tall, youth, laughing as he looked with frank, boyish admiration into Carols sparkling face. With Fairy after my grammar, and you to criticize my manner and my morals, I see right now that a parsonage is no safe place for a farmers son. And laughing again, he thrust his cap Into his pocket and walked quickly out the new cement parsonage walk. But at the gate he paused to call back, Dont make a mistake, Carol, and use the heathens pennies for candy. The girls on the porch laughed, and five pairs of eyes gazed after the tall figure rapidly disappearing. Hes nice, said Prudence. Yes, assented Carol. Ive got a notion to marry him after a little. That farm of his Is worth about ten' thousand. Are you going to wait until he asks hard-earne- d I ! two-third- senior- good-lookin- g tion with curious eyes staring up and down ugh Its all wrong Prudence dropped the precious napkin in her lap and I know gazed at Fairy anxiously. you think so, Fairy, she said. Youve told me so several times. Fairys eyes' twinkled, but Prudence had no But I cant intention of sarcasm. help it, can I? We had quite settled on the home wedding, but when the twins discovered that the members felt hurt at being left out, father thought wed better change over. Well, I cant see that the members have any right to run our wedding. Besides, it wouldnt surprise me if the twins made it up because they wanted you? a big fuss. Certainly not Anybody can marry to members of the some But spoke a man after he asks her. Jhe thing father. And you must admit, Fairy, to if do, you want to be really original of Aid to Ladies the is that it lovely and interesting, is to marry him behotel at the us. dinner for that give fore he asks yeu, and surprise him." Well, theyll get their moneys Yes. agreed Lark, if you wait unworth of talk out of it afterward. Its til he asks you hes likely to think it on a big mistake. What earth are the twins doing out there? Is that Jim over once too often and not ask you Forrest with them? Listen how they at all. Doesnt that sound exactly like a are screaming with laughter! Would now? demanded Carol proudly. book, you ever believe' those twins are past couldnt have said that ! Fairy and their fifteen, nearly through junior said Fairy, I couldnt. Thank No, year? They havent as much sense put I have what is commonly goodness! Connie as has all alone. together Look it up In the as brains. known Come and see the veil, said Prutwins. Its something you dictionary, But she dence, rising. dropped back on the step again as Carol came rush- ought to know about." Oh, Prudence, cried Lark dramating toward them at full speed, with I forgot to tell you. You cant ically, Lark and a tall young fellow trailing married after all. get slowly, laughing, behind her. seconds ten For Prudence, as well she gasped. The mean things and as their aunt, stared in Fairy !" handa She dropped They cheated Then Pruful of pennies in her aunts lap as she speechless amazement. smiled. dence em lay in the hammock. Well take "Oh, cant I? Whats the Joke now?" to Sunday school and give em to the "Joke! Its no Joke. Carols sick, do. They ihenthen, tlints what well thats whats the Joke. You cant get fcheated Yes. Infant, who cheated, and how, married without Carol, can you? A burst of gay laughter greeted this and why? And whence the startling announcement. And un this why arrdy of pennies? t 1 1 ! fir 1 1 . Carol sick! She icts sick I" "She looks sick!" ' Where is she sick? Carol leaned limply back against the pillar, trying to compose her bright face into a semblance of illness. In my tummy, she announced weakly. This called forth more laughter. Its her conscience," said Fairy. Its matching pennies, Maybe she swallowed one." Its probably those two pieces of pie she ate for dinner, and the one that vanished from the pantry shortly after," suggested Aunt Grace. Carol sat up quickly. "Welcome home, Aunt Grace! she cried. "Did you have a pleasant visit? "Carol! reproved Prudence. I didnt mean It for impudence, auntie," said Carol, getting up. and bending affectionately over the hammock, gently caressing the brown hair Just beginning to silver about her forehead. "But it does amuse me so to hear a lady of your age and dignity indulge in such lavish conversational r exercises.1 Lark swallowed with a forced effort. Did it hurt, Carol? How did you get it all out in one breath?" Lark, I do wish you wouldnt gulp that way when folks use big words," said Fairy. It looks awful. Well, I wont when I get to be as old and crabbed as father, said Lark. Sit down, Carol, and remember youre sick. Carol obediently sat down, and looked sicker than ever. You can laugh if you like," she said, I am sick at least, I was this afternoon. Ive been feeling very queer for three or four days. I dont think Im quite over it yet. Pie! You were right, Aunt Grace! Thats the way pie works. Its not pie at. all," declared Carol heatedly. And I didnt take that piece out of the pantry, at least, not exactly. I caught Connie sneaking it, and I gave her a good calling down, and she hung her head and slunk away in disgrace. But she had taken such big bites that it looked sort of unsanitary, so I thought Id better finish It before it gathered any germs. But Its not pie. Now that I think of it, it was my head where I was sick. Dont you remember, Lark, I said my head ached? Yes, and her eyes got red and bleary when she was reading. And and there was something else, too, Carol, what Your eyes are bloodshot, Carol. Prudence exam They Uo ' look ined them closely. "Now, Carol Starr, dont you touch another book or maga' zlne until after the wedding. If you think I want a bloodshot bridesmaid, youre mistaken." They all turned to look across the yard at Connie, just turning in. Con nie always walked, as Carol said, as if she mostly wasnt there. But she usually arrived by the time she got within speaking distance of her sister. Goodness, Prue, arent you going to do anything but eat after you move to Des Moines? Carol and I were counting the napkins last night was it a hundred and seventy-six- , Carol, or some awful number I know. Carol piled them up in two piles and we kneeled on them to say our prayers, and I cant say for sure, but I think Carol pushed me. Anyhow, I lost my balance, and usually Im pretty well balanced. I toppled over right after God save, and Carol screamed the Prues wedding napkins I napkins It was an awful funny effect ; I couldnt finish my prayers. Carol Starr ! Fifteen years old and "Thats a very much exaggerated story, Prue. Connie blamed it on me as usual. She piled them up herself to see if there were two feet of them she put her stockings on the floor first so the dust wouldnt rub them off. It was Larks turn to sweep and you know how Lark sweeps, and Connie was very careful. Indeed, and Come on, Fairy, and see the veil I The veil! Did It come? With a joyous, undignified whoop the parsonage girls scrambled to their feet and rushed indoors in a fine Kilkenny jumble.- - Aunt Grace looked after them, thoughtfully, smiling for a second, and then with a girlish shrug of her slender shoulders she slipped out and followed them inside. The twins were undeniably lazy, and slept as late of mornings as the par sonage law allowed. So it was that when Lark skipped into the dining room, three minutes late for breakfast, she found the whole family, with the exception of Carol, well in the midst of their meal. She was sick, she began quickly, Oh, good then, interrupting herself morning! Beg pardon for forgetting my manners. But Carol was sick, Pru dence, and I hope you and Fairy are ashamed of yourselves and auntie, too for making fun of her. She couldnt sleep all night, and rolled and tossed, and her head hurt and she talked In her sleep, and I thought she didnt sleep. "Well, she didnt sleep much, but when she did she mumbled and said things and Then the dining-roodoor openet again, and Carol her hair about hef shoulders, her feet bare, enveloped in a soft, clinging kimono of faded blue stalked majestically Into the room. m There was woe in her eyes, and her voice was tragis. It is gone," she said. "It Is gone ! Her appearance was uncanny, to say the least, and the family gazed at her with some concern, despite the fact that Carols vagaries were so common as usually to elicit small respect. "Gone !" she cried, striking her. Gone ! palms together. "If you do anything to spoil that wedding, papall whip you, if you are fifteen years old, said Fairy. Lark sprang to her sisters side. Whats gone, Carrie?" she pleaded What's gone? Are you with tears. out of your head? No! Out of my complexion, was the dramatic answer. Even Lark fell back, for the moment, stunned. complexion," she faltered. "Look I Look at me, Lark. Dont you see? My complexion is gone my beautiful complexion that I loved. Look at me ! Oh, I would gladly have sacrificed a leg, or an arm, a rib or an eye, but not my dear complexion ! Sure enough, now that they looked carefully, they could indeed perceive that the usual soft creaminess of Carols skin was prickled and sparred with ugly red splotches. Her eyes were watery, shot with blood. For a time they gazed in silence, then they burst into laughter. Pie!" cried Fairy. Its raspberry pie, coming out, Carol ! The corners of Carols lips twitched slightly, find It was with difficulty that she maintained her wounded regal bearing. But Lark, always quick to resent an indignity to this twin of her heart, turned upon them angrily. "Fairy Starr ! You are a wicked, unYou sit there and feeling thing! laugh and talk about pie when Carol is sick and suffering her lovely complexion all ruined, and it was the joy of my life, that complexion was. Papa why dont you do something? But he only laughed harder than If theres anything more preever. posterous than Carols vanity because of her beauty, its Larks vanity for her, he said. Aunt Grace drew Carol to her side, and examined the ruined complexion closely. Then she smiled, but there was regret in her eyes. Well, Carol, youve spoiled your part of the wedding sure enough. Youve got the measles. Then came the silence of utter hor- ror. Npt the measles, begged Carol, wounded afresh. Give me diphtheria, or smallpox, or or even leprosy, and Ill bear it bravely and with a smile, but it shall not be said that Carols measles spoiled the wedding. Oh, Carol, wailed Prudence, dont have the measles please dont.' Ive waited all my life for this wedding . dont spoil It." Well, I always said it was a misA big wedding take, said Fairy. Oh, Fairy, please dont tell me that again. I know it so well. Papa, whatever shall we do? Maybe Jerry hasnt had them either. said Why, its easily arranged, Lark. Well just postpone the wedding until Carols quite well again." Bad luck, said Connie. Too much work, said Fairy. Well, she cant get married without Carol, can she? ejaculated Lark, Are you sure its measles, Aunt Grace? Yes, its measles. Then, said Fairy, well get Alice Bird or Katie Free to bridesmaid with Lark. They are the same size and either will do all right. She can wear Carols dress. You wont mind that, will you, Carol?" No, said Carol moodily, of course I wont. The only real embroidery dress I ever had In my life and havent got that yet! But go ahead and get anybody you like. Im hoo dooed, thats what It is. Its a pun ishment because you and Jim cheated yesterday, Lark. What did you do? asked Connie. You seenf to be getting the punish- ment 1 MUST YOU PAY TAX ON YOUR INCOME? Matter That Every American Is Called On to Determine Without Delay. MARCH 1 LIMIT FOR RETURNS Failure to File Them Involves Severe Penalties Taxpayers Will Be by Treasury Officials in Every County. As-fst- Washington. The time has arrived for every American subject to the income tax division of the war revenue act to figure up his Income and file his return. If he Is unmarried and has a net Income of $1,000 or moreor If he Is married or the head of a fam- ily and his net income Is $2,000 or more, he must pay the tax. His return must be In the hands of the collector of Internal revenue In the district In which the taxpayer lives or has his principal place of business before March 1, 1918. The man who thinks to evade this tax is making a serious error. Revenue officials will be in every county to check returns. Failure to make a correct return within the time specified involves heavy penalties. Net Income means gross Income less certain deductions provided for by the act. The law defines income as profit, gain, wages, salary, commissions, money or Its equivalent from commerce, vocations, professions, trade, rents, sales and dealings in property, real' and personal, and interest from investments except Interest from government bonds, or state, municipal township or county bonds. Incomes from service as guardian, trustee or executor ; from dividends, pensions, royalties, or patents, or oil and gas wells, coal land, etc., are taxable. Normal Rate Is 2 Per Cent The normal rate of tax is 2 per cent on net Incomes above the amount of exemptions, which Is $2,000 In the case of a married person or head of a family and $1,000 In the case of a single person. A married person or head of . a family is allowed an additional exemption of $200 for each dependant child if under eighteen years of age because or Incapable of defective. The taxpayer is considered to be the head of a family If he Is actually supporting one or more persons closely connected with him by blood relationship or relationship by marriage, or If his duty to support such person Is based on some moral or legal obligation. Debts ascertained to be worthless and charged off within the year and taxes paid except Income taxes and those assessed against local benefits are deductible. These and other points of the Income tax section of the war revenue act will be fully explained by revenue officers who will visit every county In the United States between January 2 and March 1 to assist taxpayers in making out their returns. Officers to Visit Every Locality. Notice of their arrival in each locality will be given in advance through the press, banks and post offices. They will be supplied with Income tax forms copies of which may be obtained also from collectors of Internal revenue. The bureau of Internal revenue Is seeking to Impress upon persons subject to the tax the fact that failure to see this official In no way relieves them of the duty Imposed by law to file their returns within the time speciself-suppo- rt fied. The penalty for failure to make the return on time Is a fine of not less than $20 nor more than $1,000, and in addition 50 per cent of the amount of the tax due. For making a false or fraudulent return, the penalty is a fine not to exceed $2,000 or not. exceeding one years imprisonment, or both, In the discretion of the court, and in addition 100 per cent of the tax to. evaded. Then wait for Carol. At to the Farmer. Papa, you must make her. The number of farmers who will pay Income taxes has not been estimated Carols uplifting work among by the government officials, but it Is the erring has an amusing endcertain they will form a large percening a bishop and a minister tage- of the 6,000,000 persons assessed make strange acquaintances. who never before have paid an Income tax. The average farmer does not keep books but if he avails himself of (TO BE CONTINUED.) the services of government experts who will be sent to aid him, it will not 8t. Pauls Gold Cross a Mark. There is a feeling growing in city be difficult for him to ascertain the circles that steps should be taken to amount of his net Income. The farmer is making out his return deaden the gleam of the cross and bell on St. Pauls cathedral, says the Lonmay deduct depreciation In the value don Globe. It Is pointed out that these of property and machinery used in the were regilded shortly before the war, conduct of his farm, and loss by fire, and that when the sun is shining storm or other casualty, or by theft if brightly they afford a magnificent not covered by insurance. Expenses landmark for enemy airmen to indi- actually Incurred in farm operation cate the whereabouts of the very cen- may be deducted, but not family or livter of the city of London. ing expense. Produce raised on the It is stated that the shining cross farm and traded for groceries, wearing can be seen many miles away with the apparel, etc., is counted as living .exnaked eye. penditures and cannot be deducted. "Shall we have Alice or Katie? Which do you prefer, Lark? Youll have to get them both, was the stoic answer. "I wont bridesmaid without Carol. Dont be silly, Lark. Youll have 1 |
