Sunny Slopes | Page 3

astray?
David at last looked at his watch and said, rather hurriedly:
"By the way, I imagine a few of our young people will drop in to-night

for a first smile from the manse lady."
Carol leaped from her chair, jerked off the big kitchen apron, and flew
up the stairs with never a word. When David followed more slowly, he
found her already painstakingly dusting her matchless skin with velvety
powder.
"I got a brand new box of powder, David, the very last thing I did," she
began, as he entered the room. "When this is gone, I'll resort to cheaper
kinds. You see, father's had such a lot of experience with girls and
complexions that he just naturally expects them to be expensive--and
would very likely be confused and hurt if things were changed. But I
can imagine what a shock it would be to you right at the start."
David assured her that any powder which added to the wonder of that
most wonderful complexion was well worth any price. But Carol shook
her head sagely.
"It's a dollar a box, my dear, and very tiny boxes at that. Now don't talk
any more for I must fix my hair and dress, and--I want to look perfectly
darling or they won't like me, and then they will not put anything in the
collections and the heathens and we will starve together. Oh, will you
buckle my slippers? Thanks. Here's half a kiss for your kindness. Oh,
David, dear, do run along and don't bother me, for suppose some one
should get here before I am all fixed, and-- Shall I wear this little gray
thing? It makes me look very, very sensible, you know, and--er--well,
pretty, too. One can be pretty as well as sensible, and I think it's a
Christian duty to do it. David, I shall never be ready. I can not be talked
to, and make myself beautiful all at once. Dear, please go and say your
prayers, and ask God to make them love me, will you? For it is very
important, and-- If I act old, and dignified, they will think I am
appropriate at least, won't they? Oh, this horrible dress, I never can
reach the hooks. Will you try, David, there's my nice old boy. Oh, are
you going down? Well, I suppose one of us ought to be ready for
them,--run along,--it's lonesome without you,--but I have to powder my
face, and-- Oh, that was just the preliminary. The conclusion is always
the same. Bye, dearest." Then, solemnly, to her mirror, she said, "Isn't
he the blessedest old thing that ever was? My, I am glad Prudence got

married so long ago, or he might have wanted her instead of me. I don't
suppose the mansers could possibly object to a complexion like mine. I
can get a certificate from father to prove it is genuine, if they don't
believe it."
Then she gave her full attention to tucking up tiny, straying curls with
invisible hair pins, and was quite startled when David called suddenly:
"Hurry up, Carol, I am waiting for you."
"Oh, bless its heart, I forgot all about it. I am coming."
Gaily she ran down the stairs, parted the curtains into the living-room
and said:
"Why are you sitting in the dark, David? Headache, or just plain
sentimental? Where are you?"
"Over here," he said, in a curious, quiet voice.
She groped her way into the center of the room and clutched his arms.
"David," she said, laughing a little nervously, "here goes the last gasp
of my dear old Methodist fervor."
"Why, Carol--" he interrupted.
"Just a minute, honey. After this I am going to be settled and solemn
and when I feel perfectly glorious I'll just say, 'Very good, thank you,'
and--"
"But, Carol--"
"Yes, dear, just a second. This is my final gasp, my last explosion, my
dying outburst. Rah, rah, rah, David. Three cheers and a tiger. Amen!
Hallelujah! Hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the stars! Now it's
all over. I am a Presbyterian."
David's burst of laughter was echoed on every side of the room and the
lights were switched on, and with a sickening weakness Carol faced the

young people of her husband's church.
"More Presbyterians, dear, a whole houseful of them. They wanted to
surprise you, but you have turned the tables on them. This is my wife,
Mrs. Duke."
Slowly Carol rallied. She smiled the irresistible smile.
"I am so glad to meet you," she said, softly, "I know we are going to
like each other. Aren't you glad you got here in time to see me become
Presbyterian? David, why didn't you warn me that surprise parties were
still stylish? I thought they had gone out."
Carol