The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-08-16
The TribuIatiOnS
of a TripIef.
BY Carroll Watson Rankin.
.-scNeooooo 90

THE S.One girls were by all ouds,
the most interesting pupils in
the Worthwhile high school. 1t was not
because Of their superior intellect.
however, for every one knew that Cora
Brook could recite far more accurate
ly. 1t was not because of their beau
ty, for half dozen girls eclipsed them
there: nor was it because of their
wealth. for they had none. The in
ferest was due to the sole fact that
they were triplets.
The high school teachers had had
experience with twins. They had
coped with the Bradley boys. and had
come out second best. They had grad
uaied the two boys with all honors,
and had forever afterward entertained
n horrible suspicion that one boy had
done all the work. They gave the
triplets up on sight. and decided TO
educate them "in lump" as they had
been obliged to do in the case of the
Bradley noys.
II is possible that the triplets them
selves knew which was which. No one
else did, with the exception of their
mother. "Oh yes" Mrs. Stone would
say, proudly, 81 can tell them apart
quite easily. ! have only to look into
their eyes. To be sure, the eyes are
all the same shade of brown. but the
expression is quite different. There is
a great difference in the girls dispo-
sitions, too"
But TO every one else the girls were
puzzle One of them never had les
son. one was conscientious and pains
taking about her work; one was the
soul OF punctuality. and one was al
WAYS late: but which was who and
who WINS which no one was able TO de-
termine.
Mr.. Ball. the head master, said
Don. ask me. I'm not good at puz-
zles." Miss Brown. the preceptress
said, "Give me something easy-a prob
lem in higher mathematics, for in.
stance" AZ the other teachers were
equally bewildered. the triplets had
things pretty much their own way
and worked or shirkcd, rs II might
happen. but alws0s in partnership.
"Of course" said Miss Brown, iii
isn't possible that one OF those girls
Is doing all the work. The girl who
is strong in mathematics Is not thu
one whose essays are so good. The
one with the neat handwriting Is not
the girl with the talent for drawing
Each OF those girls is lame in some
one study and strong in another. The
only thing to do is to divide the goot
and the bad marks equally among
them and let il 90 at that"
In naming the children. Mrs. Ston'
felt X her duty. since nature had nj
ready done 40 much toward making
them alike. TO give them the SANE
namc-with variations. She decided &
name them NIL, with delightful impair
TALLY, after her own mother. who's
maiden name had been Ada Rogers
Consequently. one was Adelaide Rog
~rs Stone, another was Adeline Roger
Stone. and the third unfortunate wa
Adaictte Rogers Stone. Mrs. Ston
was proud of Adalettc. 1t was he
own invention. but the bearer of tn
name hated II from the depths OF he
soul.
Mrs. Stone carried out the same ide
with regard to their clothes. Thi
was made easy by the fact that tn
triplets possessed stout and childles
aunt, fond OF dress and in comfortabl
circumstances. She was in the habi
Of giving her partly worn gowns :
her sister, who made them over 70
the three girls. by throwing In on
81 her own more sober gowns 10
facings, sleeves and trimmings. Mr.
Stone was able, by careful manage
ment. 70 make three dresses so c.
actly alike that the girls thcmselvs
could never tell them apart.
As Mrs. Stone said, there was
great difference in the dispositions {
the three girls. Adelaide was prou
OF being n triplet. and wouldn't hay
been mere twin for anything. II
different Adclinc cared nothing abo,
y, one way or another; and Adclet'
was heartily and frankly disguise
with the state OF affairs.
I'm perfectly tired" she won
say. "of being triplet. I'm Just sic