Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-29
CHAPTER ~, (Continued.)

OffAf 1 In w. (COASuuoO.)
What 10 the matter? Has Connie
Y been IN mischief"
~lts worse than that" faltered Pru-
denoA tears rushing to her eyes again
why, Prudence! What in the world
has she done?'
Il may as we'll tell you, suppose
you'll have to know 1t sooner or later.
SsShe-went out into Avery's orchard
{ and stole some apples this afternoon.
~ was back in the alley seeing If Mrs.
- Moon could do the washing and I saw
aher from the other side. She went
<E1rom tree to tree and when she got
sthrough the fence she ran. There's
Inc mistake about it-she confessed"
1.-THE twins looked up in agony, but
Prudences face treasured them. Con-
Instance had told no tales. II have told
her she must spend all of her time
Itaup stairs alone for week, taking her
.meals there, too.$ She will go to
T|echool, of course, but that Is all.
want her to see the awfulness of 1t.
.EI told her l didn't think we wanted
Ito eat with-a thief-just yet! l said
I'VE must get used to the idea OF 1T
first She 1s heartbroken, butt
J, must make her see It'll" rf~..
~ That was the end of supper. No
vyOne attempted to eat another bite.
hsAfter the older girls had gone into
1.-THE sitting room Carol and Lark went
ssabout their work with stricken faces.
Z shes a little brick not to tell"
lWhispered Lark. -. ,.. ..'
& ..I'm going to give her that pearl
& pan Of mine she always liked" said
1Carol In hushed voice. H. ...e
It'll give her my blue ribbon, too
@nhe loves blue so. And tomorrow I'll
take that quarter I've saved and buy
'NAer whole quarters worth of candy
But that night when the twins went
IND to bed they were doomed to dis.
They had on chance Of
making 1t up with Constance. For
had moved her small bed
losout OF the twins room and had placed
Pitt In the front room occupied by her
LIa1elf and Fairy. They asked IL they
.gmight speak to Constance but Pru-
lldence went In with them to say good
might to her. The twins broke down
and cried as they saw the pitiful little
0NAgure with the wan and tear stained
place. They threw their arms around
Liner passionately and kissed her many
fimes. But they went to bed without
laying anything.
9 Hours later Lark whispered, "Carol!
ARE you asleep"
& mo. can't go to sleep somehow"
Neither can I. Do you think we'd
& otter tell Prudence all about it?''
Carol squirmed in the bed. e.
suppose we had she said reluctantly.
Elv,f.- h. Lotto for no
n FOR Connie Lark added. ':We're so
much older and we made her DO it."
Yes, and we ate all the apples"
amourned Carol.
Maybe we'd better just let 1t co."
1uggested Lark.
"And we'll make it up to Connie af-
Iterwards," said Carol.
Now, you be careful and not give
Mt away, Carol" ..- d..
But 1t was a sorry night for the
twins. The next morning they set off
Ito school with no chance for anything
fbut brief good morning with Con-
nie given in the presence Of Pru.
dence. Half way down the parsonage
walk Carol said:
M "Oh, wait minute, Lark. left my
notebook on the table," And Lark
walked slowly while Carol went rush
Ting back. She found Prudence in the
Kitchen and whispered:
81 "Here-here's note, Prudence.
Don't read 1t until after I've gone to
Sschool-at 10 o'clock you may read
dt Will you promise?"
Prudence laughed a little, but she
Epromised and laid the note carefully
away to wait the appointed hour for
Its perusal. AS the clock struck ten
Eshe went to the mantle and took it
down. This is what Carol had writ
ffen:
oh, Prudence, do please forgive me
and don't punish Connie any more.
You can punish me any way you like
and I'll be glad of it. It was all my