Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-26
shook them out for inspection! Their
faces nailed A little

| shook them out Tor 1nSpecLlOn! InelI
faces paled little.
"They-they are very" began
Carol courageously.~ Then she stopped
| The hose were fine tissue paper
imitation Of silk stockings! The
April fool, little twins" on the toes
was not necessary for their enlighten'
ment. They looked at their father
with sad but unresentful reproach IN
their swiftly Swallowed eyes.
Tits a good joke stammered
Carol, moistening her dry lips with
her tongue.
"It's-one on u.s." blurted Lark
promptly.
"Ha, ha, ha," laughed Carol, slowly
dryly, very DULY.
"Yes-ha, ha. ha," echoed Lark,
placing the bitter fruit carefully back
in it's box Her fingers actually trem'
bled.
Its a-swell joke, all right" Carol
said. 1--WE see that we'll enough-we're
not stupid, you know. But we did
want someSsilk stockings so-awfully
bad. But it's funny, ha, ha, hal"
"A gift from heaven!' muttered
Lark, with clenched teeth. "Well, you
got us that time"
| Come on, Lark, we must put them
sacredly away Silk stockings, you
know, are mighty scarce in a parson'
age
"Yes, ha, ha, ha," and the crushed
and broken twins left the room, with
dignity in spite of the blow.
The family did not enjoy the joke
on the twins.
Mr.. Starr looked at the others with
all mans confused incomprehension
of woman's notions! He spread out
his hands-an orthodox ministerial
gesture!. -. ,( a%-..,
Now, will some one kindly tell me
what there is in silk stockings, to
He shook his head helplessly. SILK
i stockings! A gift from heaven!" He
smiled, unmerrily. 1.-THE poor little
kids" Then he left the room.
Aunt Grace openly wiped her eyes
smiling at herself as she did so.
Fairy opened and closed her lips
several times. Then she spoke. Say
Prue, knock me down and sit on me
will you? Whatever made me think OF
such stupid trick as that?"
"Why, bless their little hearts,
whispered Prudence, shifting. Didn't
they look sorry? But they were so de-
termined to be game"
prudence, give me my eight cents,
demanded Connie. Il want 1t right
away"
What do you want it for?'
I'm going down to 'Morrow's anC
get some candy. never saw mean
;, er trick in my life! I'm surprised al
papa. The twins only play jokes fol
fun And Connie stalked grlmly out
of the parsonage and off toward town
A more abashed and downcast pail
of twins probably never lived. They
sat thoughtfully in their room, "A
Phoole's Silk Thread Hose" carefully
hidden from their hurt eyes.
ut was good jocks, Lark said, now
and then.
Eyes, very" assented Carol. "Bu
silk stockings, Larkie!"
And Lark squirmed wretchedly. "a
gift from heaven" she mourned
How they must be laughing!
But they did not laugh.
Connie came back and shared hel
candy. They thanked her courteousl,
and invited her to sit down. Their
they all ate candy and grieved togeth
er silently. They did not speak of thu
mornings disaster, but the twins I'm
derstood and appreciated the itende
sympathy of her attitude, and although
they said nothing, they looked at he
very kindly and Connie was we'll con
tent.
The morning passed drearily. TIL
twins had lost all relish for their vel
planned tricks and the others, dow
stairs, found the usually wild ant
hilarious day almost unbearably poky
Prudence's voice was gentle as sh
called them down to dinner, and TIN
twins, determined not to show tn
; white feather, went down at once AM
took their places. They bore thei
trouble bravely. but their eyes had tn
surprised and stricken look, and thei
, faces were nearly old. Mr.. Starr Gu
the blessing short and the dinner wa
, eaten in silence The twins tried t
start the conversation. They talke
of the weather with passionate devc
. ton. They discussed their studio
, with an almost unbelievable enthus
asm. They even referred, with sti1
smiles, to "papas good JOKE and the
laughed their dreary "ha, ha, ha," ur
til their father wanted to fall upon hi
knees and beg forgiveness.
Connie, still solicitous, helped ther
wash the dishes. The others disaI
,, peared. Fairy got her hat and wen
out without word Their father 70
lowed scarcely a block behind he
Aunt Grace sought all over the nous
, ! for Prudence, and finally found her i
the attic. comforting herself with
view of the lovely linens which file
j her hope box.
'Tm going for walk announce
Aunt Grace briefly
i! "All right assented Prudence. 81
I'm not here when you get back, don