Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
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CHAPTER II. (Continuedl

CHAPTER II. (Continued)
At 10 o'clock the train carried their
father off in the direction Of Burling-
ton and at IL O'Clock the twins re-
aurned to the parsonage. They had
given him a daughterly send-off at the
setatfon and then gone to the library
Tor books. Prudence, Fairy and Aunt
Grace sat sewing on the side porch
NE they cut across the parsonage lawn,
fheir feet crinkling pleasantly through
he drift of autumn leaves the wind
had piled beneath the trees.
We're out of potatoes, twins" said
prudence. as they drew near you'll
have to dig some before dinner"
For one instant their complacent
2Natures clouded. Prudence looked up
expectantly. sure of break in their
Derene placidity.
One doubtful second, then
Certainly, Prudence" said Carol
brightly
And Lark added genially, Wed bet
Tier fill the box, l guess-so Well have
onough for the rest of the week"
And singing light but unharmonic
4natch of song, the twins went IN
Search OF basket and hoe. n.
The twins were not musical. They
0nly sang from principle, to emphasize
Their light heartedness when 1t need
Ed special impressing
AS; Prudence's brows knitted in anxious
and she sighed few times.
3s What is the matter, Prue? You look
Hike .ainy Christmas" said Fairy.
IT'S the twins" was the mournful
E&nswer.
.'The twins!" calculated Fairy.
why, they've acted like angels late
I Even Aunt Grace lifted mildly in
&Quiring eye brows.
That's It! That's just it. When the
Elwins act like angels l get uneasy
kk1ght away The better they act the
more suspicious feel"
Il What have they been doing?"
4 Nothing! Not thing! That's why
FIRM worried. 1t must be something
Eterrible!" .-... Is
Fairy laughed and returned to her
|embroidery. Aunt Grace smiled and
EDegan plying her needles once more.
hut Prudence still looked troubled and
ESighcd often. ~.
There was no apparent ground for
her alarm. The twins came back
With tho potatoes, peeled some for
and set the table, their faces
Estill bright and smiling. Prudence's
Eyes, often fastened upon their angelic
Elcountenances, grew more and more
Itroubled. .r
M In the afternoon, they joined the
little circle on the porch, but not to
sew They took book and lay down
On a rug With the book before them.
reading together Evidently they
were all absorbed. An hour passed,
two hours, three. At times Carol
pointed to line, and said in low:
voice, That's good. isn't IT," And
lark would answer, 'Dandy!-Have
you read this7'
Prudence. in spite of her devotion
\ to the embFoidering Of large SIS on as
EsGorted pieces Of linen, never forgot
the twins for mment.
& What are you readtng?" she asked
.at last aimlessly, her only desire to
6Hbe assured by the sound of their
voices, ~. .r
D.There was an almost imperceptible
rSuse. Then Carol answered-her
hin was in her palms which may
have accounted for the mumbling of
the words
.Scianceanelth."
WHAT
Another pause, little more percep-
sssatible this time. Science and Health"
Carol said at last. quite distinctly.
Science and Health" Prudence re-
peated, in puzzled tohe rs 1t
doctor book?"
Why-something Of the sort
yes said Carol obviously.
Science and Health? Science and
Health mused Fairy. you don't
Y mean that Christian Science book, do
YOU? You know what mean. Prudence
Mary Baker Eddy's book-Science
1 and Health--that's the name of it.
That's not what you twins are devour-
n ing so ravenously, is it,"
Carol answered with manifest re-
8luctance. glancing nervously at Pru-
sdence. "Y-yes-that's what it is
Ominous silence greeted this admis.
sion "A slow red flush mantled the
twins cheeks. Aunt Grace's eyes
Ntwinkled little, although her face
was grave. Fairy looked surprised. |
Prudence looked dunfounded. When |
she spoke. her words gave no sign of |
the cataclysmic struggle through !
which she had passed.
s u III sss .ssSs