Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17

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doors sdouble doors you understand,
not portieres! The front room, sell
dom used by the parsonage family,
opened on the right of the narrow hall
way. Beyond it was the living room,
which it must be- confessed the par
sonage girls only called living room
extraordinarily 1t was the sitting
room, and CHEEKY, honey, attractive
place it was, with great bay window
looking out upon the stately mansion
of the Averys.- To the left of the liv-
ing room was the dining room. The
double doors between them were al
ways open The other pair was clos
ed, except on occasions of importance.
Now, this really was a crisis in the
life of the parsonage family-if not
of the parsonage itself. The girls had
met, separately, every member of the
Ladies' Aid. But this was their first
combined movement upon the parson-
age, and Prudence and Fairy realized
that much depended on the success
of the day. AS girls, the whole Meth
odist church pronounced the young
STAIRS charming. But as parsonage
people-well, they were obliged to re-
serve Judgment. And as for Prudence
having entire charge Of the household,
it must be acknowledged that every in
dividual lady looked forward to this
meeting with eagerness-they wanted
to "size up the situation. They were
coming to see for, r. Yes,
it was undoubtedly a crisis. ~
a"There'n be a; crowd of course
i, said Fairy. Well Just leave the doors
between the front rooms .opensssssr
YES, but we'll close the dining
room doors. Then well have the re.
freshments all out on the table. and
when we are ready We'll just fling.
back the doors carelessly and-there
you are!" .,t
So the table was ,prettily decorated
with flowers, and great plates of sand
wiches and cake were placed upon it,
!! In the center was an enormous punch
bowl, borrowed from the Averys, full
of lemonade. 4 Glasses We're properly
arranged on the trays, and piles of
nicely home laundered napkins were
scattered here and there. The girls
felt that the dining room was a credit
to them, and to the Methodist church
entire.
From every nook and corner of the
house they hunted out chairs and
stools, anticipating a real run upon
the parsonage Nor were they dis
appointed. The twins and Connie were
not even arrayed In their plain little
ginghams, clean, before the first ar
rivals were ushered up into the front
bed room, ordinarily occupied by
Prudence and Fairy. 1e,
There's Mrs. Adams, and Mrs.
Prentiss, and Mrs -" began Connie,
listening intently to the voices in the
next room. ...
"Yes,' whispered, Carol, peek
through the key-hole, Lark. and see
if Mrs. Prentiss is looking under the
bed for dust. They say She
you'd better not let Prudence catch
you repeating" ...l
There's Mrs Stone and Mrs. Davis
and" r~-,--.... .-.g
They say Mrs. Davis only, belongs
to the Ladies' Aid for the sake of re-
freshments, and" " ..
carol! Prudence will punish you
well, don't believe it," protested
Carol. "Fm. just telling you what I've
heard other people say"
I'VE aren't allowed to repeat gos-
sip" urged Lark.
"No. and think it's shame, too,
for it's awfully funny. Minnie Drake
told me that Miss Varne joined the
Methodist church as soon as she heard
the new minister was a widower so
sl1e----'I4 ts- -. .,s..Ssa go .i-A--z u'st.
= "Carol!, aet-=
Carol whirled around sharply, and
flushed, and swallowed hard. For
Prudence was Just behind her e
but she could get ne
further. 81 s-$si t---#
Upon occasion, Prudence was quite
terrible. $50 I heard she. said dryly
but her eyes were hard. Now run
downstairs and out to the field, or to
the barn and play And, Carol be
sure and remind me of that speech to-
night, might forget It," =
The girls ran: quickly out, Carol well
in the lead. -
.. .(To be continued