Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
ace. II must think it over"

face. II must think it over
The twins, with apparent relish, re
turned to their perusal of the book.
Fairy rose almost Immediately and
: went into the house, coming back a
moment later with her hat and gloves.
I'm going for stroll, Prue,' she
; said. "I'll be back in time for supper"
i Prudence gazed yearningly after her
departing back. She felt great need
of help in this crisis, and Fairy's non
chalance was sometimes very sooth-
ing Aunt Grace was a darling, of
course, but she had long ago disclaim-
ed all responsibility for the rearing of
the twins.
1t was two hours later when Fairy
came back. Prudence was alone on
the porch.
Where are the twins?" asked Fairy
softly.
Upstairs" was the whispered re-
ply. 'Well?"
Then Fairy spoke more loudly, con.
fident that the twins. in their upstairs
room. could hear every word she said.
Come upstairs, Prue. want to talk
this over with you alone" And hen
she whispered, "Now. you just take
| yOul Cue IL Jill ulS, c1Ilu w dS soy. L AC
little sinners! Well teach them to be
so funny"
In their own room she carefully
closed the door and smiled as she not
ed a creaking Of the closet door on the
twins side of the wall. Eavesdropping
was not included among the cardinal
sins in the twins private decalogue,
| when the conversation concerned
! themselves.
Nov, Prudence" Fairy began,
speaking with an appearance of soft
ness, though she took great pains to
turn her face toward the twins ROOM
and enunciated very clearly indeed. II
know this will hurt you, as It does
me, but we've got to face it fairly If
the twins are convinced that Christian
| Science Is the right kind of religion,
we can't stand in them way. It might
, turn them from all religion and make
, them infidels or atheists, or something
| worse. Any religion is better than
! none. I've been reading up a little my
self this afternoon, and there are some
good points in Christian Science. OF
couse, for our sakes and fathers, the
twins will be generous and deny they
are Scientists. But at heart, they are.
I saw it this afternoon. And you and
| ], Prudence, must stand together and
back them up. They'll have to leave
the Methodist church. 1t may break
our hearts, and fathers, too, but we
, can't wrong our little sisters just for
our personal pride and pleasure in
them. l think we'll have them go be.
fore the deacons next Sunday while
father Is gone-then he will be spared
the pain Of it, I'll speak to Mr.. Laur.
en- about it tomorrow. We must make
it as easy for them as we can:-Theyll
probably dismiss them-I don't sup
pose they'll give them letters. But it
must be all over before papa comes
back"
Then she Kissed in Prudence's ear,
Now cry"
and gulping, and Fairy rushed to her
and threw her arms about her, sob
! bling In heart broken accents, There,
there, Prue, I know felt just the
same about 1t. But we can't stand be-
| tween the twins and what they think
Is right. We daren't have that on our
consciences."
| The two wept together, encouraged
| by the death like stiffness in the clos
ct on the other side Of the wall.
Then Fairy said, more calmly,
though still sobbing occasionally, For
our sakes, they'll try to deny it, But
we can't let the little darlings sacrifice
themselves. They've got to have a
chance to try their new belief. Well
just be firm and insist that they stand
on their rights. We won't mention 1t
, to them fof day or two-we'll fix
| it up with the elders first And we
! must surely~get it over by Sunday.
Poor old father-and how he loves
- Fairy INDUCED in clever and es-
pecially artistic bit Of weeping. Then
she regained control of her feelings
by an audible effort. But it has it's
good points, Prue. Haven't you noticed
how sweet and sunny and dear the
twins have been lately? 1t was Science
and Health working in them. Oh, Pru-
dence, dear, don't cry So
Prudence caught her cue again and
began weeping afresh. They soothed
and caressed and comforted each 9TH
er for while and then went down
stairs to finish getting supper.
In the meantime, the checked and
Mortified twins in the closet of their
own room were clutching each other
with passionate intensity. Little ner-
vous chills set them aquiver, their
hands were cold their faces throbbing
hot When their sisters had gone
down stairs they stared at each other
in agony.
"They-they wo-won't p-p-put us out
of the ch-church,' gasped Carol.
They will stammered Lark. you
know what Prudence is She'd put the
whole church out if she thought it
would do us any good
"Pa-p-pa 'll--papa'l IL" began Carol
her teeth chattering.
They'll do it before he gets back.