Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-20

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| nearly normal in the old parsonage.
Prudence said she couldn't feel quite
satisfied because the twins were too
old to be punished, but she often
scolded them in her gentle teasing
way, and the twins enjoyed it more
than anything else that happened dur
ing those days of quiet.
Then came night vhen the four sis
tiers huddled breathlessly in the kitch.
en-, ard Aunt Grace and the trained
nurse stayed with Prudence behind
the closed door of the front room up
stairs. And the doctor went in. too.
after he had inflicted few light
hearted remarks upon the two men
in the little library.
| After that-silence, an immense,
hushing silence-settled down over
the parsonage. Jerry and Mr.. Starr,
alone in the library, where q faint
odor OF drugs, anesthetics, something
that smeTled like hospitals fingered,
stared away from each other with per
sistent determination. Now and then
Jerry walked across the room, but
Mr.. Starr stood motionless by the win
dow looking down at the cherry tree
beneath him, wondering vaguely how
it dared to be so full OF snowy blooms!
Where are the girls?" Jerry asked,
picking up roll of cotton which had
been left on the library table, and
] flinging 1t from him as though It
scorched his fingers.
Think I'll go and see," said Mr..
Starr, turning heavily.
Jerry hositated minute. "1-think
I'll go along he said.
For an instant their eyes met, SYM
pathetically, and did not smile though
their lips curved.
Down in the kitchen, meanwhile,
Fairy sat somberly beside the table
with a pile OF darning which she jab-
bed at viciously with the needle. Lark
/ was perched on the ice chest, but Car
I, oil, true to her childish instincts,
hunched on the floor with her feet
curled beneath her. Connie leaned
against the table within reach of
Fairy's hand.
They're awfully SLOW" she COM
planned once.
NOBODY answered. Inc QeaOly
silence clutched them.
ooh, talk" Carol blurted out des.
perately. "You make me sick! 1t isn't
anything to be so awfully scared
about Everybody does It,"
A little humble greeted this, and
then, silence again. Whenever 1t grew
too painful, Carol said reproachfully
Everybody does it," And no one ever
answered.
They looked up expectantly when
the men entered. 1t seemed cozier
somehow when they were all together
in the little kitchen.
lis she all right"
Sure, she's all right" came the
bright response from their father.
And then silence.
,"Oh, you make me SICK" cried Car.
oil. Everybody does it,
Carol Starr, If you say everybody
does IT. again I'll send you to bed"
snapped Fairy. Don't we know every.
body does it? But Prudence isn't ey-
|erybody."
Maybe we'd better have lunch"
suggested their father hopefully,
knowing the thought Of food often
aroused his family when all other
means had failed. But his suggestion
met with dark reproach.
Father, if you're hungry, | take a
piece Of bread out into the woodshed."
begged Connie. If anybody eats any.
thing before me / shall jump up and
down and scream"
Their father smiled family and gave
it up. After that the silence was un-
broken save once when Carol began
encouragingly:
Every"
Sure they do interrupted Fairy
uncompromisingly
And then-the hush.
Long, long after that, when the
girls eyes were heavy. not with want
Of sleep, but just with unspeakable
WEAKNESS of spirit-they heard step
on the stair
Come on up, Harmer," the doctor
called. And then, Sure, she's all
right She's, fine and dandy-both Of
them are"
Jerry was gone in an instant, and
Mr.. Starr looked after him with in
scrutable eyes. Fathers are-only
fathers" he said enigmatically.
Yes" agreed Carol.
Yes. In crisis, the other man
goes first"
His daughters turned to him then
tenderly, sympathetically.
you had your turn, father" Con-
ME consoled him. And felt repaid for
the effort when he smiled at her.
"They are both fine, you know said
Corol "'T'ho doctpr u.id co..
I'VE heard him. Fairy assured her
Yes, said all the time you were
all awfuly silly about it. knew it
was all right. Everybody does it."
Jerry Junior Lark mused Hes
here Aunt Lark, may have a
cooky?' "
A few minutes later the door was
carefully showed open by means of a
cautious foot and Jerry stood before
them holding in his arms big bundle