Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-29


apples for me and Iate them. Con-
stolen apples would not taste very
good. 1t was all my fault and I'm so
sorry. I was such a coward I didn't
dare tell you last night. Will you for
give me? But you must punish me
as hard as ever you can. But please,
Prudence, won't you punish me some
way without letting Lark know about
it? Please, please, Prudence. don't let
Larkie know. You can tell papa and
Fairy so they will despise me, but
keep it from my twin. If you love me,
Prudence, don't let Larkie know" d
AS Prudence read this her face grew
very stern. Carols fault. And she
was ashamed to have her much loved
twin know Of her disgrace. At that
moment, Prudence heard some one
running through the hall and thrust
the note hastily into her dress. 1t
was Lark and she flung herself wildly
upon Prudence; sobbing bitterly.
What Is the matter, Lark" she
cried, really frightened. Are you
sick? 2"
"Heartsick. that's ALL walled Lark.
II told the teacher I was sick so
could come home, but I'm not. Oh,
Prudence, I know you'll despise and
abominate me all the rest of your
life and everybody will, and I deserve
1t. For / stole those apples myself.
That is, I made Connie 60 and get
them for me. She didn't want to- She
begged not to. But I made her. She
didn't eat one of them--I did it. And
she felt very badly about it. Oh, Pru-
dence, you can do anything in the
world to me- don't care how horrible
it is. l only hope you will. But. Pru-
dence, you won't let Carol know, will
you? Oh, spare me that, Prudence,
please. That's my last request, that
you keep it from Carol" IT,
. CHAPTER v.
Prudence was surprised and puzz-
led. She drew the note from her
pocket and gave it to Lark Carol
gave me that before she went to
school, she explained. Read it, and
tell what you are driving at. l think
you are both crazy. Or maybe you
are just trying to shield poor Connie.
Lark read Carols note, and gasped,
and-burst out laughing! The shame,
and bitter weeping. and nervousness,
had rendered her hysterical, and now
she laughed and cried until Prudence
was alarmed again.
In time, however, Lark was able to
explain. I'VE both did it, she gasp
ed, "the Skull and Crossbones And
we both told the truth about It.. We
made her go and get them for us and
we ate them and she didn't want to
60 I advised Carol not to tell and
she advised me not to. All the way
to school this morning we kept ad-
vising each other not to say word
about it. But I intended all the time
to pretend I was sick, so I could come
and confess alone. I wanted to take
the punishment for both Of us, so
Carol could get out. l guess that's
what she thought, too Bless her
little old heart, as if I'd let her be
punished for my fault. And it was
mostly my fault, too, Prue, for l men
toned the apples first Of all"
Prudence laughed-it was really
ludicrous. But when she thought, of
loyal little Connie, sobbing all through
the long night, the tears came to her
eyes again. She went quickly to the
telephone and called up the school
building next door to the parsonage.
May I speak to Constance Starr,
Mr.. Imes?" she asked. 1T is very i'm
portant. This is Prudence. her sis
ter" And when Connie came to the
telephone, she cried, ooh, you blessed
little child, why didn't you tell me?
Will you forgive me, Connie? ought
to have made you tell me all about it,
but l was so sorry. 1 couldn't bear to
talk much about it. The twins have
told me. You're a dear, sweet, good
little darling, that's what you are"
ooh, Prudence" That was all Con-
ME said but something in her voice
made Prudence hang up the receiver
quickly, and cry bitterly!
That noon Prudence pronounced
judgment on the sinners, but her eyes