Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-22

NAL, a dog perhaps, or possibly al
elephant. And
The three young modelers looke'
up in explanatory CONSERVATION al
the doors opened
"Oh. are you ready?' cried Carol
How the time has flown! We had NJ
idea you'd be ready so soon. Oh, We
are sorry, Prudence. We intended tt
have everything fixed properly FOL
you again. We needed a fiat place
for our modelling. It's shame, that's
what it is. Isn't that a handsome
Venus? I did that!-If you'll just shu,
the door one minute, Prudence, wei
have everything exactly as you left 1t
And we're as sorry as we can be. YOU
can have my Venus for centerpiece
if you like"
/ Prudence silently closed the doors
and the Ladies, laughing significantly
drew away.
! Don't you think, my dear began
Mrs. Prentiss too sweetly, that they
are a little more than you can man
age? Don't you really tAaak an older
woman is needed?'
II do not think So" cried Fairy, be-
fore her sister could speak. mo old
er woman could be kinder, or sweeter,
or more patient and helpful than
Prue.'
Undoubtedly true! But something
more is needed, I am afraid! 1t ap-
pears that girls are little more dis
orderly than in my own young days!
Perhaps do not Judge advisedly, but
it seems to me they are a little--un-
manageable" s... d..
/ Indeed they are not" cried Pru-
dence Loyalty. "They are young, live
ly, mischievous. l know-and am
glad of it. But have lived with them
ever since they, were born and ought
to know them. They are unselfish,
they are sympathetic, they are al
ways generous. They do foolish and
irritating things-but never things
that are hateful and mean. They are
all right at heart and that is all that
counts They are not bad girls!
What have they done today? They
were exasperating, and humiliating,
too, but what did they do that was
really mean? They embarrassed and
mortified me, but not Intentionally!
can't punish them for the effect on
me, you know! Would that be just
or fair? At heart, they meant no
harm"
It must be confessed that there
were many serious faces among the
Ladies. Some cheeks were flushed
and some were trembling. Every
mother there was asking in her heart
did l punish my children just for
the effect on me? Did Judge my chill.
dren by what was in their hearts, or
just by the trouble they made me?''
And the silence lasted SO long that
it became awkward. Finally Mrs,
Prentiss crossed the room and stood
by Prudence's side She laid hand
tenderly on the young girls arm and
said in a voice that was slightly trem'
ulous:
81 believe you are right my dear
1t is what girls at heart are that really
counts. I believe your sisters are all
you say they are. And one thing I
am very sure of-they are happy girls
to have sister SO patient, and loving,
and just. Not all real mothers have
as much to their credit"
CHAPTER w.
A Secret Society.
Carol and Lark, in keeping with
their twinship, we're the dearest OF
chums and comrades. They resem.
bled each other closely in build, being
OF the same height and size. They
were slender, yet gave a suggestion
Of sturdiness Carols face was a del
icately tinted oval, frightened by
clear and sparkling eyes OF blue. She
was really beautiful. bright, attrac'
tive and vivacious. She made friends
readily and was always considered
the "most popular girl in our crowd
Carols crowd at the time
might be. But she was not extremely
clever, caring little for study and
with no special talent In any direc-
ton. Lark was as nearly contrasting
as any sister could be. Her face was
pale, her eyes were dark brown and
full of shadows and she was a bril-
liant and earnest student. For each
other the twins felt a passionate de-
votion that was very beautiful, but