Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-15
PRUDENCE
OF THE PARSONAGE
THE FAMOUS STORY OF A HAPPY FAMILY
o. EzbeIA1esho17 axss
THE FAMOUS STORY OF HAPPY


ooh, no." disclaimed Fairy, still
good naturedly. 81 can give an extra
rub to the ones we want to use-tha,
is enough. l do appreciate the
thought, though, thanks very much.
So the twins plunged in, carefully
keeping Connie beside them. "She
has such a full-to-overflowing look,
said Carol IF we don't keep hold Of
her she'll let something bubble over
Connie had dismal propensity fol
giving things away-the twins had
often suffered from it. Tonight, they
were determined to forestall such 8
calamity.
Then they all three went to bed
To be sure it was ridiculously early
but they were all determined.
1--WE feel weak under this unusua,
strain. Our nerves can't stand the
tension. We really must retire to rest
Maybe good nights sleep will re-
store us to normal" Lark explained
gravely.
Fairy only laughed. Good" she
cried. do go to bed. The only time
I'm sure of you is when you are in
your beds. Do you mind if I tie you
But the twins and Connie had dis
appeared.
"You keep your eyes open, Fairy,
Prudence whispered melodramatically
"Those girls do not look right. Some.
thing is hanging over, our heads.
And she added anxious1y, "Oh, I'll be
so disappointed if things go badly.
This is the first time we've ever lived
up to etiquette, and I feel it is really
crisis"
Fairy was a little late getting up
stairs to dress, but she took time to
drop into her sisters room. They
were all in bed, breathing heavily.
She walked from one to another, and
stood above them majestically.
"Asleep!" she cried. "Ah, Fortune
is kind. They are asleep. How love
these darling little twinnies-in their
sleep!"
An audible sniff from beneath the
covers and Fairy, smiling mischievous-
ly, went into the front room to pre-
pare for her caller.
The bell rang as she was dressing.
Prudence went to the door. prefer
naturally ceremOnious, and ushered
Mr.. Babler into the front room. She
turned on the electric switch as she
opened the door. She was too much
impressed with the solemnity of the
occasion to take much note of her
surroundings, and she did not observe
that the young man shifted in a pc
culiar manner as he entered the room.
"1'll call Fairy" she said demurely.
, Tell her she needn't primp for
me-" he answered laughing. 81 know
just how she looks already
But Prudence was too heavily bur
dened to laugh. She smiled hospit-
ably and closed the door upon him.
Fairy was tripping down the stairs,
very tall, very handsome, very gay.
She pinched her sisters arm as she
passed and the front door swung be-
hind. But she did not greet her
friend. She stood erect by the door,
her head tilted on one side, smiling,
shifting
What in the world?' she wonder
ed. Then she blushed. Perhaps it
was something he had used on his
hair! Or perhaps he had been having
his suit cleaned! ooh, I guess it's
nothing, after ALL" she stammered.
But Eugene Babler was strangely
quiet. He looked ABOUT the room in
a peculiar questioning way.
Shall I raise a Window" he sug-
gested finally. ITS rather-er-hot
in here"
Yes, do she urged. RAISE all of
them. It's-do you-do you notice a
"a funny smell in here? Or am l
imagining it? lit almost makes
me sick!"
Yes, there is a smell" he said, in
evident relief. 81 thought maybe you'd
been cleaning the carpet with some
thing. It's CHASTITY. Can't We 60
somewhere else?"
Come on" She opened the door
into the sitting room. We're com
ing out here if you do not mind
Prue." And Fairy explained the diff
ficulty.
1Why, that's very strange" said