Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-18
fCHAPTER VII. Continued

The stew was steaming hot and the
/ thFee gathered socially about the
3 table. Prudence was talking. Fairy
twas passing the crackers prudence
I kicked her foot gently beneath the
liable, to remind her that etiquette
Acalied them waters" So it happened
THAT Babbie was first to taste the
4 eteaming stew He gasped, and gulp-
ed and swallowed some water with
Nopoon and wafer until Prudence tasted
/ also Prudence did not gasp. She did
mot cry out. She loked up at her sis
ter With wide hurt eyes-a world OF
b pathes in the glance. But Fairy did
not notice.
d Now, please do not ask me to talk
until l have finished my SOUP" she
SNas saying brightly, II simply can not
Bthink and appreciate oyster stew at
the same time" =
E Then she appreciated it! She drop
8Ded her spoon with great clatter and
Il Jumped up from the table. Mercy"
8s0hs shrieked 1T is poisoned"
Babbie leaned back in his chair and
Rlaughed until his eyes were wet Pfu-
sSdoness eyes were wet, too, but not
81rom laughter! What would etiquette
oteAb4nA VI A01S N&tSA SAAo'
what did you do to this soup, Pru-
denee?" demanded Fairy.
II made it-nothing else,' faltered
1npr Prudence, quite crushed by this
Elbow. And oysters forty cents q pint!
HIt's pepper, think" gasped Bah
bis. Ny insides bear startling testl'
mely to the presence OF pepper
4 And be reared again, while Pru-
6anee began q critical examination OF
3he oysters. She found them literally
Stuffed with pepper, there was no
d0pbt Of it. The twins had done dead
|fly work! Their patience, at least,
&Ras commendable-its seemed that not
4 one oyster had escaped their atten-
3tion. The entire pint had been ruined
~ the pepper. n,
Revenge, ye gods, how sweet"
Achanted Fairy. "The twins are get
ting even with vengeance-the same
akwins you said were adorable, Babbie'
HI must be said for Fairy that her good
mature could stand almost anything.
Even this did not seriously disturb
her. do you suppose you can find
fus some milk, Prue7" And crackers!
I'm 80 fond of crackers and milk,
aren't you, Babbie?"
sOh, I adore it. But serve a nero
tocope with it, please. l want to ex-
X Gmine 1t for microbes before | taste
But Prudence did better than that.
She made some delicious cocoa, and
opened can of pear preserves, do
u mated to the parsonage by the amiable
Mrs. Adams. The twins were very
fond Of pear preserves and had been
hooking forward to eating these on
their approaching birthday. They
we're doomed to disappointment! The
4 three had merry little feast, after
MI, and their laughter rang out so
often and so unrestrainedly that the
twins shook in their beds with rage
md disappointment.
Mr., Starr came In while they were
4 natiag and joined them genially. But
nftafward, when Prudence realized
that etiquette called for their retire,
II ment, her father still sat complacent.
~ By the register, talking and laugh
ing, Prudence fastened her eyes upon
him.
well, must honestly go to bed, y
She said, gazing hyppotically at her
1 father. II know you will excuse me.
must store up my strength to deal
VIII L00 GW1aS III Ll4S Hot AtA6.
She rot up from her chair and NOV
"a Festlessly about the room, still Dor.
Ing her father with her eyes. He did
not move. She paused beside him
md slipped her hand under his elbow.
Now, father" she said gaily, I'VE
must put our heads together and think
but proper punishment for the awful
creatures"
Her hand was uplifting and Mr.
BtarT rose with 1t. Together they left
The room with cordial goodnights and
inviting Mr.. BRbler to try the parson
80 again" Prudence listened out
ride the twins door and heard them
breathing loudly. Then she went te
her own rom and snuggliag down be-
18th The cnasaEa. laughed softly to