The Huttig news., 1917-01-20
CHAPTER III.
The Ladies' Aid.

Now. this really WAS q crisis in the life of the parsonage family. The girls had met, separately. every member, q: he Ladies' Aid. But this was their first combined movement upon the par sonage, and Prudence and Fairy real iZed that much depended on the sue cess of the day. As girls, the whole Methodist church pronounced the young Starrs charming. But as par sonage people-well, they were obliged to reserve judgment. And IS for Pfu- dence having entire charge of the household, it must be acknowledged that every individual Lady looked forward to this meeting with eager ness-they wanted to size up the sit uation. They were coming to see for themselves Yes, it was undoubtedly q crisis.
 "There1l be crowd, of coursc,n said Fairy. Well just leave the doors between the front rooms open"
 .Yes, but. we'll close the dining-room doors. Then we'll have the refresh ments all out on the table, and when we are ready we'll just fling back the doors careleSSly and--there you are "
 So the table was prettily decorated with flowers, and great plates of sand wiches and cake were placed upon it.. Tn the center was an enormous punch bowl, borrowed from the Averys, full of lemonade. Glasses were properly arranged on the trays, and piles of nicely home-laundered napkins were scattered here and there. The girls felt that the dining room was a credit to them, and to the Methodist church entire.
 From every nook and corner of the house they hunted out chairs and stools. anticipatinga real run upon the parsonage. Nor were they disappoint- ed. The twins and Connie were not even arrayed in their plain little ging- hams, clean, before the first arrivals were ushered up into the front bed room, ordinarily occupied by Prudence and Fairy.
 ''There's Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Prentiss, and Mrs" began Connie, listening intently to the voices in the next room.
 .Yes," whispered Carol, peek through the keyhole, Lark, and see if Mrs. Prentiss is looking under the bed for dust. They say she"
 You'd better not let Prudence catch you repeatng-'
 "There's Mrs. Stone, and Mrs. Davis, and"
 "They say Mrs. Davis only belongs to the Ladies' Aid for the sake of the refreshments, and"
 "Carol Prudence will punish you"
 "Well, I don't believe it." protested Carol. I'm just telling you what I've heard other people say
 "We aren't allowed to repeat gos- sip" urged Lark.
 "No, and I think it's shame, too, for it's awfully funny. Minnie Drake told me that Miss Varne joined the Methodist. church as soon as she heard the new minister was widower, so she-'
 Carol !"
 Carol whirled around sharply, and flushed, and swallowed hard. For Pru- dence was just behind her.
 "I-I-I-" but she could get no fur ther.
 Upon occasion Prudence was quite terrible. "So I heard" she said dryly, but her eyes were hard. "Now run up- stairs and out to the field, or to the barn, and play. And, Carol, be sure and remind me of that speech tonight. I might forget it.
 The girls ran quickly out Carol well in the lead.
 "No wedding fee for me-" she mumbled bitterly. Somehow I just can't help repeating"
 You don't want to-" said Lark, not without sympathy. You think it's such fun, you know"
 "Well, anyhow, I'm sure I won't get any cake tonight. It seems to me Pru- dence is very-harsh sometimes"
 You can appeal to father, if you like"