Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-02-21
Copyright, by the Bobbs- Merrill Com
pany.)


1t was sorry night for the twins.
The next morning they set off to
school, with no chance for anything
but brief good morning with Connie
given in the presence Of Prudence.
Halfway down the parsonage walk
Carol said:
ooh, wait minute, Lark 1 left my
notebook on the table," And Lark
walked slowly while Carol went rush
ing back. She found Prudence in the
kitchen, and whispered:
"Here-here's a note, Prudence.
Don't read it until after I've gone to
school-at ten o'clock you may read it.
Will you promise?"
Prudence laughed q little, but she
promised, and laid the note carefully
away to wait the appointed hour for
Its perusal. AS the clock struck ten
she went to the mantle and took it
down. This is what Carol had writ
ten:
Oh, Prudence, do please forgive me. and
don't punish Connie any more. You can
RSAAAA'AA AAAO eAAAS "oy yOu 1lhc, dIlu L II De
glad Of it, It was all my fault made
her go and get the apples for me, and
ate them. Connie didn't eat one of them.
She said stolen apples would not taste
very good. It was ali my fault, and I'm
So sorry.
AS Prudence read this her face grew
very stern. Carols fault! At that
moment Prudence heard someone run
ming through the hall, and thrust the
note hastily into her dress. It was
Lark, and she flung herself wildly up
on Prudence, sobbing bitterly.
what is the matter, Lark?" she
cried, really frightened. ''Are you
sick?"
"Heartsick, that's ALL walled Lark.
II told the teacher I was sick so I
could come home, but I'm not. Oh,
Prudence, 1 know you'll despise and
abominate me all the rest of your life,
and everybody will, and deserve it.
For stole those apples myself
Prudence was surprised and puzzled.
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 me what
you are driving at. 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,
the 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. 1--WE both did it" she gasped,,
"the Skull and Crossbo les. And we
both told the truth about it."
Prudence laughed. 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 1 speak to Constance Starr,
Mr.. Ines?" she asked. 1T is very Inn
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 met
Will goa forgive me, Connie? You're
dear, sweet, good little darling,
hats what YOU are"
"Oh, 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
twinkled, for Carol and Lark had
scolded each other roundly for giving
things away!
Connie should have refused to obey
you,," she said gently, holding Connie
In her arms. "But she has been pun
ished more than enough. But you
twins In the first place, right now
abolish the Skull and Crossbones for
ever and ever. And you cannot play
In the barn again for a month. And
you must go over to the Averys this
afternoon and tell them about 1t, and
pay for the apples. And you must
send all Of your spending money for
the next month to that woman who 10
! gathering up things for the bad little
children in the reform schOol-that
will help you remember what happens
B to boys and girls who get in the habit
Of taking things on the spur of the mo-
/ mentl'
The twins accepted all Of this gra.
ciously, except that which referred to
cOnfessing their sin to their neighbors.
That did hurt! The twins were SO So.
& perior, and admirable! They couldn't
bear to ruin their regulations. But
Prudence stood firm, in spite Of their
weeping and wailing. And that after.
4 noon two shame-faced sorry girls
crept meekly In at the Avery's door to
make their peace.
'.But about the Skull and CrossboneA