The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-10-24

(COpyrlBht, py the BobbS-Merrill Com.
panyo
7'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. $50 1 heard" she said tryly,
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.
l might forget It,"
The girls ran quickly out, Carol well
in the lead.
mo wedding fee for me,' she
mumbed bitterly. "Somehow / 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. 1t seems to me Pru-
dcnce is vcry-harsh sometimes"
"You can appeal to father, If you
like"
"Not on your life" said Carol
promptly and emphatically; "hc's worse
than Prudence. Like as not he'd give
me n good thrashing into the bargain.
NO--Tm strong for Prudence when it
comes to punishmcnt-in preference
to father, | mean. l can't seem to be
fond OF any kind Of punishment from
anybody"
For while Carol was much de-
pressed, but by nature she was q buoy
ant soul, and her spirits were presently
soaring again.
In the meantime, the Ladies' Of the
Aid society continued TO arrive. Pru-
dcncc and Fairy, freshly gowncd and
smillng-faccd, received them with cor
diality and many merry words. 1t was
not difficult for them; they had been
reared in the hospitable atmosphere of
Methodist parsonages, where, if you
have but two dishes Of oatmeal, the
outsider is welcome to one. That Is
Carols description Of parsonage life.
But Prudence was concerned to OBJ
serve that big easy chair placed we'll
back in secluded corner, seemed TO
be giving dissatisfaction. It was Mrs.
Adams who sat there first. She
Squirmed quite q little, and seemed to
be gripping the arms OF the chair with
unnecessary fcrvor. Presently She
Stammcrcd an excuse, and, rising went
into the other room. After that, Mrs.
Miller, then Mrs. Jack, Mrs. Norcy.
and Mrs. Bccd in turn, sat thcre-and
did not stay. Prudence was quite ago
nZcd. Had the awful twins filed #
with needles for the reception of the
poor Ladies'? At first opportunity she
hurried into the secluded corner, intent
upon trying the chair for herself. She
sat down anXiously. Then she gaspcd
and clutchcd frnntically ut the arm OF
the chair. For she discovered at once
to her dsmay that the chair was bot
tomlcss, and that only by hanging on
for her life could she keep from drop-
ping through.
Up rose Prudence, cOnscicntiously
pulling after her the thin cushion
which he'd concealed the chairs short.
coming. "Look, Fairy" she cried
"Did YOU take The bottom out of this
chair? 1t must have been horribly un-
comfortable for those who have sat
there! However did 1t happcn?"
Fairy was frankly amazed, and q
little inclined to be amused
ASK the twins" she said tcrscly;
u know nothing about It,"
at that moment, the lucklcss Carol
went running through the hall. pru-.
dcncc know II was she, without seeing,
because she had peculiar skipping
run that was quite characteristic and
unmistakablc.
Carol !" she called
And Carol paused.
Carol y more impcratively.
Then Carol slowly opened the door
She was Il parsonage girl and rose to
the OCCASION She SAILED winsomcly--
Carol was nearly always winsomc
Glow do YOU do?" she said brightly.
isn't it Il lovely day? Did you call
me, Prudcncc?'
"Yes. Do you know where the bot
tom Of that chair has gomez"
why no, gracious That
chair!-why, I didn't know you were
going to bring that chair In here.
Why-oh, am so sOrry Why in tho
world didn't you tell us beforehand"
Some of the Ladies smiled. Others
lifted their brows and shoulders In q
mildly suggestive way, that Prudence,
after nineteen years in the parsonage,
had learned to know and dread.
"And where is the chalr.bottom
nowT" she inquired. "And why did
you take it?"
"Why, we wanted to make"
HTnI onI rI,S