News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1917-02-07

it,
grieved they prayed. Fairy passing
ID the stairs with hot water for the
doctors, whispered to her father as he
turned in to his own room, Keep on
praying, father. can't stop now, be-
cause they need me. But I'm praying
every minute between errands !" And
Mr.. Starr, kneeling beside his bed, did
prov-and the stony despair in his
ewes died out, and he came from the
little room quiet, and confident, and
calm.
Connie, seeking secluded corner
to pray for Prudence" had passed the
door of the dungeon, and paused. A
| fitting place! So she turned In at
! once. and in the farthest and darkest
, corner, she knelt on the hard floor and
prayed, and sobbed herself to sleep.
Lark remained Loyalty with Carol
until consciousness returned to her. AS
soon as she was able to walk, the two
went silently to the barn, and climbed
into the much-loved haymow. There
they lay fiat on the hay, faces down.
ward, each with an arm across the
others shoulder, praying fervently.
After a time they rose and crept into
the house where they waited patiently
until Fairy came down on one OF her
numerous errands.
SIS she better?" they whispered. And
Fairy answered gently, II think she is
little BETTER" Then the twins, In no
way deceived, went back to the hay
NOW again.
Fairy prepared hasty supper, and
arranged it on the kitchen table. she
drank cup of hot coffee, and went in
search of her father. $50 and eat,
dadsie," she urged. But he shook his
head.
81 am not hungry, but send the girls
to the table at once"
On their next trip into the house.
Fairy stopped the twins. Get Connie
and eat your supper. It's just cold
lunch, and is already on the kitchen
table. You must help yourselves
can't come now"
The twins did not speak, and Fairy
went hurriedly up the stairs once more.
81 do not think l can eat" said Carol.
"We'd better take away about half
of this food, and hide it. Then she will
think we have already eaten"
This novel plan was acted upon with
promptitude and the twins went back
to the haymOw.DW When it grew dark
they slipped into the kitchen and hud-
died together on the woodbox beside
the stove. And down to them present
iy came Fairy, smiling, her eyes tear
frightened.
"She is better!" cried Carol, spring
ing to her feet.
"Yes," said Fairy, dropping on her
knees and burying her face in Lark's
lap, as she still sat on the woodbox
"She's better. She is better" Lark |
patted the heaving shoulders in a |
motherly way. and when Fairy lifted |
her face again it was all serene
though her lashes were wet.
"She is conscious" said Fairy, still |
on her knees, but with her head |
thrown back, and smiling. "She re-
gained consciousness a little while
ago. There is really nothing serious
the matter. 1t was hard knock, but
it missed the temple. When she be-
came conscious, she looked up at IA
ther and smiled. Father looked per-
fectly awful, twins, so pale, and his
lips were trembling. And Prudence
said, Now, father, on your word of
honor, did you knock me down with
that ball on purposeT She spoke very
low and weak, but-just like Pru-
denee! Father couldn't say word;
he just nodded, and gulped. She has
a little fever, and the doctors say we
may need to work with her part of
the nieSt. Father said to ask if you
would go to bed now, so you can get
up early in the morning and help US.
| am to stay with Prudence tonight,
but you may have to take turns in the
And you'll have TO get break
fast. too. So father thinks you would
better go to bed. VIII you do that,
"Will wew And Carol added, "Will
you kiss Prudence good night for us,
and tell her we kept praying all the
time? Prudence is such a great hand
for praying, you know"
Fairy promised, and the twins crept
upstairs. 1t was dark in their room.
"Werl undress in the dark so as not
TO awake poor little Connie" whis-
pered Lark. ITS nice she can sleep
ike that, isn't it?"
And the twins went to bed, and fell
lsleep after q while, never doubling
hat Connie, in her corner of the room,
was already safe and happy in the OBJ
ivion of slumher.
But poor Conniel She had not wax
,ned when Fairy closed the dungeon
loor. 1t was long afterward when she
sat up and began rubbing her eyes.
She did not know where she was. Then
the remembered She wondered if
She scrambled to her
'eet, and trotted over to the dungeon
loor. 1t was locked; she could not
urn the knob. At first she thought of
Streaming and pounding on the door.
''But that will arouse Prudence, and
righten her, and maybe kill her." she