The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-11-21

Guilty, and said IN low voice,
"Wouldn't you like nice, hot oyster
stew?" Prudence repeated it after
her breathlessiy.
So Fairy returned once more, and
soon after Prudence tapped on the
door. Then she opened it, and thrust
her curly head inside. "Wouldn't you
like little nice, hot oyster stew?"
she chirped methodically. And Fairy
said, "Oh, yes, indeed, Prudence-this
is SO nice Of you."
The three gathered sociably about
the table. Babbie was first to taste
the steaming stew. He gasped, and
gulped, and swallowed some water
with more haste than grace. Then he
toyed idly with spoon and wafer until
Prudence tasted also. Prudence did
not gasp. She did not cry out She
looked up at her sister with wide eyes,
"A world Of pathos in the glance.
But Fairy did not notice.
"Now, please do not ask me to talk
until / have finished my SOUP" She
was saying brightly.
Then she tasted it! She dropped
her spoon with n great clattcr, and
jumped up from the table. "Mcrcy!"
she shrlekcd. ut is poisoned
Babbie leaned back in his chair and
laughed until his eyes were wet. Pru-
dcnce's eyes were wet, too but not
from lnughtcr What would etiquette
think Of her, after this?
what did you do to this soup, Pru.
dcnce?" demanded Fairy
IL made it-nothing else" faltcred
poor Prudence, quite crushed by this
blow. And oysters forty cents pint
IT'S pepper think" gaspcd Bah
bic. my insides bear startling testi-
mony to the presence Of pepper"
And he roarcd again, while Prudence
began critical examination of the
oysters. She found them literally
stuffed with pepper: there was no
doubt Of 1t. The twins had done dead
ly work
Revenge, We gods, how sweet"
chantcd Fairy. "Thc twins are get
ting even With q vcngcance-thc same
twins YOU said were adorable, Bnbbie."
1t must be said for Fairy that her
good nature could stand almost any
thing. Even this did not seriously
disturb her. "Do you suppose you can
find us some milk, Pruc? And crack
ers I'm so fond of crackers and
milk, aren't you, Babbic?'
"Oh, | adore it, But serve micro
scope with 1t, please. l want to OK
anime 1t for microbes before I taste"
But Prudence did better than that
She made some delicious cocoa, and
opened n can Of pear preserves, donat-
cd TO the parsonage by the amiable
Mrs Adams. The twins were very
fond Of pear preserves and had been
looking forward to eating these on
their approaching birthday. They
were doomed to disappointment The
three had a merry little feast, after
all, and their laughter rang out so
often and so unrcstraincdly that the
twins shook in their beds with rage
and disappointment.
1t speaks we'll for the courage of
Babbie, and the attractions Of Lairy,
That he came to the parsonage again
ana again. In time he became the
best Of friends with the twins them
selves, but he always called them "the
adorablrS," and they never asked him
why. The punishment inflicted upon
them ky Prudence ranklcd in their
memories for many months.
"lhc offcnsc was against Fairy"
said Prudence, with solemnity she
did not feel, "nnd the rcpnrntion must
be done to her. For three weeks you
must do all Of her bedroom work, and
run every errand she requires. More
over you must keep her. shoes we'll
cleaned and nicely polished anu must
do every bit Of her dnrning!"
The twins would have preferred
whipping thousand times. They felt
they had got whipping's worth Of
pleasure out Of their mischief! But n
punishment like this sat heavily upon
their proud young shoulders. and from
that time on they held Fairy practl-
cally immune from their pranks.
Prudence did not bother her head
about etiquette after that experiences
"Tm strong for comfort" she declared
"and since the two cannot live together
in one family, l say we do without etl-
qucttc."
And Fairy nodded in agreement
smiling good natllredly