The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-03-23

"She'S an unearthlt tong time about
H." exclaimed Lark at last. "Do YOU
suppose they caught hcrf"
This was an awful thought. and tho
girls were temporarily Surocated. But
they heard the barn door swinging be.
meath them. and sighed with relief. II
was Connie She climbed the ladder
skillfully, and poured her golden treas
ure before the arch-thieves, Skull and
CrossboneS.
There were eight big. tempting
apples.
Hum! Eight said Carol sternly
IL said twelve"
"NeS, but | was afraid someone was
coming. l heard such n noise through
the GrapevineS. SO got what could
and ran FOR IL. There's three apiece
for You, and two for me-" said Connie,
sitting down sociably beside them, on
the hay.
But Carol rose. "Damscl, hcgpne,' ''
she ordered. when Skull and Cross
bones feast, thou canst not yet sharo
the festive board. Rise thee. and
speed"
Connie rose. aud walked Soherly
toward the ladder. hut before sbcdiS-
appeared she fired this parting shot,
Il don't want any ~ them Stolen
apples don't taste very good. / rcekoul'
Carol and Lark had the grace ~
flush little AT this. but however ihe
stolen apples tasted. the twins lfid np
difficulty in dispoSing of them rfS'n.
fort, they slid down the hay .chutAs.
went ont the back was. tuItbd ttN cdr.
| ner, and came quietly In ,h~oarsr-the
front door Of the parsonage ma
| Prudence was in the kitchen prrpnr-
| ing the evening meal Fairy Mnsn in
! the sitting room, husX With hrr ihnok \
| The twins set the table ConsGirmLousty
4 filed the woodhoN. and in every WY
1 labored irrcproachably. hut prudenrt
had no word OF praise for Them thai
| evnning. She hardly seemed To- AuvV
they were about the place. She wesli
about her work with II pale face. Gapd
never smile To be seeU, ooIaT
Supper was nearly randy wDoru thHll
1 ME Sauntcred In from the b,un! at1Wi
| leaving the hayinow. she had POUNDS d
| cozy corner in the corncrib. with hwo
! heavy lapruhcs discarded ny The tudns
| in their flight from wolves, and tGld
| settled down there To finish hm' story,
! As she stepped into the Kitchen prn1
dence turned TO her with such Hiaasr y,
roproachful gaze that Connie lSas
ldrighlcned. .......-. mn ed.
Are you sick. Prue?" she iEaSTsd.II
Prudence did not answer. Shis w'ht
To the door and called Fairy "FYhIsll
getting supper, will You, FniryrI Mid
when YOU are all ready. soun ana the
twins go right on eating. DoH't wat
for fathor--he isn't coming hofhS ,iniil
evening. Come upstairs with me-, Con
ME; | want To talk to you" 80 o1S
Connie followed her sister aobergy
and the twins flashed at each otlIei
startling and questioning lo0ks.?tp
The three girls were at table, wirSs
Prudence came into the dining room
alone. She fixed n tray-supjfr quietly
and carried II Off upstairs. Then IN,
came back and sat down by the table
But her face bore marks Of tears, iIfid
She had no appetite. The twins hat
felt small liking for their food before
now each mouthful seemed 10 cIiUF,
them. But they dared not ask u qhcs
ton. They were dcvoutly thahkfh
when Fairy finally voiced their interest
what is the matter? Has Connie
been in mischicfT'
IT'S worse than that" faltercd Pry
dence, tears rushing To her eyes again
"Why, Prudence What In the wor1t
has she dOneY.
IL may as well tell you, suppOse4
you'll have To know IL sooner or later
She-went out into Avery's orcln rd
and stole some apples this afternoon
was back In the alley seeing IL Mrs
Moon could do the washing, and ! sbv
her from the other side. She wen,
from tree TO tree. and when she GOT
through the fence she ran. There's M
mistake about it--she confessed" The
twins looked up In agony, but Pru
dence's face reassurcd them. Con
stance had told no tales. II have told
her she must spend all Of her time up
stairs alone for week. taking her
meals there. too. She will go 10 school
Of course. but that Is all. 1 want her
10 see the awfulncss Of II. ! told hes
didn't think we wanted 10 eat with
a thief-just yeti said we must gel
used TO the idea OF II flrst. She Is
heartbroken, butt must make hci
see IT."