The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-01-18
awful voice, and Lark was bound to

awful voice, and Lark was bound to
heed.
ooh, Prue," she said plaintively, "rll
be there in a minute. Can't you walt
Just FIVE minutes1 Let me run up
stairs first, won't your Then I'll come
gladlyi Won't that dor
Her voice was hopeful. But Pru-
dence replied with dangerous calm:
"Come at once, Lark"
"All right, then" and added threat
enlngly, "but you'll wish hadn't"
Then Lark or ened the door-a woe
full fgurel In one hand she carried an
empty shoe box. And her face was
streaked with good rich Iowa mud.
Her clothes were plastered with It. One
shoe was caked from the sole to the
very top button. and a great cash In
her stocking revealed a generous por-
ton Of round, white leg.
Poor Prudencel At that moment she
would have exchanged the whole Ear
sonage, bathroom, electric lights and
all, for a tiny log cabin in the heart
Of great forest, where she and Lark
might be alone together.
And Fairy laughed. Prudence looked
at her with tears In her eyes, and then
turned to the wretched girl.
"what have you been doing Lark"
The heartbreak expressed in the face
OF Lark would have made the angels
weep. Beneath the smudges of mud
on her cheeks she was pallid, and, try
as she would, she could not keep her
chin from trembling ominously. Her
voice, when she was able to speak. was
barely recognizable.
"We-we-we are making-mud
Images, Prudence. lit was awfully
messy, | know, but-they say-it is
such good-and useful thing to do.
We've didn't expect-the-the La
dies to see u.s."
"Mud limoges gasped Prudence,
and even Fairy stared incredulously.
"wl re In the world did you get hold
Of an idea like that?"
'It-it was In that-that Mothers
Home Friend paper you take, Pru'
dence." Prudence blushed guiltily. ut
was modelling I'm clay, but-we haven't
any clay, and-the mud is very nice,
butch. l know look just-horrible
| II-Connie pushed me In the-puddle
| for fun" Another appealing glance
into her sisters face, and Lark plunged
on, bent on smoothing matters II she
could. Carol isis just fine at IT.
really. She--she's making Venus de
member whether her arm Is Off at the
elbow or below the shoulder" An
enormous gulp, and by furious blinking
Lark managed to crowd back the tears
that would slip to the edge OF her
lashes. "I-I'm very sorry, Prudence
VERY well, Lark, you may go. i dc
not really object to your modelling In
mud. / am sure. ! am sorry you look
so disreputable. You must change
your shoes and stockings at once. and
then you can go on with your model
ing. But there must be no more push
ing and chasing. I'll see Connie about
that tonight. Now GO" And Lark was
swift TO avail herself Of the permission
Followed quiet hour, and then the
Ladies' put aside their sewing and
walked about the room. chatting In
little groups. With a significant glance
10 Fairy, Prudence walked calmly to
the double doors between the dining
room and the sitting room. The eyes
of the Ladies followed her with inter.
est, and even enthusiasm. They were
hungry. Prudence slowly opened wide
the doors, and-stood amazed The
Ladies clustered about her, and stood
amazed also. The diting room was
there, and the table! But the appear.
ance of the place was vastly different
The snowy cloth was draped artis'
tically over a picture on the wall, the
lowest edges well above the floor. The
plates and trays, napkin-covered, were
safely slowed away on the floor In dis.
tant corners. The kitchen scrub buck.
ct had been brought in and turned up.
side down, TO afford fitting resting
place for the borrowed punch bowl
full to overlooking with fragrant lem,
onade.
And at the table were three dirty
disheveled little figures, bending seri.
ously over piles Of mud. A not-unrec'
ognizable Venus de Milo occupied the