Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-12-07
CHAPTER I.
The Chaperon.

since discarded them as unfit for serv-
ice. There was open anxiety in Pru-
dence's expression, and Fuckers of
worry perpendicularly creased her
white forehead.
"Girls!" she called again. "Girls,
are you deaf?"
A door opened in the hallway above,
and Connie started down the stairs,
fully dressed, except that she limped
along in one stocking foot, her shoe
in her hand.
"It's so silly of you to get all dressed
before you put on your shoes, Connie"
Prudence reproved her as she came
down. "It wrinkles you up so. But
you do look nice. Wasn't 1t dear of the
Ladies' Aid to give you that dress for
your birthday? Do be careful, dear,
and don't get mussed before we come
back. Aunt Grace will be so much
gladder to live with us If we all look
sweet and clean. And you'll be good,
won't you, Connie, and--Twins, will
you Gomez
~They are sewing up the holes in
each others stockings" Connie vouch-
safed. "They're all dressed"
The twins, evidently realizing that
Prudence's patience was near the
breaking point, started downstairs for
approval, q curious procession. All
dressed as Connie had said, and most
charming, but they walked close to-
gether, Carol stepping gingerly on one
foot and Lark STOPPING low, carrying
needle with great solicitude-the
thread reaching from the needle to a
small hole on Carols instep.
"What on earth are you doing?
"T'm sewing up the holes in Carols
stocking" Lark explained.
Prudence frowned disapprovingly.
ats very bad habit to sew up holes
in your stockings when you are wear
ing them. Mercy, Lark, you have too
much powder On"
81 know it-Carol did it. She said
she wanted me to be of intellectual
pallor" Lark mopped her face with
one hand.
''You look nice, twins" Prudence
advanced a step, her eyes on Carols
hair, shifting suspiciously. "Carol, did
you curl your hair?"
Carol blushed. "Well, just a little"
she confessed 81 thought Aunt Grace
would appreciate me more with a
crown of frizzy ringlets."
you'll spoil your hair if you don't
right, too. Oh, Fairy I know Aunt
Grace will love you" she cried &C.
=staticalIy. "You look like a dream
YOU"
"Yes-a nightmare" said Carol snip.
PLY. "If l saw Fairy coming at me
on a dark night I'd"
papa, We'll miss the train" Then
rs he came slowly down the stairs, she
said to her sisters again anXiously
~'Oh girls, do keep nice and clean,
won't you? And be very sweet to
Aunt Grace! It's so awfully good of
her-to cOme-and take care of us"
Prudence's voice broke little. The
admission of another to the parson.
age mothering hurt her.
Mr.. Starr stopped on the bottom
step, and with one foot as a pivot
slowly revolved for his daughters in,
spection.
"HOw do I look?" he demanded "DO
you think this suit will convince Grace
that am worth taking care of? Dc
look twenty-five dollars better than
did yesterday"
The girls gazed at him with most
adoring approval.
"Father! You look perfectly grand
Isn't it beautiful?-Of course you
looked nicer than anybody else even
In the old suit, but-it-well, 1t was
Perfectly disgracefully shabby
put in Fairy quickly. entirely un
worthy minister of your-er-lovely
familyl"
II hope none Of you have let it out
among the members how long wore
that old suit. I don't believe I could
face my congregation on Sundays II
I thought they were mentally calculat
ing the wearing value Of my various
II huNc " gu
dence"
"And don't muss the house up
begged Prudence, as her father opened
the door and pushed her gently out OF
the step.
The four sisters left behind looked
at once another solemnly. It was @
serious businessmen serious. Con
ME gravely put on her shoe, and but
toned 1t. Lark sewed up the last hole
In Carols stocking-Carol balancIn.
herself on one foot with nice precision
for the purpose. Then, all ready, they
looked at one another again--eveI
more solemnly.
"Well," said Fairy, "let's go in-ant
wait"
Silently the others followed her in
and they all sat about, irreproachably
on the well-dusted chairs, their hands
folded In their smooth and spotles,
laps.
The silence and the solemnity wer,
very oppressive.
"We look all right" said Carol bel
ligerently.