Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-12-28
CHAPTE I.
The Chaperon.

stairs, deity drawing on her black
silk gloves--gloves still good In Pru-
dences eyes. though Fairy had long
since discarded them as unfit for scrv-
ice. There was open anxiety In Pru-
dencc's expression, and Fuckers of
worry perpendlcularly creased her
white forehead.
"Glrls !" she called again. "Glrls,
are you deafT
A door opened in the hallway above,
and Connie started down the stairs.
fully dressed, except that she lmped
along in one stocking foot, her shoe
In her hand.
ITS so silly Of you to get all dressed
before you put on your shoes, Connie"
Prudence reproved her as she came
down. at wrinkles you up so. But
you do look nice. Wasn't II dear of the
Ladies' Aid y give you that dress for
your birthday DO be careful. dear,
and don't get mussed before we come
back. Aunt Grace will he so much
giadder to live with us II 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-
snfed. They're all dressed"
The twins, evidently realizing that
Prudence's patience was near the
breaking point, started downstairs for
approval, a 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 n
needle with great solicitude-the
thread reaching from the needle to n
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
"It's 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 II. She said
she wanted me to be of intellectual
paIlor." Lark mopped her face with
one hand.
"You look nice, twins" Prudence
advanced step, her eyes on Carols
hair, smiling suspiciously. "Caroi, did
you curl your hair?"
Carol blushed. "well. Just lIttle."'
she confessed. 81 thought Aunt Grace
would appreciate me more with n
crown Of frizzy rInglets."
NYnnfu cnnll unvr hotv yn,, Inp,t
leave It alone, and It will serve you
right. too. Oh, Fairy. ! know Aunt
Grace will love you" she cried &C.
statically. "You look like dream,
you"
"Yes-a nightmare" said Carol snip
PLY. 'If I saw Fairy coming at me
on dark night I'd"
Papa. Wen miss the train" Then
as he came slowly down the stairs, she
said to her sisters again anxlously (:
"Oh. girls, do keep nice and clean,
won't you? And be very sweet to
Aunt Gracel 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-
use nlotneTiHg nuTt neT.
Mr.. Starr stopped on the bottom
step. and with one foot as n pivot,
slowly revolved for his daughters in
spection.
"How do I look7" he demanded. "Do
you think this suit will convince Grace
that I am worth taking care Of? Do
l look twenty-five dollars better than
i did Yesterday"
The girls gazed ut him with most
adorlng approval.
Father You look perfectly grand
Isn't II beautiful?-Of course you
looked nicer than anybody else even
In the old suit but-it-well. Il was"
Perfectly disgraccfully shabby"
put In Fairy quickly. Entirely un.
worthy a minister of your-er-lovely
family"
III hope none of you have lot II out
among the members how long | wore
that old suit. | don't believe I could
face my congregation on Sundays II
l thought they We're mentally calculat-
ing the wearing value OF my various
garments.-Well have to go, Pru-
dence."
sand don't muss the house up."
begged Prudence, as her father opened
the door and pushed her gently out on
the step.
The four sisters left behind looked
at once another solemnly. II was a
serious business-mOst serious. Con-
ME rravely put on her shoe, and but
toned II, Lark sewed up the last hole
In Carols stocking-Carol balancing
herself on one foot with nice precision
for the purpose. Then. all ready, they
looked ut one another again-even
more s0lemnly.
well" said Fairy, lets go inland
wait"
Silently the others followed her In,
and they all sat about, irreproachnbly,
on the well-dusted chairs. their hands
folded In their smooth and spotless
laps.
The silence and the sOlemnity were
very oppressive.
1--WE look all right" said Carol bel
llgerently.