The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-02-16

suppose they caught herr"
This vas an awful thought, and the
girls were temporarily s~uffocated. But
they heard the barn door swinging be-
meath them, and sighed with relief. 1t
was Conniei She climbed the ladder
skillfully, and poured her golden treas
ure before the arch-thieves, Skull and
Crossbones.
There were eight big, tempting
apples.
Hunt Eighth" said Carol sternly.
II said twelve.
Eyes, but 4 was afraid someone was
coming. / heard such a noise through
he rapevines, 80 / got what / could
and ran for 1t. There's three apiece
for you. and two for me- said Connie,
sitting down socially beside them on
the hay.
But Carol rose. "Damsel, BECOME"
she ordered. when Skull and Cross
bones feast, thou canst not yet share
the festive board. Rise thee, and
speed"
Connie rose, and walked soberly
toward the ladder. But before she dis
appeared she fired this parting shot,
Il don't want any of them. Stolen
apples don't taste very good, I reckon
Carol and Lark had the grace to
flush a little at this. but however the
stolen apples tasted, the twins had no
difficulty In disposing of them. Then,
full almost beyond the point of COM
fort, they slid down the hay chutes,
went out the back way, turned the cor
ner, and came quietly In through the
front door of the parsonage.
Prudence was In the kitchen prepar-
ing the evening meal. Fairy was In
the sitting room. busy with her books.
The twins set the table conscientiously,
filled the woodbox, and in every way
labored irreproachably. But Prudence
had no word of praise for them that
evening. She hardly seemed to know
they were about the place. She went
about her work with a pale face, and
never a smile to be seen.
Supper was nearly ready when Con-
ME sauntered In from the barn. After
leaving the haymow, she had found a
coy corner in the corncrib, with two
heavy laprobes discarded by the twins
In their flight from wolves, and had
settled down there to finish her story.
As she stepped into the kitchen Pru-
dence turned to her with such a sorry,
r~eproachful gaze that Connie was
frightened.
"Are you sick, PrueT" she gasped.
Prudence did not answer. She went
to the door and called Fairy. "Finish
getting supper, will you, Fairy? And
when you are all ready, you and the
twins go right on eating. Don't wait
for father-he isn't coming home until
evening. Come upstairs with me, Con.
ME; / want to talk to you"
Connie followed her sister soberly,
and the twins flashed at each other
startling and questioning looks.
The three girls were at table when
Prudence came into the dining room
alone. She fixed a tray-supper quietly
and carried 1t Off upstairs. Then she
came back and sat down by the table.
But her face bore marks of tears, and
she had no appetite. The twins had
felt small liking for their food before ;
now each mouthful seemed to choke
them. But they dared not ask a ques-
ton. They were devoutly thankful
when Fairy finally voiced their interest.
"What is the matter? Has Connie
been In mischief"
cts worse than that" faltered Pru-
dence. tears rushing to her eyes again.
"Why Prudencei What in the world
has she done?"
Il may as well tell you. / suppose
you'll have to know 1t sooner or later.
She-went out into Avery's orchard
and stole some apples this afternoon.
| was back in the alley seeing If Mrs.
Moon could do the washing, and / saw
her from the other side. She went
from tree to tree, and when she got
through the fence she ran. There's no
mistake about it-she confessed" The
twins looked up in agony, but Pru-
dence's face treasured them. Con-
stance had told no tales. 81 have told
her she must spend all of her time up
stairs alone for a week, taking her
meals there. too. She will go to school.
of course. but that is all. 1 want her
to see the awfulness of 1t. 1 told her
| didn't think we wanted to eat with
a thief-just yeti / said we must get
used TO the idea of 1t first. She is
heartbroken. butt must make her
see It'll"
IL xnn MARA Ii prudenceya