The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-01-26
CHAPTER Ill-continued.

''Not on your life" said Carol
promptly and emphatically; hes worse
than Prudence. Like as not he'd give
me good thrashing into the bargain.
NO-Tm strong for Prudence when II
comes to punishment-in preference
TO father, mean. | can't seem to be
fond of any kind of punishment from
anybody"
For a while Carol was much de-
pressed, but by nature she was u buoy
ant soul, and her spirits were presently
soaring again.
In the meantime, the Ladies of the
Aid society continued to arrive. Pru-
dence and Fairy, freshly gowned and
Smiling-faced, received them with cor
diality and many merry words. 1t was
not difficult for them; they had been
reared in the hospitable atmosphere Of
Methodist pursonages, where, if you
have but two dishes of oatmeal, the
outsider is welcome to one. That is
Carols description of parsonage life.
But Prudence was concerned to OBJ
serve that big easy chair placed well
back in n secluded corner, seemed to
be giving dissatisfaction. It was Mrs.
Adams who sat there first. She
squirmed quite a little, and seemed to
be gripping the arms of the chair with
unnecessary fervOr. Presently she
stammered an excuse, and, rising, went
into the other room. After that, Mrs.
Miller, then Mrs. Jack, Mrs. NOrey,
and Mrs. Beed, in turn, sat there-and
did not stay. Prudence was quite ago
nized Had the awful twins filled it
with needles for the reception of the
poor Ladies'? At first opportunity she
hurried into the secluded corner, intent
upon trying the chair for herself. She
sat down anXiOusly. Then she gasped
and clutched frantically at the arm of
the chair. For she discovered at once
to her dismay that the chair was bot
tomless, and that only by hanging on
for her life could she keep from drop
ping through.
Up rose Prudence, conscientiOusly
pulling after her the thin cushion
"AhNi iltlh NOhNttltNl lIG CllulI y SIlOEL-
coming. "LoOk, Fairyw she cried.
"Did you take the bottom out of this
chair? 1t must have been horribly un-
comfortable for those who have sat
there However did it happen"
Fairy was frankly amazed, and a
little inclined to be amused
ASK the twins" she said tersely;
Il know nothing about it,"
AT that moment, the luckless Carol
went running through the hall. Pru-
'dence knew it was She without seeing,
because she had a peculiar skipping
run that was quite characteristic and
lnmistakable.
Carol" she called.
And Carol paused.
"CarOl!" more imperatiyely.
Then Carol slowly opened the door
she was parsonage girl and rose to |
the occasion. She smiled winsOmely-
Carol was nearly always winsome.
How do you do?" she said brightly.
isn't it a lovely day? Did you call
me, Prudence?"
"Yes Do you know where the bot
tom of that chair has gone"
"Why no. gracious That
chair why, l didn't know you were
going to bring that chair in here.
am so sorry Why in the
world didn't you tell us beforehand"
Some of the Ladies smiled Others
liFtoA fhnfV Oh, |
mildly suggestive way, that Prudence
after nineteen years in the parsonage,
had learned to know and dread.
"And where is the chalr-bottom
now?' she inquired. "And why did
You take it?"
"Why, we wanted to make
"You and Lark?"
"WeII yeS-but it was really all nv
fault, you know. We wanted to make
4 seat up high in the peach tree, and
he bottom off the chair was just fine.
It's a perfectly adorable seat" bright I
sning but SOLDERING again as she real
zed the gravity of the occasion. "And ;
We put the cushion in the chair so that
t wouldn't be noticed. We never use
hat chair, you know. Pm so sorry :
lbout it."
Carol was really quite crushed, but {
rue to her parsonage training, she {
valiantly and presently l
,rought forth crumpled and sickly ]
mile. l
But Prudence smiled at her kindly. {
That wasn't very naughty, Carol" she {
aid frankly, ITS true that we sell ]
iom use that chair. And we ought to I
ave looked She glanced reproach- /
ully at Fairy. 1T Is strange that In