The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-02-09
CHAPTER II.
The Rest of the Family.

| NNSA' uooi, ioOhCu Jul VI lHeIT WlluOWS
pending their appearance on MAR
street, with interest and concern. They
were Episcopalians themselves, and IL
all their long lives they had never SC
much as heard of a widower-rectol
with five daughters and no housekeep
er. There was something blood-cur.
ding In the bare idea.
The Misses Avery considered Pru.
dence herself rather a sweet, silly
little thing.
You have some real nice people In
the Methodist church." Miss Dora had
told her. II dare say you will find a
few of them very llkable."
"Oh, / will like them ALL" said Pru-
dence quickly and seriously.
Like them ALL" echoed Miss Dora.
"Oh, impossible!"
mot for u.s." said Prudence. "We
are used to it, you know. When we
dislike people at first sight, we visit
them, and talk to them, and invite
them to the parsonage, and entertain
them with our best linen and silver.
ware, and keep on getting friendlier
and friendlier, and-frst thing you
know, we like them fne!"
So the Misses Avery concluded that
Prudence was not entirely responsible.
And they wondered, with something
akin to an agony of fear, if the younger
girls had 1t, tool" and when Miss
Alice cried excitedly, "Quickl Quick
They are coming" they trooped to
Miss Alice's window with a speed that
would have done credit to the parson-
age girls themselves.
First came the minister, whom they
knew very well by this time, and con-
sldered quite respectable. He was
lively, as was to be expected of
Methodist minister, and told jokes,
and laughed at them! Now, comical
rector-oh, very different matter
1t wasn't done, that's all AT any rate,
here came the Methodist minister
laughing. and on one side of him
tripped small, earnest-looking maid
en-, clasping his hand, and gazing alter
nately up into his face and down at
the stylish cement sidewalk beneath
her feet. On the other side was Fairy.
The Misses Avery knew the girls by
name alreadyr-having talked much
with Prudence.
"Such Fairy!" gasped Miss MILL
cent, and the others echoed the gasp
but wordlessly.
For Fairy was very nearly as tall
as her father, built upon generous
lines, rather commanding in appear
ance, little splendid-looking. Even
from their windows they could discern
something distinctly Junolike in this
slxteen-year-old girl, with the easy,
elastic stride that matched her IA
theirs, and the graceful head, well car
ried. A young goddess-named Fairy
Behind them, laughing and chatter
Ing, like three children, as they were
came the twins with Prudence, each |
with an arm around her waist. And
Prudence was very little taller than |
they. When they reached the fence |
that bordered the parsonage, the scene |
for moment resembled miniature |
riot. The smaller girls jumped and |
exclaimed, and clasped their hands. |
Fairy leaned over the fence, and |
stared lntently at this, their parsonage
home. Then the serious little girl
scrambled under the fence followed
closely by the lithe-limbed twins. A
pause, very short one-and then Pru.
dence, too, was wrlggllng beneath the
fence.
Hold the wire up for me, papa |"
cried Fairy. "Im too fat" And Sec
ond later she was running gracefully
across the lawn toward the parsonage
The Methodist minister laughed boy
lshly, and placing his hands on the
fence post he vaulted lightly over,
and reached the house with his daugh.
ters. Then the Misses Avery, school.
teachers and elderly, looked at one an
other.
did you ever2" gasped the oldest
Miss Avery, and the others slowly
shook their heads. i
Now, think Did you ever see n rec
or jumping three-wire fence, and
full speed across his front
Yard in pursuit of II flying family? 1t
nay possibly have occuned--we have
levet seen 1t. Neither had the three
Misses Avery. Nor did they ever ex.
'ect to. And II they had seen It, 1t
$ quite likely they would have Joined !
he backsllders at that instant. q
But without wasting much time on I
his gruesome thought, they hurried i
o window commanding the best view I
II the parsonage, and raised II, Then
hey clustered behind the curtains, and Il
Watched and listened, There was Il
lenty to hear From the parsonage c
ilndows came the sound of scamper- e
lg feet and banging doors, Once there II
'as the unmlstakable clatter of n chair b
verturned, With II nll there was a S
onstant chorus OF "0h, look |" "Ohi
hi" "0h, how sweet!' "oh, papa p n
Oh. Prudence" Look. Larkie, look .
! thisi" 4
Then the eldest Miss Avery closed r.
'e window overlooking the parsonage "
ad confronted her sisters. O
I'VE must Just make the best of It,"
lie said quietly,
But next door the gray old parson.
20 was full to overlowing with salts.
cion and happiness and love. Every Il
le has experienced the ecstatlc, creepy h
nsation Of sleeping in brand-new 6,