The Huttig news., 1917-01-20

laughing lightly, said. ~Sbe IS an dtten- tive creature, isn't she?"
 Prudence would gladly have flown cut into the hall to settle this matter, but she realized that she was on exhi bition. Had she done so, the Ladies would have set her down forever after as thoroughly incompetent--she could not go, But Lark must come to her.
 Lark v This was Prudence's most awful voice, and Lark was bound to heed
 "Oh. Prue," she said plaintively, .Tll be there in minute. Can't you wait just five minutes? Let me run up- stairs first, won't you? Then I'll come gladly. Won't that do?"
 Her voice was hopeful. But Pru- dence replied with dangerous calm:
 Come q once, Lall;.'
 "All right, then aud adfled threat eningly, but youll wish haan't."
 Then Lark opened the door@.l woe full figure! In one hand she carried an empty shoe box. And her face was streaked with good rich Iowa mud. Her clothes were pastered with it. One shoe WAS eaked from the sole to the very top button and great gash in her stocking revealed q generous DOT ton of round, white leg.
 Poor Prudence, At that moment she would have exchanged the whole par sonage bathroom. electric lights and all, for a tiny log cabin in the heart of q great forest, where she and Lark might be alone together.
 And Fairy laughed. Prudence lo:ked at her with tears in her eyes. and then turned to the wretched girl
 What have you been doing, Lark ?"
 The heartbreak expressed in the face of Lark would have made the angels weep. Beneath the smudges of mud on her cheeks she was pallid, and, try as she would. she could not keep her chin from trembling ominoGsy. Her voice. when she was able to speak. was barely recognizable.
 "We-we-we are making-mud images. Prudence. lit was aNfully messy, I know, but-they say-it is such a good-and useful thing 10 do. We've didn't expeet-the-the La dies to see us"
 Mud images '" gasped Prudence, ant even Fairy stared increduiously. "Nhere in the world did you get hold of an idea like that?"
 'It-it was in that-that Mothers Home Friend paper you take. Pru- dence." Prudence hluShed guiitily. Tt was modelling in clay, but-we haven't any clay, and-the mud is very nice, but-oh, l knoW l lock iust-horrible, -I-Connie pushed ne in the-puddle for fun" Another appealing glance into Ter sisters face, and Lark plunged on. bent on smoothing matters if she could. "Carol isis just fine at it. really She-she's making a Venus de Milo, and it's good. But we can't re- member whether her arm is off at the elhow or below the shoulder" An enormous gulp, and by furious blinking Lark managed to crowd back the tears that would slip to the edge of her lashes "I-Tm very sorry, Prudence.
 "Very well, Lark, you may go. 1 do not really object to your modelling in mud, l an sure. l am sorry you look so disreputable. You must change your shoes and stockings at snce, and then you can go on with your model ing. But there must be no more push ng and chasing. I'll see Connie about that tonight. Now gO.' And Lark was swift to avail herself of the permission.
 pl iaf hAr hn Ladies rut aside their sewing and walked about the room, chatting in little groups With significant glance 10 Fairy. Prudence walked calmly to the double doors between the dining room and the sitting room. The eyes )f the Ladies followed her with inter- ast. and even enthusiasm. They were hungry. Prudence slowly opened wide the doors, and-stood amazed Tie LaGies clustered about her, and stood amazed also. The dining room was .here and the table But the appear lnee of the place was vastly different The snowy cloth was draped artis- ically over picture on the wall the oweSt edges well above the floor The plates and trays, napkin-covered, were safely slowed away on the floor in dis ant corners. The kitchen scrub buck at had been brought in and turned up- side deWn, to afford a fitting resting place for the borrowed punch bowl, 'ull to overtiowing with fragrant lem )nade.
 And at the table were three dirty, 1isheVeled little figures, bending seri- lusly over piles of mud. X not-unrec- )gnizable Venus de Milo occupied the
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