The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-01-12
CHAPTER II.
The Rest of the Family.

were EpiscOpalians themselves, and ii
all their long lives they had never S,
much as heard Of a widower-recto
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, sill!
little thing.
"You have some real nice people II
the Methodist church" Miss Dora hat
told her. II dare say you will find &
few Of them very likable."
"Oh, / will like them ALL" said Pru
dence quickly and seriously.
Like them ALL" echoed Miss Dora
"Oh, impossible! !"
"Not for us, said Prudence. eve
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-first thing you
know, we like them fine!"
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 it, toOw and when Miss
Alice cried excitedly, Quick Quick /!
They are comingE - 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-
sidered quite respectable. lie was
lively, as was to be expected of a
Methodist minister, and told jokes,
and laughed at them! Now, a comical
rect0r-oh, a very different matter
it 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 already-having talked much
with Prudence.
"Such a Fairy" gasped Miss MiIl-
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
sixteen-year-Old girl, with the easy,
elastic stride that matched her IA
thers, and the graceful head, well car
ried. A young goddess-named Fairy
Behind them, laughing and chatter
ng, like three children, as they were
came the twins with Prudence, each
With an arm around her waist. And
Prudence was a very little taller than
hey. When they reached the fence
hat bordered the parsonage, the scene
or a moment resembled a miniature |
lot. The smaller girls jumped and
and clasped their hands. |
FAIRY leaned over the fence, and |
tared intently at this, their parsonage
lome. Then the serious little girl |
crambled under the fence, followed
loosely by the lithe-limbed twins. A
ause, very short one-and then Pru-
ence, too, was wriggling beneath the
ence.
Hold the wire up for me, papa !"
ried Fairy. I'm too fat" And a sec
nd later she was running gracefully
cross the lawn toward the parsonage.
he Methodist minister laughed boy
jhly, and placing his hands on the
snce post, he vaulted lightly over,
nd reached the house with his daugh-
RS. Then the Misses Avery, school
'achers and elderly, looked at one an
-her.
did you ever?" gasped the oldest
iss Avery, and the others slowly
look their heads.
Now, think! Did you ever see a rec
# jumping a three-wire fence, and
inning full speed across his front
lrd in pursuit of flying family? 1t
ay possibly have occurred--we have
sver seen it. Neither had the three
isses Avery. Nor did they ever ex-
'ct to. And If they had seen it, it =
quite likely they would have joined
e backsllders at that instant. a
But without wasting much time on 0
is gruesome thought, they hurried n
a window commanding the best view .
the parsonage, and raised 1t. Then
ey clustered behind the curtains, and n
ltched and listened. There was n
snty to hear! From the parsonage G
ndows came the sound of scamper- e.
; feet and banging doors. Once there Il
s the unmistakable clatter of chair b.
erturned. With it all there was a 81
lstant chorus Of "Oh, look p "OhI
r. "Oh, how sweetr' "Oh, papa - m
h, Prudence" |" 'Look, Larkie, look b.
thisl" fc
Then the eldest Miss Avery closed re
window overlooking the parsonage W
/ confronted her sisters. OF
We must just make the best Of It,"
said quietly.
Sut next door the gray old parson-
was full to overfowing with satis-
ton and happiness and love. Every tn
has experienced the ecstatic, creepy he
saton Of sleeping In a brand-new sc
le. The parsonage girls reveled In w