The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-02-01

Guilty, ana sa1d In a low voice,
"wouldn't you like nice. hot oyster
stewr Prudence repeated IL after
her breathlessly.
SO Fairy returned once more, and
soon after Prudence tapped on the
door. Then she opened II, and thrust
her curly head inside. wouldn't you
like little nice, hot oyster stewT
she chirped methodcally. And Fairy
said, "Oh. yes, indeed, Prudence-this
Is so nice Of you"
The three gathered socially about
the table. Bnbbie was first to taste
the steaming stew. lie gnsped, and
gulped. and swallowed some water
with more haste than grace. Then he
toycd idly with spoon and wafer until
Prudence tasted also. Prudence did
not gasp. She did not cry out She
looked up at her sister with wide eyes
IA world of pathos In the glance.
But Fury did not notice.
"Now, please do not ask me to talk
until have finished my SOUP" she
was saying brightly.
Then she tasted It! She dropped
her spoon with a great clatter, and
jumped up from the table. Mercy"
she shrieked. ut is poisoned 4"
Babble leaned back In his chair and
laughed until his eyes were wet. Pru-
dence's eyes were wet, too, but not
from laughter! What would etiquette
think Of her, after thls7
"What did you do TO this soup, Pru-
3enceT demanded Fairy.
II made it-nothing else" faltered
poor Prudence. quite crushed by this
blow. And oysters forty cents pint |!
ITS pepper, think" gasped Bah
bic. "My insides bear startling testi-
mony to the presence of pepper
And he roared again. while Prudence
began a critical examination Of the
oysters. She found them literally
stuffed with pepper: there was no
doubt of It. The twins had done dead
ly work.
Revenge. We gods, how sweet"
chanted Fairy. "The twins are get
ting even with a vengeance-the same
twins you said were adorable, Babbie."
1t must be said for Fairy that her
good nature could stand almost any
thing. Even this did not seriously
disturb her. "Do you suppose you can
find us some milk. Prue? And crack
ers! Tn so fond of crackers and
milk, aren't you. Babbie?"
"Oh, I adore II. But serve micro
scope with 1t, please. l want to ex-
anime IL for microbes before l taste
But Prudence did better than that.
She made some delicious cocoa, and
opened a can of pear preserves, donat-
ed to the parsonage by the amiable
Mrs. Adams. The twins were very
fond of pear preserves, and had been
looking forward to eating these on
their approaching birthday. They
we're doomed to disappointment! The
three had a merry little feast, after
/ all, and their laughter rang out SO
often and so unrestrainedly that the
twins shook in their beds with rage
ana disappointment.
II speaks well for the courage OF
{ Babbie, and the attractions Of Fairy
that he came to the parsonage again
and again. In time he became the
best Of friends with the twins them
selves, but he always called them "the
adorables," and they never asked him
why. The punishment inflicted upon
them by Prudence ranked In their
memories for many months.
"The offense was against Fairy
said Prudence, with a solemnity she
did not feel, "and the PREPARATION must
be done to her. For three weeks you
must do all Of her bedroom work, ant
run every errand she requires. More
over, you must keep her shoes vel
cleaned and nicely polished, and mus
do every bit of her darning!"
The twins would have preferred
whipping a thousand times. They fel
they had got a whipping's worth o
pleasure out of their mischief! But ,
punishment like this sat heavily upol
their proud young shoulders, and from
that time on they held Fairy practi
cally immune from their pranks.
Prudence did not bother her heat
about etiquette after that experience
I'm strong for comfort" she declared
"and since the two cannot live togethe
In one family, l say we do without Ell
quette."
And Fairy nodded in agreement
smiling good-naturedly.