Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-06-06

know exactly how-h0W they Ieel
When we go to Betty Hills we wear
her silk stockings and lie on the bed
-and-she won't let us walk in them,
for fear we may wear holes. Every
girl In our class has at least one pair
Betty has three, but one pairs holey
and-we felt so awfully poorl"
The smiles on the family faces We're
rather stereotyped by this time, but
the exulting twins did not notice. Lark
looked at Carol fondly. Carol sighed
at Lark blissfully. Then, with one ac-
cord, they lifted the covers from the
boxes and drew out the shimmering
hose. Observation-Disclosures
shook them out for inspection Their
faces paled little.
"They-they are very" began
Carol courageously. Then she stopped.
The hose were fine tissue-paper
imitation of silk stockings The
April Fool, little twins" on the toes
was not necessary for their enlighten-
ment. They looked at their father
with sad but unresentful reproach in
their swiftly shadowed eyes.
"It-it's a good joke" stammered
Carol, moistening her dry lips with
her tongue.
s1t's-one on as" blurted Lark
promptly.
"Ha, ha, ha," laughed Carol, slowly
dryly, very duly.
"Yes-ha, ha. ha," echoed Lark, plac-
ing the bitter fruit carefully back IN
it's box. Her fingers actually trembied.
"It's a-swell joke, all right" Carol
said; "we see that well enough-we're
not stupid, you know. But we did
want silk stockings so-awfully bad.
But it's funny, ha, ha, hal"
"a gift from heavenl" muttered
Lark, with clenched teeth. well, you
got us that time"
"Come on, Lark, we must put them
sacredly away-silk stockings, you
know, are mighty scarce In parson-
age"
ayes, ha, ha, ha," and the crushed
and broken twins left the room, with
dignity in spite of the blow.
The family did not enjoy the joke on
the twins
Mr.. Starr looked at the others with
all a mans confused incomprehension
of woman's notions! He spread out
his hands-an orthodox, ministerial
gesture!
"Now, will someone kindly tell me
what there is in silk stockings to-"
He shook his head helplessly. "Silk
stockings A gift from heaven!" He
smiled, unmerrily. 1.-THE poor little
kids !" Then he left the room.
Aunt Grace openly wiped her eyes,
smiling at herself as she did so.
Fairy opened and closed her lips
several times. Then she spoke. "Say,
Prue, knock me down and sit on me,
will your Whatever made me think
of such stupid trick as thatp"
"Why, bless their little hearts, p"
whispered Prudence. shifting. Didn't
they look sorry? But they were so
determined to be game"
prudence, give me my eight cents, "
| away"
! What do you want 1t forg'
I'm going down to Morrow's and get
some candy. I never saw meaner
trick in my life! I'm surprised at
papa. The twins only play jokes for
fun" And Connie stalked grimly out
of the parsonage and off toward town.
A more abashed and downcast pair
Of twins probably never lived. They
sat thoughtfully In their room, "a
Phoole's SILK Thread Hose" carefully
hidden from their hurt eyes.
SIT was good joke" Lark said, now
and then.
"Yes, very" assented Carol. "But
silk stockings, Larkie!"
And Lark squirmed wretchedly. "A
gift from heaven" she mourned. "Hov
they must be laughing"
But they did not laugh.
Connie came back and shared hel
candy. They thanked her courteously
and invited her to sit down. They the,
all ate candy and grieved together 81
lently. They did not speak Of thu
mornings disaster, but the twins I'm
derstood and appreciated the tende
sympathy of her attitude, and although
they said nothing, they looked at he
very kindly and Connie was well con
tent.
The morning passed drearily. TIL
twins had lost all relish for their well
planned tricks, and the others, down
stairs, found the usually wild and hi
larious day almost unbearnbly poky
, Prudence's voice was gentle as sh
called them down to dinner, and tn
twins, determined not to show tn
white feather, went down at once an
took their places. They bore thei
trouble bravely, but their eyes had tn
, surprised and stricken look, and thei
| faces were nearly old. Mr.. Starr CT
the blessing short, and the dinner wa
I eaten In silence. The twins tried I
start the conversation. They talked {
: the weather with passionate devotion
They discussed their studies with a
:. almost unbelievable enthusiasm. The
y even referred, with stiff smiles,