Mexico Missouri message., 1918-03-14

peared. Fairy got her hat and went
out without word. Their father fol-
lowed scarcely q block behind her.
Aunt Grace sought all over the house
for Prudence, and finally found her
in the attic, comforting herself with
view of the lovely linens which filed
her Hope Box.
"I'm going for a walk" announced
Aunt Grace briefly.
Gall right" assented Prudence. "Tf
I'm not here when you get back, don't
worry. I'm going for a walk myself"
Their work done irreproachably, the
twins and Connie went to the haymow
and lay on the hay, still silent. The
twins, buoyant though they were,
could not so quickly recover from
shock like this. So intent were they
upon the shadows among the cobwebs
that they heard no sound from below
until their fathers head appeared at
the top of the ladder.
"Come up" they invited Hospitality
but seriously.
| He did so at once, and stood before
them, his face rather flushed, his man.
ner a little constrained, but looking
rather satisfied with himself on the
whole.
"Twins," he said, "I didn't know you
were so crazy about silk stockings.
We just thought it would be a good
| jOke-but 1t was a little too good. 1t
was boomerang. don't know when
I've felt so contemplate. So 1 went
down and got you some real silk
stocllings-a dollar and half pair
and I'm glad to clear my conscience so
easily"
The twins blushed. "It-it was a
good joke, papa" Carol assured him
shyly. at was a dandy. But all the
girls at school have silk stockings for
best, and-we've been wanting them
forever. And-honestly, father, don't
know when I've had such a-such
spell of indigestion as when 1 saw
those stockings were April Fool"
indigestion" scoffed Connie, re-
stored to normal by her fathers hand
some amends.
"Yes, Indigestion" declared Lark.
"You know, papa, that funny, hollow,
hungry feeling-when you get shock.
That's nervous indigestion-we read
it in a medicine ad. They've got pills
for it. But 1t was a good joke. We
saw that right at the start"
"And we didn't expect anything like
this. It's very generous of you,
papa. Veryr
But he noticed that they made no
move to unwrap the box. 1t still lay
between them on the hay, where he
had tossed it. Evidently their conf
dence in him had been severely shat
tered.
He sat down and unwrapped II. him
self. "They are guaranteed" he ex-
planned, passing out the little pink
slips gravely, $50 when they wear
holes you get another pair for moth
ing" The twins faces had frightened
wonderfully. 81 will never play that
kind of a trick again, twins, so you
needn't be suspicious Of me. And say |!
Whenever you want anything so badly
it makes you feel like that, come and
talk 1t over. Wen manage some way.
OF course, we're always a little hard
up, but we can generally scrape up
something extra from somewhere. And
we will. You mustn't-feel like that
about things. Just tell me about 1t.
Girls are so--kind of funny, you know" 4"
The twins and Connie rushed to the
house to try the "feel" Of the first,
adored silk stockings. They donned
them, admired them, petted Connie,
idolized their father, and then remov-
ing them, tied them carefully in clean
white tissue paper and deposited them
in the safest corner of the bottom
drawer of their dresser. Then they
lay back on the bed, thinking happily
Of the next class party! Silk stock
ingsl Ahl
Cant you Just imagine how well
look In our new white dresses, Lark
and our patent leather pumps-with
silk stockings! 1 really feel there is
. nothing sets off good complexion as
, well as real silk stockings"
They were interrupted in this de
lightful occupation by the entrance OF
4 Fairy. The twins had quickly realized
that the suggestion for their humilia
r ting had come from her, and theil
hearts were sore, but being good los
r ers-at least, as good losers as rea
: live folks can be-they wouldn't have
admitted for the world.
q "Come on in, Fairy" said Lark cor
daily. "Aren't we lazy today?"
: "Twins," said Fairy, self-consciou'
: for the first time in the twins knowl
!. edge of her, 81 suppose you know 4
e was I who suggested that idlotic LITTLE
e stocking stunt. 1t was awfully hatefu
e of me, and so bought you real sill
d stockings with my own spending mon
r ey, and here they are, and you needn'
e thank me, for never could be fon(
r of myself again until squared thing
t with you"
S The twins had to admit that it wa
o really splendid of Fairy, and the,
f thanked her with unfeigned zeal.