The state herald., 1918-02-15

nuncHeu Oh tne HOOF Win ner 1eel
curled beneath her. Connie leaned
against the table within reach OF
Fairy's hand.
"They're awfully SLOW" she com.
planned once.
Nobody answered. The deadly 81.
lence clutched them.
"Oh. talk" Carol blurted out des.
perately. "You make me sick 1t isn't
anything to be SO awfully scared about.
Everybody does IT,"
A little humble greeted this, and
then, silence again. Whenever II
grew too painful. Carol said reproach-
fully. Everybody does It" And no
one ever answered.
They looked up expectantly when
the men entered. II seemed cozier
somehow when they were all together
in the little kitchehn.
''Is she all rightT
"Sure. she's all right" came the
bright response from their father,
And then silence.
"Oh, you make me SICK" cried Carol.
Everybody does It."
"Carol Starr. II you say everybody
does II again I'll send you to bed"
snapped Fairy. "Don't we know every
body does IT. But Prudence isn't ev-
erybody."
maybe we'd better have a lunch" /"
suggested their father hopefully. know
ing the thought of food often aroused
his family when all other means had
failed. But his suggestion met with
dark reproach.
"Father. II you're hungry, take a
place of bread out Into the woodshed, ,
begged Connie. ''If anybody eats any
thing before me I shall Jump up and
down and scream"
After that the silence was unbroken
save once when Carol began encour-
agingly:
EVERY"
"Sure they do" interrupted Fairy
uncompromisingly.
And then-the hush.
Long. long after that, when the girls
eyes were heavy. not with want Of
sleep, but Just with unspeakable weari-
ness Of spirit-they heard a step on
the stair.
"Come on up. Harmer." the doctor
called. And then, "Sure. she's all
right. She's nne and dandy-both Of
them are"
Jerry was gone In an instant, and
Er. Starr looked after him with inscru.
table eyes. "Fathers are-only IA.
thers," he said enigmatically.
"Yes." agreed Carol.
"Yes. In q crisis, the other man
goes first"
His daughters turned to him then,
tenderly. sympathetically.
"You Ind your turn. father" Connie
consoled him. And felt repaid for the
effort when he smiled at her.
"Jerry Junior" Lark mused. "He's
here.-'Aunt Lark. may I have q
cookyr"
A few minutes later the door wai
carefully showed open by means Of q
cautious foot. and Jerry stood befors
them. holding in his arms big bundle
Of dclicntely tinted flannel.
Ladies and gentlemen" he began
benming at them. his face flushed, hi,
eyes bright. embarrassed. but thor
oughiy satisfied. OF course Prudenc,
was the dearest girl in the world. ant
he adored her. and-but this was DIFF
ferent, this was fathcrhoodi
Ladies' and gentlemen" he sale
again In the tender. haif.laughing voic'
that Prudence loved. 'let me introduc,
to you my little daughter. Fairy Har
mer."
"Not-not Fairy" cried Fairy, Sen
Tor. tearfully. "oh. Jerry. I don't be
lleve Il. Not Fairyi You are Joking
"Of course II Is Fairy" no said
"I.ook out, Connie. do you want :,
break part Of my daughter of tho firs
thingf Oh. ! see. II was Just the finn
mel. was III Well you must be care
full Of the flannel, for when ladies' mr.
the size Of this one. you emit tell whicl
is flannel and which is foot. Fair.
Hnrmer! Here, grandpa, what do yol
think OF thisf And Prudence said 4
send you right upstairs. md hurr,
And the girls must 20 TO bed immedI
ntcly or they'll be sick tomorrow. Pru
dcncc snys no."
"oh. thnt's enough. That's Prudcnc
nli ovcri You needn't tell us amy NOR,
Here. Fniry Hnrmcr. let us look ut 20,
Hold her down. Jerry. Mercy Mercy /!
isn't she bcautyf" boasted III
young fnthcr proudly.
"A bcnutyf A beauty That |
Cnsol rubbed her slender fingers ovc
hey own velvety cheek. "rhey tai
nb,ut tho nntchleas skin of m now.hor