Mexico Missouri message., 1918-03-14
CHAPTER xV--contInued.


The first Of April in the Mount
Mark parsonage was a time of trial
and tribulation, frequently to the ex-
tent Of weeping and gnashlng of teeth.
The twins were no respecters of per-
sons, and feeling that the first of
April rendered all things justifiable TO
all men, they made life as burdensome
TO their father as to Connie, and Fairy
and Prudence lived In q state of per-
petual anguish until the twins fell
asleep at night well satisfied but worn
out with the days activities. The twins
were bordering closely to the first
stage of grown-up womanhood, but on
the first of April they swOre they
would always be youngl The tricks
were more dignlfled, more carefully
planned and scientifically executed
than in the days Of their rolllcklng
girlhood-but they were all the more
heartbreaklng on that account.
The week before the first was spent
by Connie in n vain effort to ferret
out their plans in order that fore
knowledge might suggest a sufficient
too clever to permit this, and their
bloody schemes we're wrapped in mys.
terry and buried in secrecy. On the
thirty-first of March Connie labored
like a plumber would If working by
the Job. She painstakingly hid from
sight all her cherished possessions.
The twins were In the barn, presum-
nh In Ann
at the Ladies' Aid. So when Fairy
came in. about four in the afternoon,
there was only Prudence to note the
vengeful glitter in her fine, clear eyes.
And Prudence was so intent upon
feather-stitching the hens Of pink
checked dish towels that she did not
observe 1t.
where's papa?" Fairy asked.
"Upstairs."
"Where are the twins2"
'Tn the barn, getting ready for THE
DAY"
Fairy smiled dellghtedly and skipped
eagerly up the stairs. She was clos
eted with her father for some time,
and came out Of his room at last with
n small coin carefully concealed In the
corner of her handkerchief. She did
not remove her hat, but set briskly
out toward town again.
Prudence, startled out of her feath-
er-stitching, followed her to the door.
"Why, Fairy" she called. "Are you
going out agaIn?"
Fairy threw up her hands. $50 1t
seems. An errand for papa" She
lifted her brows and pursed up her
Alps, and the wicked joy In her face
pierced the mantle of Prudence's alb
sorptiOn again.
"What's up?" she questioned curl
Ously, following her sister down the
steps.
Fairy looked about hurriedly, and
then whispered a few words Of eX-
PLANTATION. Prudence's look changed to
one of unnaturally splteful glee.
"Good Fine! Serves 'em right I!
You'd better hurry"
"Tell Aunt Grace, will you? But
don't let Connie in until morning.
She'd give it away"
the twins, their eyes bright with the
unholy light Of mischief, never looked
at her. They sometimes looked heav-
onward with a sublime contentment
that drove Connie nearly frantic. Oc-
casionally they uttered cryptic words
about the mOrrow-and the older mem
bers of the family smiled pleasantly
but Connie shuddered. She remem,
bered so many April Fools days.
The family usually clung together
on occasions of this kind, feeling
there was safety and sympathy In
numbers-as so many towards have
felt for 10 these many years. And thus
1t happened that they were all in the
dining room when their father ap
peared at the door. He had his hands
behind him suggestively.
'Twins," he said, without preamble
''what do you want more than any
thing else2"
"Sllk stockings" was the promp
and unanimous answer.
He laughed. "GOod guess, WASH
itT" And tossed into their eager hands
two slender boxes, nicely wrapped
The others gathered about them will
smiling eyes as the twins tremulousl,
tore off the wrapplngs.
"a. Phoole's Pure silk Threa'
HOse-Guaranteedp This they rea,
from the box-neat golden lettering
1t was enough for the twins. Wit
cries of perfect bliss they flung them
selves upon their father, kissing hin
rapturously wherever their lips Nigh
touch.
"Oh, papa" "oh, you darling !
And then, when they had some sort o
control of their Joy, Lark said sol
emnly, "Papa, 1t is a gift from heaN
emf"
"Of course we give you the credit
papa" Carol amended quickly, "bu
the thought was heaven-prompted."
Fairy choked suddenly, and her q
of coughing interfered with the twins
Ill