The Taney County republican., 1918-03-21
sad but unresentful reproach in

CuIOi' lnoAolSuah6 A~A 49,!
her tongue.
'Tfs-one on US" blurted Lark
promptly.
"Ha, ha, ha," laughed Carol, slowly
iryly, very DULY.
"Yes--ha, ha, ha," echoed Lark plac-
ing the bitter fruit carefully back In
It's box. Her fingers actually tremb!ed.
ATS a-swell joke, all right" Carol
said; tive see that well enough--we're
act stupid, you know. But we dld
want silk stockings so-awfully bad
But It's funny, ha, ha, ha"
"a gift from heaven" muttered
Lark, with clenched teeth. swell, you
got us that time"
"Ccme on, Lark, we must put them
sacredly away--silk stockings, you
know, are mighty scarce In parson-
age"
"Yes, 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 incomprehenslon
Of a 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 shock his head helplessly. "Silk
stockingsl A gift from heaven" He
smiled, unmerrily. "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 you? Whatever made me think
Of such stupid trick as thatH"
"Why, bless their little hearts"
whispered Prudence, shifting. Didn't
they look sorry? But they were so
determined to he game"
"Prudcnce, give me my eight cents,'
demanded Connie. II want 1t right
away"
"What do you want 1t forT
am going down to Morrow's and get
some candy. / never saw meaner
trick in my llfel I'm surprised at
papa. The twins only play jokes for
fun" And Connie stalked grlmly 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.
at was a 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. "How
they must be laughing"
But they did not laugh
Connie came back and shared her
candy. They thanked her courteOusly
and invited her to sit down. They they
all ate candy and grleved together 81.
lently. They did not speak Of the
mornings disaster, but the twins un.
derstood and appreciated the tender
sympathy of her attitude, and although
they said nothing, they looked at her
very kindly and Connie was well con,
tent.
The morning passed drearily. The
twins had lost all relish for their we'll
planned tricks, and the others, down
stairs, found the usually wild and hi
larious day almost unbearably poky
Prudence's voice was gentle as she
called them down to dinner, and the
twins, determined not to show the
white feather, went down Mt once ant
took their places. They bore thell
trouble bravely, but their eyes had the
surprised and stricken look, and theli
faces were nearly old. Mr.. Starr cut
the blessing short, and the dinner was
eaten In silence The twins tried Il
start the conversation. They talked Of
the weather with passionate devotion
They discussed their studies with ar
almost unbelievable enthusiasm. They
even referred, with stiff smiles, tC
"papas good Joke" and then laughed
their dreary "ha. ha, ha," until their
father wanted to fall upon his knees
and beg forgiveness.
Connie, still solicitous, helped them
wash the dishes. The others disap'
peared. Fairy got her hat aud went
ont without word. Their father FOL
lowed scarcely a 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.
nm going for o wnlk," announced
Aunt Grace briefly.
"All right" nssented Prudence. III
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 q
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.
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