The state herald., 1918-03-29

you can't understand such things,
papa" said Lark. Maybe you don't
know exactly how-how they feel.
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 poorv'
The smiles on the family faces were
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. Yes-shimmering-but-they
shook them out for inspectionl Their
faces paled little.
"They-they are very" began
Carol courageously. Then she stopped.
The hose were fine tissue-paper
imitation Of silk stockingsl 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.
.1t's-one on us" 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
its box. Her fingers actually trembled.
"It's a-swell Joke, all right" Carol
said; 1--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
away-silk stockings, you
know, are mighty scarce In a parson-
,ge-"
Eyes, ha, ha. ha," and the crushed
Ind broken twins left the room. with
iignity In spite of the blow.
The family did not enjoy the Joke on
he twins.
Mr.. Starr looked at the others with
III a mans confused incomprehension
# q woman's notionsi He spread out
his hunds-an orthodox, ministerial
gesturel
"Now. will someone kindly tell me
what there Is in silk stockings to"
He shook his had helplessly. "silk
A gift from heaveni" 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 your Whatever made me think
Of such stupid trick as thati'
"Why, bless their little hearts,"
whispered Prudence, smiling. Didn't
they look sorryi But they were SO
to be game"
prudence. give me my eight cents"
demanded Connie. II want It right
away"
"What do you want II forr"
"rm soing down to Morrow's and get
some candy. I never saw a meaner
trick In my life! I'm surprised at
papa. The twins only play Jokes for
fun" And Connie stnlked grimly out
OF the parsonage and OF toward town.
A more abnshed nnd 6owncnst pair
Of twins probably never lived. They
sat thoughtfully In their room. "a.
Phoole's silk Thread Hose" carefully
hidden from their hurt eyes.
ut was good Joke" Lark said. now
"yl ~" asscnted Carol. .But
s sngs. Larkiei"
9(nd Lark squIrmed wrctchediy. "A
gift from heaven" she mourned. "How
they must be laughlngl"
But they did not laugh.
Connie came bnck and shared her
cnndy. They thanked her courteously
md invited her TO sit down. They they
nll ntc candy md gricvcd together ri.
lcntly. They did not spenk Of the
mornings disaster. but the twins un.
dcrstood md appreciated the tender
sympathy Of her attitude. md although
they snid nothing. they looked nj her
very kindly md Connie wns well con.
tent.
The morning pissed drcnriiy. The
twins had lost NIL relish for their well.
planned tricks, and the others, down.
stnirs. found the usually wild and hi.
lnrious dny almost unbcarnbly poky,
Prudcnccs voice wns gentle M she
called them down 10 dinner. md tho
twins. determined not to show the
white feather. went down ut once and
took their plnccs. They bore their
trouble brnvcly. but their eyes hnd tho
surprised md stricken look. and thcii
faces were ncnrly old. Mr.. Starr Gu,
the blessing short, md tho dinner wns
cntcn In silence. The twins tried e
nrf thu rauy.rsaftaa 1't.v Sattsa nj al