The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-04-19
CHAPTER Vt-Continued.

"Oh, | had her dressed warmly un-
dcrueath, very warmly indeed" de-
clared Prudence. "But no matter how
warm you are underneath, you look
cold if you aren't vLsibly prepared for
winter weather. kept hoping enough
money would come In to buy her
coat for once in her life"
"She has been looking forward to
one long enough" put in Fairy. This
will be bitter blow to her. And yet
It Is not such bad-lookins coat, after
ALL" And she quickly ran up a seam
on the machine.
Here comes Connie" Prudence
hastily swept a pile of scraps out Of
sight, and turned to greet her little
sister with CHEEKY smile.
Come on in, Connie" she cried,
with a brightness she did not feel.
Fairy and | are making you new
cont Isn't it pretty? And so warm
See the nice velvet collar and cufls.
We want to fit 1t on you right away,
dear"
Connie picked up a piece Of the
goods and examined 1t !ntently.
Don't you want some fudge, Con-
uief" exclaimed Fairy, showing the
dish toward her hurriedly.
Connie took q piece from the plate,
and thrust 1t between her teeth. Her
eyes were still fastened upon the brown
furry cloth.
Where did you get this stuff" she
inquired, as soon as she was able to
speak.
"Out of the trunk in the garret, Con-
nle. Don't you want some more fudgef
put lot of nuts in, especially on
your account"
IT'S good" said Connie, taking an
other piece. She examined the cloth
very closely. SAG Prudence, isn't this
that old brown coat of father'sT'
Fairy showed her chair back from the
machine and run to the window
Look. Prue," she cried. isn't that
Mrs. Adams coming this way? l won
der"
mo, 1t isn't" answered Connie
gravely. It's just Miss Avery getting
home from school.-Isn't it. Prudence?
Fathers coat, l meanf'
YES, Connie, it is said Prudence
very. very gently. But no one here
has seen 1t, and it is such nice cloth
just exactly what girls are wearing
now"
But l wanted a new coat ~ Connie
did Lot cry. She stood looking at Pru-
denoe with her wide hurt eyes.
"Oh, Connie, I'm just us sorry as
you are" cried Prudence, with starting
tears. II know just how you feel about
1t dearest. But the people didn't pay
father up last month. Maybe after
Christmas we can get you coat. They
pay up better then"
II think I'd rather wear my summer
cont until then" said Connie soberly.
oh but you can't, dearest. 1t is too
cod. Won't you be good girl now,
and not make sister feel badly about
III It really is becoming to you. and it
IL nice and warm. Take some more
fudge. dear, and run out-of-doors a
while. You'll feel better about 1t pres.
entity, I'm sure"
Connie stood solemnly beside the
table, her eyes still fastened on the
coat, cut down from her fathers. "Can
go and take a walk?" she asked
finally.
May I, you mean." suggested Fairy.
"Yes, may l? Maybe l can reconcile
myself to it"
Yes, go and take walk" urged
prudence promptly, eager to get the
small sober face beyond her range of
Vision.
"If 1 am not back when the twins
get home, go right on and eat without
me. I'll come back when l get things
straightened o.. in my mind"
When Connie was quite beyond hear
Ing Prudence dropped her head ON the
table and wept. "Oh Fairy, if the men,
bers Just knew how such things hurt,
maybe they'd pay up little better.
How do they expect parsonage people
to keep up appearances when they
haven't any money!"
"Oh. now, Prue. you're worse than
Connie! There's no use to cry about
It Parsonage people have to find hap
piness in spite Of financial misery.
Money isn't the first thing with folks
Nike o."
Peer Mttis Csaaisi II she bad