The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-03-22
CHAPTER IIl-contlnusd.

CNUI Uu yOuE AA1Cs calu SdIOA
promptly and emphatically; "he's worse
than Prudence. Like as not he'd give
me q good thrashing into the bargain.
No-rm strong for Prudence when it
comes to punishment-in preference
to father, ! mean. l can't seem to be
fond of any kind of punishment from
anybody"
For q while Carol was much de-
pressed. but by nature she was buoy
ant soul, and her spirits were presently
s>arng again.
In the meantime, the Ladies Of the
Aid society continued to arrive. Pru-
dence and Fairy, freshly gowned and
smiling-faced, received them with cor
diality and many merry words. 1t was
not difficult for them; they had been
reared In the hospitable atmosphere Of
Methodist parsOnages, where, II you
have but two dishes Of oatmeal, the
outsider is welcome to one. That il
Carols description Of parsonage life.
But Prudence was concerned to OBJ
serve that big easy chair placed well
back in q secluded corner, seemed to
be giving dissatisfaction. 1t was Mrs.
Adams who sat there first. She
squirmed quite little, and seemed to
be gripping the arms Of the chair with
unnecessary fervor. Presently she
stammered an excuse, and, rising, went
into the other room. After that, Mrs.
Miller, then Mrs. Jack, Mrs. Norey,
and Mrs. Beed, in turn, sat there-and
did not stay. Prudence was quite ago
%hA f,r1k kvx,{p
with needles for the reception of the
poor Ladies7 At first opportunity she
hurried into the secluded corner intent
upon trying the chair for herself. She
sat down anxiously. Then she gasped
and clutched frantically at the arm of
the chair. For she discovered at once
to her dismay that the chair was bot
tomless, and that only by hanging on
for her life could she keep from drop
ping through.
Up rose Prudence, conscientiously
pulling after her the thin cushion
which had concealed the chairs short
coming. "Look. Fairy" she cried.
ibid you take the bottom out of this
chair7 It must have been horribly un-
comfortable for those who have sat
there! However did 1t happen?"
Fairy was frankly amazed, and q
little inclined to be amused.
ASK the twins" she said tersely;
II know nothing about it."
At that moment, the luckless Carol
went running through the hall. Pru-
dence knew 1t was she, without seeing,
because she had a peculiar skipping
run that was quite characteristic and
unmistakable.
"Carol!" she called.
And Carol paused.
"Caroli" more imperatively.
Then Carol slowly opened the door
she was a parsonage girl and rose to
the occasion. She smiled winsomely-
Carol was nearly always winsome.
"How do you dot" she said brightly.
isn't it q lovely dayf Did you call
me. PrudenceT
"Yes. Do you know where the bot
tom of that chair has goner
"Why no, Prudence gracious That
chair why, didn't know you were
going to bring that chair In here.
Why-oh, am 10 sorryl Why In the
world didn't you tell rs beforehand"
Some of the Ladies' smiled. Others
lifted their brows and shoulders In q
mildly suggestive way, that Prudence.
after nineteen years in the parsonage.
had learned to know and dread.
"And where is the chair-bOttom
nowr she inquired. "And why did
you take itr'
"why. we wanted to make"
"You and LArk7"
"Well, yes-but 1t was really all my
fault, you know. We wanted to make
. seat up high in the peach tree, and
the bottom OF the chair was just 6ne.
It's Q perfectly adorable seat" bright
ening, but SOLDERING again ~ she real
lee1 the gravity q the occasion. S<nd