The state herald., 1918-03-29

Connie, still solicitous, helped them
wash the dishes. The others disap-
peared. Fairy got her hat and went
out without word. Their father fol-
lowed scarcely 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.
'Tm going for a walk" announced
Aunt Grace briefly.
"All right" assented Prudence. "If
I'm not here when you get back, don't
worry. I'm going for n 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 a
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.
"Come up." they invited Hospitality
but seriously.
he did so at once. and stood before
them, his face rather flushed, his man
ner a little constrained, but looking
rather satisfied with himself o. the
whole.
Twins" he said. II didn't know you
were 80 crazy about silk stockings.
We just thought It would be q good
joke-but 1t was little too good. 1t
was boomerang. I don't know when
I've felt so contemplate. So I went
down and got you some real silk
stocklngs-a dollar and q half q pair
and Tn glad to clear my conscience SO
easily"
The twins blushed. TIT was
good Joke, papa" Carol assured him
shyly. ut was dandy. But all the
girls at school have silk stockings for
best. and-we've been wanting them
forever. And-honestly. father, I don't
know when I've had such a-such n
spell of Indigestion as when I saw
those stockings were April FOOL"
indigestion" scoffed Connie, re.
stored to normal by her fathers hand.
some amends. -
"Yes. Indigestion" declared Lark
''You know, papa. that funny. hollow,
hungry feeling-when you get shock.
That's nervous indigestion-we read
1t in n medicine ad. They've got pills
for It. But It was a good Joke. We
saw that right at the start"
"And We didn't expect anything like
this It's very generous Of you.
papa. veryr
But he noticed that they made no
move to unwrap the box. II still lay
between them on the hay, where he
had tossed 1t. Evidently their conf
dence In him had been severely shat.
tered.
He sat down and unwrapped It him
self. "They are guaranteed" he ex-
plnined. passing out the little pink
slips gravely. $50 when they wear
holes you get another pair for moth
Ing" The twins faces had Frightened
wonderfully. II will never play that
kind Of trick again. twins. so you
needn't be suspicious Of me. And say
Whenever you want anything so badly
It makes you feel like that. come and
talk 1t over. Wen manage some way.
OF course. we're always little hard
up. but we can generally scrape up
something extra from somewhere. And
we will. You mustn't-feel like TINT
about things. Just tell me about II.
Girls nre so-kind Of funny. you know"
The twins and Connie rushed to the
house to try the "feel" of the frst.
adored silk stockings. They donned
them. admired them, petted Connie,
idolixed their father. and then remov-
Ing them, tied them carefully In clean
white tissue paper md deposited them
In the safest corner OF the bottom
drawer Of their dresser. Then they
lay back on the bed. thinking happily
Of the next class party! Silk stock.
ingsi All!
Cant you Just imngine how we'll
look In our new white dresses, Lark,
ind our patent leather pumps-with
silk stockingsi really feel there Is
nothing sets OF good complexion as
well as real silk stocklngs!"
They were interrupted In this de-
iiehtful occupation by the entrance Of
Fniry. The twins Ind quickly realized
thnt the suggestion for their huniiin.
ting hnd come from her. md their
hearts were sore. but being good ios.
crs-at icnst. ms good losers mn real
live folks cnn be-thcy wouldn't have
admitted for tho world.
"come on In. Fairy" snid Lark cor
daily. "Arcn't wc lazy todayf"
Twins" said Fairy. sclf-conscious
for the nrst time In the twins knowi.
edge Of her. II SUPPOSE you know II
wns who suggested thnt idotic Mttic
stocking stunt. II wns nwfully hateful
Of me. md no ! bought you real silk
stockings with my own spending mon.
cy, md hero they are. md you needn't
thank me. for never could be fond