Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-03-13

nihcent things they would do to show
their gratitude and when Aunt Grace
stopped at their door they leaped up
to overwhelm her with caresses just
because Of their gladness. i. &:sr~.s
She waved them away with a laugh.
april Fool, twins" she said, with. a
voice so soft that it took all the sting
from the words. II brought you some
real silk stock ngs for change" And
she tossed them a package and started
out of the room to escape their thanks.
But she stopped in surprise when the
girls burst into merry laughter.
ooh, you silk stockings - Carol
cried. "Three pairs! You darling,
sweet old auntie! You would come up
here to tease us, would you? But
papa gave us pair,an Fairy gave
us a pair, and"
. 'They did! Why, the silly things!'
And the gentle woman looked as seri-
ously vexed as she ever did look-she
had so wanted to give them the first
silk-stOcking experience herself.
ooh, here you are" cried Prudence,
stepping quickly in. and speaking very
brightly to counterbalance the gloom
she had expected to encounter. She
started back in some dsmay when she
saw the twins rolling and rocking
with laughter, and Aunt Grace leaning
against the dresser for support, with
Connie on the floor. quite speeches..
| "Good for you, twins-that's the way
to take hard Knocks" she said. 1T
wasn't very nice trick, though Of
course papa didn't understand how you
felt about silk stockings. It wasn't
! his fault. But Fairy and I ought to
be ashamed, and we are. I went out
and got you some real, genuine silk
ones myself, so you needn't pray for
them any more"
| Prudence was shocked, little hurt,
at the Outburst that followed her
words.
"Well, such a family!'' Aunt Grace
exclaimed. And then Carol pulled her
bodily down beside ther on the bed
and for time they were all incapable
, of explanation.
| "What is the joke?" Prudence asked,
again and again, smiling-but still
feeling a little pique. She had count
ed on gladdening their sorry little
hearts!
| "Stockings, stockings Oh, such a
family!' shrieked Carol.
"There's no playing jokes on the
twins," said Aunt Grace weakly. 1T
takes the whole family to square up.
It's too expensive"
Then Lark explained and Prudence
sat down and joined the merriment,
which waxed so noisy that Mr.. Starr
from the library and Fairy from the
kitchen, ran in to investigate.
april Fool April Fool,'' cried Carol.
1--WE never played a trick like this,
Larlzie-this is our masterpiece"
"You're the incest old things that
ever lived" said Lark still laughing,
but with great warmth and tender
ness in her eyes and her voice. ''But
you can take the stockings back and
save your money if you like-we love
you just as much"
But this the happy donors stoutly
refused to do. The twins had earned
this wealth Of hose. and finally, wiping
their eyes, the twins began to smooth
their hair and adjust their ribbons and
belts.
"What's the matter?'' "Where are
you going?" "Will you buy the rest
of us some silk stockings?' queried the
! 70 ,,,i1r offoof
"Where are we going?" Carol re-
peated, surprised, seeming to feel that
anyone should know where they were
going, though they had not spoken.
"We're going to call on our friends,
of course" explained Lark.
"Of course said Carol, jabbing her
hairpins in with startling energy. "And
we've got to hurry. We must go to
Mattie's and Jeans and Betty's and
Fans and Alice's and-say, Lark, may
be we'd better divide up and each take
half. It's kind of late-and we mustn't
miss any,"
"Well, what on earth ~ gasped Pru-
dence, while the others stared in
speechless amazement.
'For goodness sake, Carol hurry.
We have to get clear out to Minnie's
tonight, if we miss our supper"
"But what's the idea? What for?
What are YOU talking about?"
"Why, you silly thing" said Carol
patiently. Eve have to go and tell our
! friends that we've got four pairs of
silk stockings, Of course. I wouldn't
miss this afternoon for the world. And
ven 90 the rounds together, Lark. l
want to see how they take it," she
smiled at them henignly. IT can imag-
inc their excitement. And we owe it
to the world to give it all the excite
ment we can. Prudence says SOL
Prudence looked startled. did
say that?'
"Certainly. You said pleasure-but
excitement's very pleasing, most of the
time. Come on, Larkie, We'll have to
walk fast"
And with a fond goodby to the. gen
erous family, the. twins set out to
spread the joyful tidings, Lark paus-
jpo at tho door inst long anOI1ph IN