Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-04-25

hunched on the floor with her feet
curled beneath her. Connie leaned
against the table within reach of
Fairy's hand.
They're awfully slow" she COM
planned once.
Nobody answered. The deadly 81
lence clutched them.
"Oh, talk" Carol blurted out des-
perately. you make me sick! 1t isn't
anything to be so awfully scared about.
Everybody does It,"
A little humble greeted this. and
then, silence again. Whenever it
grew too painful, Carol said reproach-
fully, Everybody does it." And no
one ever answered.
They looked up expectantly when
the men entered. 1t seemed cozier
somehow when they were all together
in the little Kitchen.
us she all right?"
"Sure, she's all right" came the
bright response from their father,
And then silence.
"Oh, you make me SICK" cried Carol.
Everybody does it."
"Carol Starr, If you say Everybody
does it. again I'll send you to bed"
snapped Fairy. Don't we know every
body does it? But Prudence isn't ev-
erybody."
maybe we'd better have lunch,'
suggested their father hopefully, know
ing the thought of food often aroused
his family when all other means had
failed. But his suggestion met with
dark reproach.
'Father, If you're hungry, take a
piece Of bread out into the woodshed,"
begged Connie. eff anybody eats any
thing before ME / shall jump up and
down and scream"
After that the silence was unbroken
save once when Carol began encour-
agingly:
EVERY"
"Sure they do" interrupted Fairy
uncompromisingly
And then-the hush
Long long after that, when the girls
eyes were heavy, not with want of
sleep. but just with unspeakable weari-
ness of spirit-they heard a step on
the stair.
"Come on up, Harmer," the doctor
called. And then, "Sure she's all
right. She's fine and dandy-both of
them are"
Jerry was gone in an instant, and
Mr.. Starr looked after him with inscru-
table eyes. Fathers are-only IA
TIERS" he said systematically.
EYES," agreed Carol.
"Yes. In. crisis, the other man
goes first"
His daughters turned to him then,
tenderly, alphabetically.
you had your turn, father" Connie
consoled him. And felt repaid for the
effort when he smiled at her.
"Jerry Junior" Lark unused. 'He's
here.-'Aunt Lark, may l have a
cooky?"
A few minutes later the door was
carefully showed open by means of a
cautious foot, and Jerry stood before
them, holding in his arms big bundle
of delicately tinted flannel.
Ladies and gentlemen" he began,
beaming at them, his face flushed, his
eyes bright, embarrassed, but thor
oughly satisfied OF course Prudence
was the dearest girl In the world, and
he adored her, and-but this was DIFF
ferent, this was fatherhood!
Ladies and gentlemen" he said
again in the tender, half-lasghing voice
that Prudence loved, "let me introduce
to you my little daughter, Fairy Har-
mer."
"Not-not Fairyr" cried Fairy, Sem
Tor, tearfully. "oh, Jerry, / don't be-
heve it. Not Fairy! You are joking"
"Of course it is Fairy" he said.
Look out, Connie. do you want %
break part of my daughter off the first
thing? Oh, see. 1t was just the fan
mel, was it? Well, you must be care
full Of the flannel, for when ladies are
the size of this one, you can't tell which
is flannel and which is foot. Fairy
Harmeri Here, grandpa, what do you
think of this? And Prudence said to
send you right upstairs, and hurry.
And the girls must go to bed immedi-
ately or they'll be sick tomorrow. Pru-
dence says So"
"Oh, that's enough. That's Prudence
all over! You needn't tell US any more
Here, Fairy Harmer, let us look at you.
Hold her down, Jerry. Mercy Mercy p
isn't she a beauty?" boosted the
young father proudly.
"A beauty? A beautyi That 7"
Carol rubbed her slender fingers over
her own velvety cheek. 'They talk
ahnut fiaa natchleas slrin Of a nau-horn