The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-05-31


= great square house that set back
from the road just on the outskirts Of
Fairtown. Their baby eyes had opened
upon world Of faded portraits and
sonaber haircloth furniture,
From babyhood to girlhood the
charm Of the old place grew upon
them. so much so that the thought Of
leaving 1t for homes OF their own be-
came dstasteful to them. and they
looked with scant favor upon the oc-
casIonal village youths who sauntered
up the path presumably on courtship
bent.
Rev. John Hapgood--a man who
ruled himself and all about him with
rod of rigid old-school orthodoxy
died when the twins were twenty; and
the frail little woman who. as his wife,
had for thirty years lived and moved
solely because he expected breath and
motion Of her. followed soon In his
footsteps. And then the twins were
len alone In the great square house
on the hill.
Miss Tabitha and Miss Rachel were
not the only children Of the family.
There had been son--the first born,
and four years their senior. The
headstrong hoy and the iron rule had
clashed. and the boy. when sixteen
years old, had fed. leaving no trace
behind him.
II Rev. John Hnpgood grleved for
his hayward son the members OF his
household knew II not. save as they
might place their own constructions
on the added sternness to his eyes
and the deepening lines about his
mouth. "Paul,r when it designated
the graceless runaway, was forbid
den word In the family,
Years had since passed--years Of
peaceful mornings and placid after
Moons, and Paul had never appeared
On the 10th of June, their thirty.
nth birthday, the place never had
looked so lovely. A small table laid
with spotless linen and cleaning sill.
yer stood beneath the largest apple
tree,
Rachel came out of the house and
shifted the mir joyfnlly.
delicious :" she fnurmured. "Sume-
how, the 10th OF June Is specially fine
every year"
In careful. upllfted hands she bore
round frosted cake, always the chief
treasure Of the birthday feast. The
cake was covered with the tiny col.
ored candies so dear to the heart OF
child. Miss Rachel always bought
those candies at fhe village store. with
the apology:
~ wnnt them for Tabitha's birthday
cnke. you know. She thinks so much
OF pretty things"
Tabltha Invariably made the cake
and iced II, and as she dropped the
bits OF colored sugar into place she
would explain to Huidy. who occasion
ally .helped" in the kitchen:
Il wouldn't miss the candy for the |
world-my sister thinks so much of
IT.
So each deceived herself with this
pleasant bit of fiction. and yet had !,
what she herself most wanted.
Rachel carefully placed the cake in
the center Of the table, feasted herl
eyes on its toothsome loveliness, them
turned and hurried back to the house.
The door had scarcely shut behind her
when small, ragged urchin darted in |
at the street gate. snatched the cake.
and, at a sudden sound from the
house. dashed out of sight behind a
shrub close by.
The sound that had frightened the
boy was the tapping Of the heels OF
Miss Tnbitha's shoes along the back
porch. The lady descended the steps,
crossed the lawn and placed saucer
Of pickles and plate OF dainty sand.
wiches on the table.
"Why, thought Rachel brought the
cake" she said aloud. 1T must be in
he house; there's other things to get,
snyway. I'll go back
Again the click OF the door brought
the small boy close to the table. Full
ing both hands with sandwiches, he
slipped behind the shrub just as the
ladies came out Of the house together.
Rachel carried small tray laden with
sauce and tarts; TabItha. one with
water and steaming tea. AS they
neared the table each almost dropped
her burden.
why. where's my cake.~
"And my sandwichesf''
ITS burgiars-robbersl Rachel
looked furtively over her shoulder.
And all your lovely cakel'' almost
sobbed Tabitha.
Tit was yours. too" said the
other with catch in her voice. "Oh.
dear! What can have happened to it7'
The sisters had long ago set their
trays upon the ground and were now
Wringfng their hands helplesslv. Rud-