PRUDENCE
P a r s O n ag e ,
ETHEL »,
HUES!
(Copyright,
by
the Bobbs-Morrtll Com
pany.)
Miss Fairy has her first
beau. She flouts the twins
and they prepare to even
the score in a ruthless and
unforgettable manner.
Mr. Starr, a widower Metho­
dist minister, comes to Mount
Mark, la., to take charge of the
congregation.
He
has
five
daughters. Prudence, the eldest,
keeps house and mothers Fairy.
Carol and Lark, the twins, and
Constance, the “ baby.” The new­
comers stir the curiosity of all
Mount Mark, and the Ladies*
Aid society loses no time in get­
ting acquainted, asking myriad
questions and offering advice
that isn’t wanted.
Prudence,
who is nineteen, has her hands
full with the mischievous twins
and Connie. They have just en­
gineered a raid on a neighbor­
ing apple orchard. As the actual
culprit, Connie is taking punish­
ment without telling on the
twins.
C H APTE R IV.— Continued.
—6—
That was the end of supper. No
one attempted to eat another bite.
A fter the older girls had gone into the
sitting room, Carol and Lark went
about their work with stricken faces.
They asked if they might speak to
Constance, but Prudence went in with
them to say good night to her. The
twins broke down and cried as they
saw the pitiful little figure with the
wan and tear-stained face. They threw
their arms around her passionately
and kissed her many times. But they
went to bed without saying anything.
It was a sorry night for the twins.
The next morning they set off to
school, with no chance for anything
but a brief good morning with Connie
— given in the presence of Prudence.
Half-way down the parsonage walk,
Carol said:
“ Oh, wait a minute. Lark. I left my
notebook on the table.”
And Lark
walked slowly while Carol went rush­
ing back. She found Prudence in the
kitchen, and whispered:
"H ere— here’s a note. Prudence.
Don’t read it until after I ’ve gone to
school— at ten o’clock you may read It.
W ill you promise?”
Prudence laughed a little, but she
promised, and laid the note carefully
away to wait the appointed hour for
Its perusal. As the clock struck ten
she went to the mantle and took It
down. This is what Carol had w rit­
ten:
Oh, Prudence, do please forgive me, and
don’t punish Connie any more. You can
punish me any way you like, and I’ll be
glad of It. It was all my fault. I made
her go and get the apples for me, and I
ate them. Connie didn’t eat one of them.
Ehe said stolen apples would not taste
very good. It was all my fault, and I ’m
so sorry.
As Prudence read this her face grew
very stern. Carol’s fa u lt! A t that
moment Prudence heard someone run­
ning through the hail, and thrust the
note hastily into her dress. It was
Lark, and she flung herself wildly up­
on Prudence, sobbing bitterly.
“ What is the matter, Lark?” she
cried, really frightened.
“ Are you
sick?”
’ “ Heartsick, that’s all,” walled Lark.
“ I told the teacher I was sick so I
could come home, but I ’m not. Oh,
Prudence, I know you’ll despise and
abominate me all the rest of your life,
and everybody will, and I deserve I t
'For I stole those apples myself.”
Prudence was surprised and puzzled.
She drew the note from her pocket
and gave It to Lark. “ Carol gave me
that before she went to school,” she
¡explained. “ Read It, and tell me what
¡you are driving a t I think you are
¡both crazy. Or maybe you are Just
tryin g to shield poor Connie.”
I Lark read Carol’s note, and gnsped,
and—burst out laughing 1 The shame,
the bitter weeping, and nervousness,
“OH, It might— but It wouldn’t be
had reudered her hysterical, and uow the proper tiling at ull. College men do
she laughed and cried until Prudence not care to bo entertained by babies.”
"N o," snapped Lark, “ the wisdom of
was alarmed again.
In time, however, l.nrk was aide to babies Is too deep for these— these-—
explain. “ Wo both did It," she gasped, them men in embryo.’*
“ the Skull and Crossboiies. And we
This was so exquisitely said that
both told tlie truth ubout It.”
Lurk was quite restored to amiability
Prudence laughed.
But when she by it. "h i embryo" bail been added to
thought of loyal Utile Connie, sobbing her vocabulary that very day la the
all through the long night, the tears biology elass. And Carol said "Ouch I"
came to her eyes again.
She went with such whole-souled admiration
quickly to tiie telephone and ealled up that Lark's spirit sou m l among the
tile school building next door to the clouds. She had scored !
parsonage.
“ And what shall we serve them?"
“ May 1 speak to Constance Starr, urged Prudence. “ I suppose It would
Mr. lines?" she asked. “ It Is very liu. hardly do to— pop corn, would It?"
portaut. Tills is Prudence, her sis­
“ No, Indeed This is the first time,
ter.” And when Connie came to the and we must do something extra. Bah
telephone, she cried: “ (ih. you Messed hie Is all tiie rage at school, and tlie
little child, why didn’t you tell mo? j girls are fruntic with Jealousy because
Will you forgive me, Connie? You’re 1 have cut everytiody else out."
a dear, sweet, good little darling,
“ l*o you like him. Fairy? Don’t you
that’s what you are."
think tie's tiresome?
lie talks so
“ Oh, Prudence!" That was nil Con­ much. It seems to me."
nie said, but something In tier voice
“T o be sure 1 like him. He’s great
made Prudence hang up the receiver fun. lie's always Joking and uever
quickly, and cry bitterly I
That noon Prudence pronounced
Judgment on the sinners, hut her eyes
twinkled, for Carol and Lark had
scolded each other roundly for giving
things away f
“Connie should have refused to obey
you,” she said gently, holding Connie
in her arms. “ But she lias been pun­
ished more than enough.
But you
twins! In the first place, 1 right now
abolish the Skull and Crossbones for­
ever and ever. And you enunot play
in the baru again for a month. And
you must go over to the A very» this
afternoon and tell them about It, and
pay for the apples. And you must
send ull o f your spending money for
the next month to that woman who Is
gathering Up things for the bad little
children in the reform school—that
will help you remember what happens
to boys and girls who get in the habit
of taking things on the spur of the mo­
ment 1”
The twins accepted nil o f this gra­
ciously. except that which referred to
confessing their sin to their neighbors.
That did hurt! The twins were so su­
perior, and admirable! They couldn’t
bear to ruin their reputations. But
Prudence stood firm. In spite of their
weeping and wailing. And that after­
noon two shame-faced sorry girls
crept meekly in at the Avery's door to
make their peace.
“ A Nickel's Worth of Pepper.”
"Put about the Skull ami Crossbones,
it's mostly punishment for me, ITue," has a sensible thought, am. hates
said Connie regretfully, “ for the twins study. Tiie only reason he came here
have been in it ever since we came to Instead o f going to n big college In
Mount Mark, nud 1 never gut in at all I the East Is because bis fuilier is a
And 1 wanted them to call me Lady trustee."
Magdalena Featheriugnle.” And Con­
“ Well, we'll serve oyster stew then.
nie sighed.
Now, w ill you twins run downtown
for the oysters?" asked Prudence
C H APTE R V.
briskly.
“ Who? Us?” demanded Lark, Indig­
Lessons in Etiquette.
nantly and ungrammatically. “ Do you
Connie was lying fiat on her back think we can carry home oysters for
near the register. The twins were sit­ tliis Babbling young prince? Not so!
ting on the lloor nenr her, hearing each Let Fairy go after the oysters 1”
other conjugate Latin verbs. And Pru­
“ Oh, yes, twlnnles, I think you'll go.
dence, with her darning basket, was
ull right. Run along, and he quick."
earnestly trying to get three pairs of
For a few seconds tiie twins gazed
wearable stockings out o f eleven hos­
Neither
iery remnants. So Fuiry found them at each other studiously.
spoke.
Without
a
word,
they
went
as she came in, radiant und glowing.
upstairs to prepare for their errand.
“ Glorious day,” she said, glancing
impartially at her sisters. "Just glo­
rious ! Connie, you should be out of
doors this minute, by all means. Twins, WHY WOULD-BE DINERS LEFT
aren’t you grown up enough to sit on
chairs, or won’t your footles reach the Waitress’ Orders Given to Cook Had
the Appearance of Reflection on
floor?— Babbie, Eugene Babler, you
the Newcomers.
know— is coming to spend the evening.
Prudence.”
A correspondent who wishes to be
The whole family came to attention
known us Hick lias traveled as fur
at this.
as Chicago, of late, and he tells us of
“ Oh, goody!” cried Connie. “ Let's
nn Incident that occurred In u South
make taffy.”
Clark street restaurant.
We under­
"Yes,” ugreed Carol with enthusi­ stand tlint South Clark street is one of
asm— Carol was always enthusiastic the well-known thoroughfares o f that
on the subject of something to eat. town.
"Yes, and what else shall we have?”
In the restaurant referred to a few
“ You w ill likely have pleasant nights ago, these two lines appeared
dreams, Carol,” was the cool retort. in Juxtaposition on tiie bill o f fare:
“ Y’ ou twins and Connie w ill not put
"Bankers’ Special Steuk Dinner,
in appearance at all. Prue will serve 35c."
the refreshments, and w ill eat with us.
“ Special Chicken Dinner, 40c.”
Babbie and 1 shall spend the evening
And these two dinners seemed very
in the front room.”
popular on tiie evening in question. A
“ The front room?” echoed Prudence. well-dressed mlddle-nged gentleman
“This room Is much cheerier, and entered the dining room escorting n
more homelike.”
lovely young laiiy o f twenty summers
Just as tiie
“ Well, Babbie isn’t a member o f the and no visible winters.
family, you know,” said Fairy.
handsome couple steeped onto the floor
“ You are doing your best,” sniffed the sweet-voiced wultress sang out
an order to the cook:
Carol.
“ One banker und one chicken I”
“ Now you girls must understand
The young lady find her escort re­
right oft that things are different here
from what they were at Exinlnster. fused to be seated, but left in a high
The proper thing is to receive callers dudgeon und u taxicab.— Cleveland
privately, without the family en masse l ’lalu Dealer.
sitting by and superintending. That’s
ideal Conditions.
etiquette, you know. And one must
“ Is this a strictly modern hotel?”
always serve refreshments. More eti­
quette. Men are such greedy unimals,
“ I’m told It’s the last word.”
they do not cure to go places where
“ Yes?”
“ I f you wnnt nn evening suit, It’s
the eats uren’ t forthcoming.”
"Men I A re you referring to this provided. I f you need extra pajamas,
Babbling creature now?” interposed they're provided.”
"That’s real service.”
Curol.
“ Indeed it Is. Furthermore, If you
“ Ouch 1” said Lark.
“ But won’t It be rather— poky— Just nre in a hilarious mood and wnnt to
sitting in the front room by yourselves muke the leader of the orchestra
all evening?" asked Prudence doubt­ drunk on charnpugne, there is always
un assistant ready to take his place.”
fully, Ignoring the offended twins.
“ Oh, I dare say It will. But It’s
Abundant Home Supply.
the proper thing to do,” said Fairy
“ Is Bliggins susceptible to flattery?”
complacently.
“ No. There’s no chance for framing
“ Wouldnt’ It be more fan to have
the girls In for a little while?” per­ up a complaint that ills own self-es­
teem will not have anticipated.”
sisted Prudence.
AN OLD RECIPE
10 DARKEN H I
They whispered softly going through
tiie upper hall.
“T w in s!
You must hurry 1" This
was Prudence at the bottom of the
stairs. And the »wins set off qulle hur­
riedly. Their tlrst call was ut the
meat market.
“ A pint of oysters," said lairk
briefly.
When he brought them to her. she
smelled them suspiciously. Thou Carol
smelled.
"H ave you got any rotten ones?"
she demanded.
Almost everyone knows that Sago
"N o,” he answered, laughing. "W e Tea uud Sulphur, properly compound­
don’t keep that kind.”
ed, brings bark the natural color and
The twins sighed and hurried next lustre to the hair when faded, streak­
door to the grocer's.
ed or gray. Years ago the only way
“ A nickel's worth of pepper----- the to get this mixture was to muke It at
home, which is inussy und trouble­
strongest you have.”
Tills mis quickly settled—and the some.
Nowadays wo simply ask at any
grave-fared twins betook themselves
I drug store for "W yeth's Sago and Sul-
to the corner drug store.
! phur Compound.” You will get a largo
"W e— we want something with a bottle of this old time recipe Improved
perfectly awful smell,1
" Lurk explained 1» the nddni m of other ingredients h f
soberly.
about 50 conts. Everybody uses this
preparation now, because no one can
"What kind o f a smell?”
“ W e don't care what kind, but It possibly tell that you darkened your
must tie like something rotten or dead, lintr. us it does U so naturally and
evenly. You dampen a sponge or aoft
If you have. It.”
brush with it and draw this through
"What do you want It for?"
your hulr. taking one small strand at
“ We want to put It In n room to a time; by morning the gray hair dls-
give It a horrible smell for an hour uppears, and after another application
or so.” Lark winked at him solemnly. or two, your hair becomes beautifully
" I t ’s a Joke," she further elucidated. dark, thick and glossy and you look
Wyeth's Sago ami
“ I see."
Ills eyes twinkled.
“ I yours younger.
think I can (lx you ’ip." A moment Sulphur Compound Is a delightful toll-
; et requisite. It is not Intended for the
Inter ho handed her a small bottle. cure, mitigation or prevention of dis­
"Just sprinkle tills over the carpet. ease.
It won't do uny harm, and It smells
like thunder. It costs a quarter.”
Unprofitable.
L ott—One never loses any tiling by
Carol frowned.
“ 1 suppose we'll
have to tako It," she said, “ hut It’s keeping tin eugugement punctually.
Seott— Except half an hour's time
pretty expensive. I hate to have drug­
I waiting for the other fellow.-
gists get such a lot o f money."
^
^ ____
He laughed aloud. “ I hate to have 1
you get n good licking tomorrow, too—
but you'll get It Just tiie same, or I
miss my guess."
When the twins arrived homo Fairy
was just cutting ttie candy site bail
made.
"It's delicious,” site snid to
Prudence. "H ere’s a idee dishful for
Try this yourself then pass
you and thv girls. Pitch In twins, uud
It along to others.
help yourselves. It’s very idee."
It works!
The twins waved her haughtily
away. “ No, thank you," they said
"W e couldn't eat that candy with rel­
Ouch ! ? ! ? ! !
This kind of rough
ish. We are unworthy.”
talk will be heard less here In town If
Then they went upstairs, but not to people troubled with corns will follow
their own room at once. Instead lliey the simple advice of this Cincinnati
slipped noiselessly Into the front bed­ authority, who claims that a few drops
i of a drug called freezone when applied
room, and a little Inter Carol came out to a tender, aching corn or hardened
Into the ball ami stood listening at the callous stops soreness at once, ami
head of the stairs, ns though on guard 1 soon tiie corn or callous dries up and
“ Be sure and leave quito a few lifts right off without pain.
Ho says freezone dries Immediately
stitches In, Lark,” s h e wldsperul once.
"W e want It to hung together until and never inflames or even Irritates
tiie surrounding skin, a em ail bottle
Bubble gets here."
I of freezone will cost very little at any
Ttiut was all.
Presently Lark s drug store, but w ill positively remove
emerged, and their own door closed | every hard or soft corn or callous
behind them.
! from one's fe e t Millions o f American
" I t ’s a good thing father has to go women will welcome this announce­
to the trustees' meeting tonight, Isn’t ment since the inauguration of the
It?” asked Carol. Ami Lark agreed, high heels. If your druggist doesn't
absently. She was thinking of the oy­ huve freezone tell him to order a small
bottle for you.
sters.
Sane Teu and Sulphur Turn«
(¡ray, Faded Hair Dark
and (¿lossy.
Laugh When People
Step On Your Feet
“ Vanessa says she will wear no
man's collar."
\
"I commend her decision. This fluffy
j stuff is more becoming to her Htyle of
beauty.” — Louisville Courier Journal.
\
Do you think that Fairy, know­
ing the twins, will thwart their
plan to embarrass her?
(ÏU
U K C O N T IN U E D .)
Moss for Wounds.
All Americans and other tourists
who have visited Scotland and tho
north o f England have waxed en­
thusiastic over the beautiful coloring
o f the moors and mountains which
present to the eye u riot of tints—
pink, crimson, yellow, green und rus­
set. 3 Ids Is furnished by sphagnum
moss with which, literally, the coun­
tryside is carpeted, for It Is as luxuri­
uv- Restant Soap nnd Rrmim 1 Ointment —
lull direction* with e n h pniksge. S>ld
ously soft to the feet us It !s a delight
by all elriiKKr (a and toilet department».
to ti e vision.
From nn appeal Issued by tho Aber­
Naturally.
deen Sphagnum moss Joint commit­
“ He showed his grit when ho was
tee it appears that tills moss Is being
furnished In great quantities for sur­ burled out on tho road from his ma­
chine.”
gical dressings by this organization
"N o wonder when he had to bite tho
to the hospitals in Britain, France, ; dust."- -Baltimore American,
Macedonia, Egypt, Italy, Mesopotamia
and elsewhere. A department for sui>-
llrnntlng these dressings lias been es­
tablished and the committee Is consid­
ering a plan to compress the moss by
T H A T IS
machinery Into flat sheets. In which
form it Is light and portable and emi­
nently suitable for dressing stations,
Held ambulances, etc., and for truu»-
|>ort overseas to distant hospitals is often needed in cases of
where surgical dressings are sorely
needed.
To stop dandruff
and loss of hair
Assistance
Dependable
High Honor Deserved.
The father of the lifeboat In Amer-
icn was James Francis, who was born
In Boston In 1801. He died In Wash­
ington In 1803. Three years before Ills
death congress voted him n medal of
pure gold, said to he the largest nnd
driest ever given by this government
to any Individual. It was presented to
him with appropriate ceremonies nt
the White House by President Har­
rison nnd Is now on exhibition at the
National museum In Washington.
You’ll Know Him.
Sometimes Trouble mnsquerndes ns
Joy, but we recognize him before he
plays one tune on the fiddle, for the
fiddle strings snap, and the dancers
full down, and darkness drowns the
lights.
POOR APPETITE
H E A R T B UjR N
IN DI G ES.TION
BILIOUSNESS
OR MA L A R I A
and you will make no mistake
in trying
HOSTETTERS
Stom ach Bitters
It is an excellent' tonic and
appetizer.
Get the genuine
p - N. U.
,NO. 6, 1917