The Carter Express. (Carter, Okla.), Vol. 9, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, May 31, 1918 Page: 3 of 8
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THE CASTE! EXPRESS
PRUDENCE SAYS SO
By ETHEL HUESTON -prudenceofthe^parsonage1
Copyright Bobb*-M«rriH Co.
CHAPTER XV—Continued.
•—Id—
The first of April In the Mount
Murk parsonage was a time of trial
and tribulation, frequently to the ex-
tent of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The twins were no respecters of per-
sons, and feeling that the first of
April rendered all things justifiable to
all men, they made life bb burdensome
to their father as to Connie, and Fairy
and Prudence lived In a state of per-
petual anguish until the twins fell
asleep at night well satisfied but worn
out with the day's activities. The twins
were bordering closely to tho first
stage of grown-up womanhood, but on
the first of April they swore they
would always be young! The tricks
were more dignified, more carefully
planned and scientifically executed
than In the days of their rollicking
girlhood—but they were all the more
heartbreaking on that account.
The week before the first was spent
by Connie In a vain effort to ferret
out their plans In order that fore-
nowledge might suggest a sufficient
safeguard. The Wins, however, were
too clever to permit this, and their
bloody schemes were wrapped In mys-
tery and burled In secrecy. On the
thirty-first of March Connie labored
like a plumber would If working by
the Job. She painstakingly hid from
sight all her cherished possessions.
The twins were In the bnrn, presum-
ably deep In plots. Aunt Grace was
at the Ladles’ Aid. So when Fairy
came In, about four In the nfternoon,
there was only Prudence to note the
vengeful glitter In her fine, clear eyes.
And Prudence was so Intent upon
feather-stitching the hems of pink-
checked dish towels that she did not
observe It.
“Where’s papa?" Fairy asked.
“Upstairs."
“Where are the twins?"
“In the barn, getting ready for THE
DAY."
Fairy smiled delightedly and skipped
eagerly up the stairs. She was clos-
eted with her father for some time,
and came out of his rdom at last with
a small coin carefully concealed in the
corner of her handkerchief. She did
not remove her hat, but set briskly
out toward town again.
Prudence, startled out of her feath-
er-stitching, followed her to the door.
“Why, Fairy,” she called. "Are you
going out again?"
Fairy threw up her hands. "So It
seems. An errand for papa." She
lifted her brows and pursed up her
lips, and the wicked Joy In her face
pierced the mantle of Prudence’s ab-
sorption again.
“What’s up?” she questioned curi-
ously, following her sister down the
steps.
Fairy looked about hurriedly, and
then whispered a few words of ex-
planation. Prudence’s look changed to
one of unnaturally spiteful glee.
"Good! Fine I Serves ’em right I
You’d better hurry."
"Tell Aunt Grace, will you? But
don’t let Connie In until morning.
She'd give It away."
At suppertime Fairy returned, and
the twins, their eyes bright with the
unholy light of mischief, never looked
at her. They sometimes looked heav-
enward with a sublime contentment
that drove Connie nearly frantic. Oc-
casionally they uttered cryptic words
about the morrow—and the older mem-
bers of the family smiled pleasantly,
but Connie shuddered. She remem-
bered so many April Fool’s days.
The family usually clung together
on occasions of this kind, feeling
there was safety and sympathy in
numbers—as so many cowards have
felt for lo these many years. And thus
It happened that they were all In the
dining room when their father ap-
peared at the door. He had his hands
behind him suggestively.
“Twins," he said, without preamble,
"what do you want more than any-
thing else?"
“Silk stockings," was the prompt
and unanimous answer.
He laughed. “Good guess, wasn't
It?" And tossed Into their eager hands
two slender boxes, nicely wrapped.
The others gathered about them with
smiling eyes as the twins tremulously
tore off the wrappings.
"A. Phoole’s Pure Silk Thread
Hose—Guaranteed 1" This they read
from the box—neat golden lettering.
It was enough for the twins. With
cries of perfect bliss they flung them-
selves upon their father, kissing him
rapturously wherever their lips might
touch.
“Oh, papal" "Oh, you darling!”
And then, when they had some sort of
control of their Joy, Lark said sol-
emnly, "Papa, It Is a gift from heav-
1"
"Of course we give you the credit,
papa,” Carol amended quickly, "but
the thought was heaven-prompted."
Fairy choked suddenly, and her fit
of coughing Interfered with the twins’
gratitude to an all-suggesting Provi-
dence I
Carol twisted her box nervously.
“You know, papa, It may seem very
childish, and—silly to you, but—actu-
silly—we have—well, prayed for silk
Btocklngs. We didn’t honestly expect
to get them, though—not until we
saved up enough money enough to get
them ourselves. Heaven Is kinder to
us than we—"
“You can't understand such things,
papa," said Lark. "Maybe you don’t
know exactly how—how they feel.
When we go to Betty Hill's we wear
her silk stockings and lie on the bed
—and—she won’t let us walk In them,
for fear we may wear holes. Every
girl In our class has at least one pair—
Betty has three, but one pair’s holey,
and—we felt so awfully poorl"
The smiles on the family faces were
rather stereotyped by this time, but
the exulting twins did not notice. Lark
looked at Carol fondly. Carol sighed
at Lark blissfully. Then, with one ac-
cord, they lifted the covers from the
boxes and drew out the shimmering
hose. Yes—shimmering—but—they
shook them out for Inspection 1 Their
faces paled a little.
“They—they are very—" began
Carol courageously. Then she stopped.
The hose were a fine tissue-paper
Imitation of silk stockings! The
"April Fool, little twins,” on the toes
was not necessary for their enlighten-
ment. They looked nt their father
with sad but unresentful reproach In
their swiftly shadowed eyes.
“It—It's a good Joke," stammered
Carol, moistening her dry Ups with
her tongue.
“It's—one on us," blurted Lark
promptly.
“Ha, ha, ha,” laughed Carol, slowly,
dryly, very dully.
“Yes—ha, ha, ha," echoed Lark, plac-
ing the bitter fruit carefully back In
Its box. Her fingers actually trembled.
“It’s a—swell Joke, all right," Carol
said; “we see that well enough—we’re
not stupid, you know. But we did
want silk stockings so—awfully bad.
But It’s funny, ha, ha, ha 1"
"A gift from heaven 1” muttered
Lark, with clenched teeth. “Well, you
got us that time."
“Come on, Lark, we must put them
sacredly away—silk stockings, you
know, are mighty scarce In a parson-
age—’’
“Yes, ha, ha, ha," and the crushed
and broken twins left the room, with
dignity In spite of the blow.
The family did not enjoy the Joke on
the twins.
Mr. Starr looked at the others with
all a man’s confused Incomprehension
of a woman's notions I He spread out
his hands—an orthodox, ministerial
gesture 1
“Now, will someone kindly tell me
what there Is In silk stockings to—"
He shook his head helplessly. "Silk
stockings! A gift from heaven I" He
smiled, unmerrlly. “The poor little
kids!” Then he left the room.
Aunt Grace openly wiped her eyes,
smiling at herself as she did so.
Fairy opened and closed her lips
several times. Then she spoke. "Say,
Prue, knock me down and sit on me,
will you? Whatever made me think
of such a stupid trick as that?"
"Why, bless their little hearts,"
whispered Prudence, sniffing. “Didn’t
they look sorry? But they were so
determined to be game."
“Prudence, give me my eight cents,”
demanded Connie. “I want It right
away."
“What do you want It for?"
“I'm going down to Morrow's and get
some candy. I never saw a meaner
trick in my life I I’m surprised at
papa. The twins only play Jokes for
fun." And Connie stalked grimly out
of the parsonage and off toward town.
A more abashed and downcast pair
of twins probably never lived. They
sat thoughtfully In their room, “A.
Phoole's Silk Thread Hose” carefully
hidden from their hurt eyes.
“It was a good Joke," Lark said, now
and then.
“Yes, very," assented Carol. “But
silk stockings, Larklel"
And Lark squirmed wretchedly.’ “A
gift from heaven," she mourned. "How
they must be laughing 1"
But they did not laugh.
Connie came back and shared her
candy. They thanked her courteously
and Invited her to sit down. They they
all ate candy and grieved together si-
lently. They did not speak of the
morning's disaster, but the twins un-
derstood and appreciated the tender
sympathy of her attitude, and although
they said nothing, they looked ut her
very kindly and Connie wus well con-
tent
The morning passed drearily. The
twins had lost all relish for their well-
planned tricks, and the others, down-
stairs, found the usually wild and hi-
larious day almost unbearably poky.
Prudence’s voice was gentle as she
called them down to dinner, and the
twins, determined not to show the
white feather, went down at once and
took their places. They bore their
trouble bravely, but their eyes had the
surprised and stricken look, and their
faces were nearly old. Mr. Starr cut
the blessing short, and the dinner was
eaten In silence. The twins tried to
start the conversation. They talked of
the weather with passionate devotion.
They discussed their studies with an
almost unbelievable enthusiasm. They
even referred, with stiff smiles, to
"papa’s good Joke," and then laughed
their dreary "ha, ha, ha," until their
father wanted to fall upon his knees
and beg forgiveness.
Connie, still solicitous, helped them
wash the dishes. The others disap-
peared. Fairy got her hat and went
out without a word. Their father fol-
lowed scarcely a block behind her.
Aunt Grace sought all over the house
for Prudence, and finally found her
In the attic, comforting herself with
a view of the lovely linens which filled
her Hope Box.
“I'm 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 a 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 father’s head appeared at
the top of the ladder.
"Come up,” they Invited hospitably
but seriously.
He did so at once, and stood before
them, hls face rather flushed, his man-
ner a little constrained, but looking
rather satisfied with himself on the
whole.
“Twins," he said, "I didn’t know you
were so crazy about silk stockings.
We Just thought It would be a good
Joke—but It was a little too good. It
was a boomerang. I don’t know when
I’ve felt so contemptible. So I went
down and got you some real silk
stockings—a dollar and a half a pair—
and Pm glad to clear my conscience so
easily."
The twins blushed. “It—It was a
good joke, papa,” Carol assured him
shyly. “It was a 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 a
spell of Indigestion as when I saw
those stockings were April Fool."
“Indigestion," scoffed Connie, re-
stored to normal by her father's hand-
some amends.
“Yes, Indigestion,” declared Lark.
“You know, papa, that funny, hollow,
hungry feeling—when you get a shock.
That’s nervous Indigestion—we read
It In a 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—Is very generous of you,
papa. Very 1”
But he noticed that they made no
move to unwrap the box. It still lay
between them on the hay, where he
had tossed It. Evidently their confi-
dence In him had been severely shat-
tered.
He Bat down and unwrapped It him-
self. "They are guaranteed," he ex-
plained, passing out the little pink
slips gravely, “so when they wear
holes you get another pair for noth-
ing.” The twins’ faces had brightened
wonderfully. "I will never play that
kind of a trick again, twins, so you
needn’t be suspicious of me. And say I
Whenever you want anything so badly
It makes you feel like that, come and
talk It over. We’ll manage some way.
Of course, we’re always a little hard
up, but we can generally scrape up
something extra from somewhere. And
we will. You mustn’t—feel like that—
about things. Just tell me about it.
Girls are so—kind of funny, you know.”
The twins and Connie rushed to the
house to try the “feel” of the first,
adored silk stockings. They donned
them, admired them, petted Connie,
idolized their father, and then remov-
ing them, tied them carefully In clean
white tissue paper and deposited them
In the safest corner of the bottom
drawer of their dresser. Then they
back on the bed, thinking happily
of the next class party I Silk Btock-
lngs I Ah!
“Can't you Just imagine how we'll
look In our new white dresses, Lark,
and our patent leather pumps—with
silk stockings 1 I really feel there la
nothing sets off a good complexion as
well as real silk stockings I"
They were Interrupted In this de-
lightful occupation by the entrance of
Fairy. The twins had quickly realized
that the suggestion for their humilia-
ting had come from her, and their
hearts were sore, but being good los-
ers—at least, as good losers as real
live folks can be—they wouldn't have
admitted for the world.
"Come on In, Fairy," said Lark cor-
dially. “Aren’t we lazy today?”
"Twins," said Fairy, self-conscious
for the first time In the twins’ knowl-
edge of her, "I suppose you know 1.
was I who suggested that Idiotic Httl
stocking stunt It was awfully hateful
of me, and so I bought you real silk
stockings with my own spending mon-
ey, and here they are, and you needn't
thank me, for I never could be fond
of myself again until I squared things
with you."
The twins had to admit that It was
really splendid of Fairy, and they
thanked her with unfeigned zeal.
“But papa already got us a pair, and
so you can take these back and get
your money again. It was Just as
sweet of you, Fairy, and 4we thank
you, and It was perfectly dear and dar-
ling, but we have papa’s now, and—’’
"Good for papa!” Fairy cried, and
burst out laughing at the joke that
proved so expensive for the perpetra-
tors. "But you shall have my burnt
offering, too. It serves us both right,
but especially me, for It was my Idea."
And Fairy went away feeling very
gratified and generous.
Only girls who have wanted silk
stockings for a "whole lifetime” can
realize the blissful state of the par-
sonage twins. They lay on the bed
planning the most Impossible but mag-
nificent 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.
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. "I brought you some
real, silk stockings for a 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.
“Oh, you silk stockftgsl" Carol
cried. “Three pairs! You darling,
sweet old auntie I You would come up
here to tease us. would you? But
papa gave us a pair, and Fairy gave
us a pair, and—"
"They did I Why, the silly things I"
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.
"Oh, 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 dismay 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 speechless.
“Good for you, twins—that’s the way
to take hard knocks,” she said. “It
wasn’t a 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, a little hurt,
at the outburst that followed her
words.
“Well, such a family 1" Aunt Grace
exclaimed. And then Carol pulled her
bodily down beside her on the bed
and for a 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 1" shrieked Carol.
“There’s no playing jokes on the
twins,” said Aunt Grace weakly. “It
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
“We never played a trick like thl%
Larkle—this is our masterpiece."
(TO BB CONTINUED^ __
But Forty and Fifty Bushels of
Wheat to the Acre.
During the past year there has been,
a greater demand for farm lands In.
Western Canada than for a number oil
years past. The demand Is for good
farm lands Improved or unimproved.
And at an Increase of from ten to fif-
teen dollars an acre more than thei
same lands could be had for a couplet
of years ago.
The rise In the price of every kind,
of produce grown on these Western,
lands, In some cases to double and ln|
others to treble the price prevailing be*'
fore 1914, have attracted and are at-
tracting In ever-increasing proportion*
the men who are anxious to Invest
their money, and apply their energie®
In the production of wheat for which)
the allied nations are calling with,
voices which grow louder and more;
anxious as the months roll on, and tha
end of the war still seems distant)
Beef, and more especially bacon, are|
required In ever greater quantltles.1
and the price of all these things ha*
soared, until It Is not a question ofj
what shall we produce, but how much,
can we produce. Even should thl*
world calamity be brought to a clos*
In six months from now, It will bat
years before normal pre-war price®
prevail, and meantime self-interest It
not patriotism is turning the minds ofi
thousands back to the land. The In-
evitable consequence has been the rls*
In values of land, especially wheatj
land. 'I
The Calgary Herald, commenting on
these conditions says:
“From Inquiries made from leading;
dealers In farming and ranching propi
ertles, and from the Information gath-
ered In other ways, It is known that,
the value of all land—wheat land,!
mixed farming properties, and even!
good grazing land—has risen In the
last two years 40 per cent. Wheatj
lands In some districts have practical-
ly doubled In price. One dealer in
farm lands recently sold three section®
for $70 an acre, one extra good quar-
ter went as high as $90, and another
brought $100. These are, of course,,
large prices, but that they will be
equaled or even surpassed In the near
future Is beyond question. There Is aj
feature about this rush to the landl
from which the most solid hope cam
be drawn for the success of the move-
ment. The proper tillage of land, to^
produce large crops In a climate like)
ours Is now understood and practiced
as it never was In the early days of|
the province. It would seem too that
with the Increase of land under culti-
vation, the seasons are changing
and the rainfall becoming greater and!
more regular.
“Crops are being harvested, especial-
ly In Southern Alberta, which would)
have seemed impossible to the old-time,
farmer, with hls old-fashioned Idea®
of breaking and seeding. And at the.
price now set by the government for,
wheat and which possibly may be in-,
creased during the coming season, the
return to the practical skilled agricul-,
turist must necessarily be very large.
“What matters $10 or even $20 an
acre extra on wheat land when a re>
turn as high as 50 bushels and even
more may be taken from every acre,
sown? With hogs bringing $20 a hun-,
dred pounds; beef on the hoof at $l%j
and mutton $10, while wool under the
new government arranged system of
handling and sale brings 65 cents a,
pound (and these values cannot fall;
to any great extent for some years)
the demand for land will continue and!
values Increase In a corresponding de-
gree.
“There has never been In the history
of Canada a time so favorable for the
farmer as the present; self-interest*
the Inspiration of patriotic feeling, the
aid freely extended by the govern-,
meat, who are permitting the Import!
of certain agricultural Implements
free, all these tend to still further
raise the price of Alberta land.”—Adi
vertlsement.
Taste and 8me!l.
Since the sense organs, the taste an<\
smell bnds, are sunk In the moist mu-
cous membrane they can only bq
touched by substance somewhat soli
uble in water, and to reach the sens®
of smell they must also be volatile so
as to be diffused In the air inhaled bjg
the nose. The “taste” of food Is most-*
ly due to the volatile odors of It that
creep up the backstairs Into the olfaci
tory chamber. '
A chemist given an unknown ambj
stance would have to make an ele-
mentary analysis and some tedious
tests to determine whether It was an
aldehyde or an ester, whether the car-
bon atoms were singly or doubly)
linked and whether It was an opeq
chain or closed. Bnt let him get q
whiff of It and he can give Instantly a
pretty shrewd guess as to these pointy
Tho foe will find It hard to make
“victorious peace" for a nation whoa®
best men are dead.
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Cain, George W. The Carter Express. (Carter, Okla.), Vol. 9, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, May 31, 1918, newspaper, May 31, 1918; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc957085/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.