waving her hands
about to show her perfect balance and lack of fear. So they advanced to
within two blocks of the parsonage.

"It's very nice," said Carol, "very nice indeed,--but her backbone is
rather--well, rather penetrating. I think I need a saddle."

By this time, Blinkie concluded that she was being imposed upon. She
shook her head violently, and twitched the rope from Lark's hand,--for
Lark now shared her sister's confidence, and held it loosely. With a
little cry she tried to catch the end of it, but Blinkie was too quick
for her. She gave a scornful toss of her dainty head, and struck out
madly for home. With great presence of mind, Carol fell flat upon the
cow's neck, and hung on for dear life, while Lark, in terror, started out
in pursuit.

"Help! Help!" she cried loudly. "Papa! Papa! Papa!"

In this way, they turned in at the parsonage gate, which happily stood
open,--otherwise Blinkie would undoubtedly have gone through, or over.
As luck would have it, Mr. Starr was standing at the door with two men
who had been calling on him, and hearing Lark's frantic cries, they
rushed to meet the wild procession, and had the unique experience of
seeing a parsonage girl riding flat on her stomach on the neck of a
galloping Jersey, with another parsonage girl in mad pursuit.

Blinkie stopped beside the barn, and turned her head about inquiringly.
Carol slid to the ground, and buried her face in her hands at sight of
the two men with her father. Then with never a word, she lit out for the
house at top speed. Seeing that she was not hurt, and that no harm had
been done, the three men sat down on the ground and burst into hearty
laughter.

Lark came upon them as they sat thus, and Lark was angry. She stamped
her foot with a violence that must have hurt her.

"I don't see anything to laugh at," she cried passionately, "it was
awful, it was just awful! Carrie might have been killed! It--it----"

"Tell us all about it, Lark," gasped her father. And Lark did so,
smiling a little herself, now that her fears were relieved. "Poor
Carol," she said, "she'll never live down the humiliation. I must go and
console her."

And a little later, the twins were weeping on each other's shoulders.

"I wouldn't have cared," sobbed Carol, "if it had been anybody else in
the world! But--the presiding elder,--and--the president of the
Presbyterian College! And I know the Presbyterians look down on us
Methodists an