Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1917 — Page 3

PRUDENCE

of the PARSONAGE

In this new serial of ours we have the story of a small-town minister’s family and its struggles with poverty, with hardheaded—and fat-headed—church officers, with temptations of flesh 'and spirit. We have, too, a picture of its joys, its inspira<tlons, its ambitions—yes, and its love affairs. Miss Hueston, the author, writes with perfect sympathy: she is a small-town minister's daughter; and this tale is dedicated to her mother, who “devoted her life to rearing a whole houseful of young Methodists." We feel sure you will enjoy "Prudence.” , THE EDITOR.

CHAPTER I.

—l . Introducing Her. None but the residents consider Mount Mark, lowa, much of a town, and the very most patriotic of them all has no word of praise for the ugly little red C. B. & Q. railway station. Mount Mark is anything but proud of the little station. At the same time it certainly does owe the railroad tfnd the state a debt of gratitude for its presence there. It is the favorite social rendezvous for the community! The arrival of a passenger train in Mount Mark is an event —something in the nature of a C. B. & Q. “at home,” and Is always attended by a large and enthusiastic gathering of “our best people.” All that is lacking are the proverbial “light refreshments!” * So it happened that one sultry morning, late in the montiy of August, there was the usual flutter of excitement and confusion on the platform and in the waiting room of the station. The habitues were there in force. Conspicuous among them were four, gayly dressed young men, smokihg cigarettes and gazing with lack-luster eyes upon the animated scene, which evidently bored them. z The Daily News reporter, In a wellcreased, light gray suit and tan shoes, and with eyeglasses scientifically balanced on his aquiline nose, was making pointed inquiries into the private plans of the travelers. The young woman going to Burlington to spend the weekend was surrounded with about fifteen other young women who had come to "See her off.” Mount Mark is a very r espec ta bl e to wn, belt understood, and girls do not go to the station without an excuse A man in a black business suit stood alone on the platform, his hands in bls pockets, his eyes wandering from one to another of the strange faces about him. His plain white ready-made tie proclaimed his calling. “It’s the new Methodist mfnister,” volunteered the baggage master, crossing the platform. “I know him. He’s not a bad sort.” “They say he’s got five kids, and most of ’em girls,” responded the Adams express man. “I want to be on hand when they get here, to pick out a

“Yah!" mocked the telegraph operator, bobbing his head through the window, “you need to. They tell me every girl In Mount Mark has turned you down a’ready.” But th'e Methodist minister, gazing eway down the track, where a thin

"Run, Father, Run!"

curl of smoke announced the coming of No. 9 and Prudence—heard nothing of this conversation. He was not a handsome mar. His hair wks gray, at the temples, his face was earnest, only saved from severity by the little clusters of lines at his eyes and mouth proclaimed that he laughed often and with relish. “Train going eaktl” The minister stood back from the

(Bobbs-Merrtll, Copyright, 1916)

crowd, but when the train-eame pounding in T ’brightness leaped into his eyes. A Slender girl stood in the vestibule, waving wildly at him a small floved hand. When the train stopped she leaped lightly from the steps. "Father!” she cried excitedly, and, small and slight as she was, she elbowed her way swiftly through the gaping crowd. “Oh, father!” And she flung her arms about him joyously, unconscious of admiring eyes. Her father kissed her warmly. “Where is your ■ baggage?” he asked, a hand held out to relieve tier. “Here!” And with a radiant smile she thrust upon him a box Of candy and a gaudy-covered magazine. “Your suitcase,” he explained patiently. ' “Oh!” she gasped., “Run, father run! I left it onTthe trainT’ Father did run, but PrudenpeJ fleeterfooted, outdistanced him and clambered oh board, panting. When she rejoined her father her face was flushed.- “Oh, father,” she said quite snappily, Wsn’t that just like —...... ' “Yes, very like,” he agreed, and be smiled. “And so this is Mount Mark ! Isn’t it a funny name, father? Why do they call it Mount Mark?” “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought to inquire. We turn here, Prudence. This is Main street. The city part of the town —the business part—is to the south.”

“It’s a pretty street, isn’t it?” she cried. “Such nice big maples, and such shady, porchy houses. I love houses with porches, don’t you? Has the parsonage a porch?” y “Yes, a big one on the south, and a tiny one in front. We have the house fixed up pretty well, Prudence, but of course you’ll have to go over it yourself and arrange it as you like. I must go to a trustees’ ■ meeting at two o’clock, < but we can get a good deal done before then. Mrs. Adams is coming to help you this afternoon. She ds one of our Ladies, and very kind. There, that is the parsonage 1” Prudence gazed in silence. Many would not have considered it a beautiful dwelling, but to Prudence It was heavenly. Fortunately the wide, grassy, shaded lawn greeted one? first. Great, spreading maples bordered the street, and clustering rosebushes lined the walk leading up to the house. The parsonage, to Prudence’s gratified eyes, looked homey, and big, and inviting. There were many windows, and the well-known lace curtains looked dowb upon Prudence tripping happily up the little board walk —or so it seemed to her.

“Two whole stories, and an attic besides ! Not to mention the bathroom! Oh, father, the night after you wrote there was a bathroom, Constance thanked God for it when she said her prayers. And a furnace, tool " And electric lights! Oh, we have waited a long time for it, and we’ve, been very patient indeed, but, between you and me, father, I am most mightily glad we’ve hit the luxury land at last. I’m sure we’ll all feel much more religious in a parsonage that has a bathroom and electric lights! Oh, father!”

He had thrown open the door, and Prudence stood upon the threshold of her new home. Together she and her father went from room to room, up-, stairs and down, moving a table to the left, a bed to the right—according to her own good pleasure. Afterward they had a cozy luncheon for two in the “dining room.” t “Oh, it is so elegant to have a dining room.” breathed Prudence happily. “I always pretended it was rather fun, and a great saving of work, to eat and cook and study and live In one room, but inwardly the idea always outraged me. Is that the school over there?" “Yes, that’s where Connie will go. There ft only one high school in Mount Mark, so the twins will have to go to the other side of town —a long walk, but In good weather they can come home for dinner.”

“Oh, that’s a lovely place over there, father!” exclaimed Prudence, looking from the living room windows toward the south. -Isn’t it beautiful?” “les. The Avery family lives there. The parents are very old and feeble, and the daughters are all—elderly— and all schoolteachers; There are four of them, and the youngest is forty-six. Dear me, it is two o’clock already,,and I must go at once. Mrs. Adams will be here in a few minutes, and you will not be lonely.” Rut when Mrs. Adams arrived at the parsonage she knocked repeatedly, and in vain. Finally she gathered her robes about her and went into the back yard. She peered into the woodshed, and saw no one. She went into the barn lot, and found it empty. In despair, she plunged into the barn—and stopped abruptly. In a shadowy corner was a Render figure kneeling Beside an overturned nallkejj her face burled in het- hands. Evidently this was Prudence engaged tn prayer—and in the barn; of all places in the world! “A—a —a —hem!” stammered Mrs. Adams inquiringly. • 7 / "Amen!” This was spoken aloud

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

By ETHEL HUESTON

and hurriedly; and Prudence leaped to her feet. Her fair hair clang about her face in damp, babyfsh tendrils, and her face was flushed -and dusty, but alight with friendly interest She ran forward eagerly, thrusting forth a slim and grimy hand. ’ “You are Mrs. Adams, aren’t you? I am Prudence Starr. It is so kind of you to come the very first day,” she cried, “it makes me love you right at the start” “Ye —yes, lam Mrs. Adams.” Mrs. Adams was embarrassed. She could not banish from her mental vision that kneeling figure by the nailkeg. Interrogation Was written all over her aihple face, and Prudence promptly read it and hastened to reply. “I do not generally say my prayers in the barn, Mrs. Adams, I assure you.

In the Barn of All Places.

.But —well, when I found this grand, old, rambling barn, I was so thankful I couldn’t resist praying about it.” “But a barn!” ejaculated the perplexed “member.” “Do you call that a blessing?* “Yes, indeed I do,” declared PruThen she explained patiently: “Oh, it is on the children’s account, you know. They have always longed for a big, romantic barn to play in. That’s why I couldn’t resist sayipapny’ lirayers—l was so happy I couldn’t* hold In.” As they walked slowly toward the house, Mrs, Adams looked at this parsonage girl in frank curiosity and some dismay, which she strongly endeavored to conceal from the bright-eyed Prudence. The Ladies had said it would be so nice to have a grown girl in the parsonage! Prudence was nineteen from all account, but she looked like a child, and —well, it was not exactly grown-up to give thanks for a barn, to say the very least! Yet this girl had full charge of four younger children, and was further burdened with the entire care of a minister-father! Well, .well! Mrs. Adams sighed a little. - '

“You are tired,” said Prudence sympathetically. “It’s s 6 hot walking, isn’t it? Let’s sit on the porch until you are nicely rested.” “This is a fine chance for us to get acquainted,” said the good woman with eagerness. Now, if the truth must be told, there had been some ill-feeling in the Ladies* Aid society concerning the reception of Prudence. After the session of conference, ydien Rev. Mr. Starr was assigned to Mount Mark, the Ladies of the church had felt great Interest In the man and his family. They inquired - on every hand, and learned several Interesting items. Th® mother had been taken fromjthe family five years before, after a long Illness, and Prudence, the eldest daughter. had taken charge of the household. There were five chil-

dren. So much was known, and being women, they looked forward with eager curiosity to the coming of Prudence, the young mistress of the parsonage. 7’ , . - Mr. Starr had arrived at Mount Mark a week ahead of his family. Prudence and the other children had spent the week visiting at the hope of their aunt, and Prudence had come On a day in advance of the others to “wind everything up,” as she had expressed it.

Do you think that impulsive, lovable Prudence wiIL make a hit with the saintly (but gossipy) members of the Ladies* Aid society?

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

Mental Steering Gear Goes Wrong. Science has at last explained why automobiles skid, but the police court*, have had a good working theory fol some time.—Washington Post.

FEARS FOR YEARLINGS

Englishmen Are Concerned at Future of Thoroughbred. Purchase of Blooded Stock by Americans Is Making Britons Sit Up i** and Take Notice-—Anti-gamblers Are Blamed.

Because of the really great number of yearlings which have been purchased by Americans, on in the interest of sportsmen on this side of the big pond, at Newmarket, Englishmen who are concerned with the future of the thoroughbred. in the tight little isle lament the outgoing to this country of so many '-youngsters and comment to the end that If the ban on racing there.'continues throughout the next year, which will Warrant breeders parting with their foals, they will soon begin to suffer from serious depletion of their blood -stock, just as happened here because of the antiracing craze. It is pointed out in England by those w’ho are concerned to take a proper viewpoint of the proposition that it does not take long to clear a country out of blood stock once the rot eats in, as has been proved here. It is feared that if there is no encouraging pronouncement for the raising of the ban on racing within the next month or so many of the best brood-mares will be sold to sportsmen here, who are conceded to have taken advantage of a golden opportunity to replenish their studs with horses of undoubted great ancestry.

It is stated that it is indeed a scandal that the British thoroughbred, which Is England’s one genuine monopoly, should be handicapped, as it has been by Walter Dunciman, as by the action of the government in stopping legitfinate racing he has made himself the official promotor of “bush racing,” Which can be of no ‘good to the horse breeding industry. Antigamblers are stated to have been at the bottom of the movement which has been such a source of hardship to breeders and many who made their living through the sport. The majority of the breeders in England have either been discouraged or ruined by the legislation, which it is charged was brought about by ahti- . gnTnhJora. ■■ . T—.

BUFFALO TEAM MADE 209 RUNS IN ONE GAME

In view of the agitation for I “more hitting in baseball, it is i interesting to note that once ; upon a time there was “some ■ hitting.” For instance, on June j 8, 1869, the Niagaras of Bus- ; falo defeated the Columbias of j the same city by a score of 209 I to 10. The records do not tell how J long it took to score those 209 : runs, but it is hard to see how ; it could ever have been accom- j pushed between noon and dusk, ; even in June. Imagine the pampered stars of the present j time trying to score 209 runs j for a single team of nine play- j ers! - ■ If that score had, been kept i with all the modern details, i such as “hits and earned runs ; off each pitcher,” it would have j been a hilarious thing to see, but they didn’t have all such ; things 47 years ago.

LITTLE PICK-UPS - OF SPORT

Cornell has rqade walking an intercollege sport. * * * President Weeghman believes the Cubs will be in the race next year. The Australian woman swimmers’ tour of this country will not take place. The most exciting thing about a sixday bike race is a spill. In up-to-date races there are no spills. See that a college astronomer has discovered a new young star. Stealing Connie Mack's stuff. - There Is a difference in the style of bats that feature baseball in the summer and baseball in the winter. ■ • ♦ * With the baseball magnates Dave Fultz is about as popular as a walking delegate at a bankers’ convention. Milwaukee didn’t do very well in baseball this year, but she was there with the bells on in the Skat league. ■’ * r • The . baseball bosses , have reduced the prices of world’s series seats 50 per 1 cent. Good. The cost of living falling at last! • • • - If Jess WillartL keeps on increasing his price, he will have Packy McFarland beat for the -title as champion kale grabber. _ : y

It is w(*li not to be too certain that wpn’t; Repeat. Several of the Robins may be fat north of the ears, but the club has a pilot who carries all his fat south of those protubet* ancea.

BILLY EVANS SOLVES BASEBALL PROBLEMS

(Written Especially for This Paper by the Famous American League Umpire.) There.are sqme battens who can hit equally well -from the left or the right side of the batter’s box. “'Wally’’ Schang. the famous yoimg

talent, while one team had two big league players in the line up. The team with the two bigleaguerS happened to be one of the teams in the final play-off. On the other team was a first baseman who had been very much In evidence with his hitting. He hit left handed. = Going into the last half of the ninth, the team with the two big leaguers led by a one run margin. With men on second and third and two out,' it was the turn at bat of the hard-hitting left handed first baseman. A southpaw pitcher of considerable minor league reputation had been warming up and was rushed into the fray to try to battle the left handed hitter. It so happened that this player could bat equally well either way. Believing that he was pulling something out of the ordinary, he remained in the left side of the box until the pitcher started to wind up, then he shifted to the right side, and, hitting right handed, singled cleanly to left on the first ball pitched, driving two runs across the plate. The big leaguers rushed at the umpire as the crowd rushed on the field. Who won the game, and what did the umpire do? Answer to Problem. The team with the two big leaguers in its line-up won’ the game, although the crowd and the team at bat thought to the contrary. The two runs needed to win, and which had apparently been recorded on the hit to left, were rendered void by the actions of the batsman. Under section 10 of rule 51, the batsman is out if he steps from one batsman’s box to the other while the pitcher is in his position ready to pitch. The big leaguers were quick to take advantage of this slip and protested, and, of course, the umpire was compelled, to call out the batter who had singled and not allow the two runs that had apparbeen scored. This made the third out, retiring the side and giving the game to the other club by the one-run margin it held when the final inning was started. , (Copyright _by the Wheeler Syndicate, Inc.) , _ ,

PLAYS STRONG TENNIS GAME

Molla Bjurstedt, Norwegian Star, la t Most Speedy and Forceful of Any Woman Champion. Mis.<s Molla Bjurstedt, the Norwegian tennis star, is perhaps the speedlest and most forceful of any woman champ the game has known. Miss

Molla Bjurstedt.

Bjurstedt is capable of strokes that would pose many of the best male players. - ——__ _. , _ ■ , - One of New York’s tennis experts recently declared that Miss Bjurstedt could not win from at least the first 100 male stars. Paul Treanor, a wellknown tennis player 01' Washington and one who would be listed among the first 40 pldyers recently declared that in practice play Miss Bjurstedt frequently took sets from him when he worked at his best speed. Other male players who have played the woman champ have said tlje same. % It would- be interesting if Miss Bjurstedt could be induced to tackle the men’s singles and try to find her rating among them. There are many who are sure she would rank well up within the first 40 and since the women’s title has been so easy for her she might find it a little more exciting.

HARTFORD IN GRAND CIRCUIT

Officer of Connecticut Fair Associa-,-tion Expects to See Best Trotting Meet There in 1917Commenting on the widely circulated report that Hartford may drop out of the Grand circuit next year, Mr. W. H. Gocher, one of the officers of the Connecticut Fair association, said that no action has yet been taken in this direction. Without assuming to speak officially for the organization now In control of the Charter Oak Park, he said he expootod to see the best Grand circuit trotting meeting in the East there in 1917.

Cap Anson Favors Golf.

Ciap Anson, heroic baseball figure, frequently visits the public courses of New York city. Van Cortlandt park is trap's favorite hangout in Gotham. Ansori is one veteran of the Oarly days of baseball who refuses to grow old. He advises skeptics to take the gclf diet and stay youn£. . ’ «

catcher of the is such a batsman. When southpaws are working against the Athletics, Schang hits right handed and trice versa. He pre* fers hitting left handed, as It renders his speed of ‘ * greater value, but he finds that he has much better success against southpaws when he shifts to the right side. This by ' way of preface to the desetiption of a - simple play that, caused a big riot, with a well-known International league umpire as the central figure. This umpire had been selected to preside over a series of games at a big baseball tournament held at one of the county fairs In the West, where such events are very popular. - All the teams were heavily loaded for the games with minor league

AMERICAN LEAGUE IS BEST

Coombs Says Teams Seem to Have Edge on Account of Their Superior Batting Strength. Jack Coombs says the American League teams seem to have the edge because of superlor battiug power. “Practically every team in the American league has three or more men who are mighty dangerous with the bat,” says Jack. “Detroit has Veach, Cobb, Crawford, Heilman-and Burns. Cleveland has Speaker, Roth, Graney, Gan<lll and Chapman. Boston has Lewis, Gardner, Hooper and Barry. St. Louis has Shotton, Sisler ahd Pratt Chicago has John and Eddie Collins, Welsh, Joe Jackson, Fournier, Weaver and Schalk. New York has Baker, Pipp, High and Magee. ~ ' -y*

ELECT PERSHING AS CAPTAIN

Nephew of Noted Major General Selected as Leader of Chicago University Squad. _ Frank E. Pershing of Chicago, a nephew of Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing, has been elected captain of the University of Chicago football eleven for 1917. Pershing is a quarterback. He has one more year to play.

THINKS KLEPFER WILL STAR

Manager Lee Fohl of Cleveland Team la of Opinion Pitcher Will Be < Effective in 1917. Manager Lee Fohl of the Cleveland Americans is of the opinion that Pitcher Edward Klepfer will be much more efficient next season; for the reason

Ed Kiepfer.

■ • ■ ... that Klepfer has undergone an opera* tion for the removal of his tonsils. “Klepfer’s throat bothered him las*, season,”’ Fohl sald,‘*and l am certain that if he had submitted to an operation last spring he would have b Aa. a different pitcher.” .