Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1917 — Page 2

PRUDENCE OF THE PARSONAGE

(Copyright, by the Bobbs-Merril Company.)

Mr, STARR’S HEART SINKS WHEN HE DISCOVERS JERROLD HARMER AND PRUDENCE EXCHANGING , TENDER GLANCES AND SOFT WORDS - j —T'-'"'

Mr. Starr, widower, Methodist minister at Mount Mark, la., has fife charming daughters. Prudence, the eldest, keeps house for him. Fairy is a college freshman. Carol and Lark, twins, are in high school. Constance is the “baby.” The activities of the girls—Prudence’s work. Fairy’s school affairs, the youngsters’ pranks —and the family perplexities, make the story. It is simply a recital of homely incidents glorified by affection. The preceding installment described an accident which Prudence suffered during an early-morning bicycle ride and her rescue by a strange and fascinating young man.

CHAPTER IX—Continued. He went upstairs to obey, with despair in his heart But to the girls, there was nothing sfrange ip, this exactness on the part of Prudence. Jerrold Harmer was the hero of the romance, and they must unite to do him honor. He was probably a prince in disguise. Jerrold Harmer was a perfectly thrilling name. It was really a Americaallows jjo titles— Lord Jerrold did sound so noble, and Lady Prudence was very effective, too. He and Prudence were married, and had a family of four children, named for the various Starrs, before one hour had passed. “PH begin my book right away,” Lark was saying. She and Carol_ were Ihthedlnihgrooin madly polishing their Sunday shoes, what time they were not performing the marriage ceremony of their sister and the hero. “Yes, do! But for goodness’ sake, don’t run her into a mule! Seems to me even Prudence could have done better than that.” “I’ll have his automobile break down in the middle of the road, and Prudence can run into it. The carburetor came off, and of course the car wouldn’t run an inch without it.”

“Yes, that’s good,” said Carol approvingly. “It must be a sixty-cylin-der, eight horse power—er —tonneau or something real big and costly.” - “Twins! You won’t be ready,” warned Prudence, and this dire possibility sent them flying upstairs in a panic. While the girls, bubbling over with excitement, "Were' dressing for the great event, Mr. Starr went downstairs to sit with Prudence. Carol called to him on his way down, and he paused on the staircase, looking up at her. “Lark and I are going to use some of Fairy’s powder, father,” she said. “We feel that we simply must on an occasion like this. And for goodness’ sake, don’t mention it before him! It doesn’t happeh very often, you know, but today we simply must. Now, don’t you say anything about falling in the flour barrel, or turning pale all of a sudden, whatever else you do. We’d be so mortified, father.” Mr. Starr was concerned with weightier matters, and went on down to Prudence with never so much as a reproving shake of the head for the worldly-minded young twins. “Father,” began Prudence, her eyes on the lace coverlet, “do you think it would be all right for me to wear that silk dressing gown of mother’s? ~I need something over my nightgown, and my old flannel kimono is so ugly. You know, mother said I was to have it, and—l’m twenty now. Do you think it would be all right? But if you do not want me to wear lt—” "I do want you to,” was the prompt reply. “Yes, it Is quite time you were wearing it. I’ll get it out of the trunk myself, and send Fairy down to help you.” Then as he turned toward the door, he asked carelessly, “Is he very good-looking. Prudence?” And Prudence, with a crimson face, answered quickly, “Oh, I really didn't notice, father.” He went on upstairs then, and presently Fairy came down with the dainty silk gown trimmed with fine soft lace. “I brought, my lavender ribbon for your hair. Prudence. It will match the gown so nicely. Oh, you do look sweet, dearest. I pity Jerrold Harmer, I can tell you that Now I must hurry and finish my own dressing.” But with her foot on the bottom stair, she.paused. Her sister was calling after her. “Send father down here, quick. Fairy.” Father rgn down quickly, and Prudenoa, catching hold of his hands, whispered wretchedly, “Oh, father, he —be is good-looking. I—l did notice it. “ I didn’t really mean to lie to you." : ' ■. ; -.V,'

by ETHEL HUESTON

ILLUSTRATED BY W.C ,TANNHVc<

“There, now, Prudence,” he said, kissing her tenderly, “you mustn’t get excited again. I’m afraid you are too nervous to have callers. You must lie very quietly until he comes. That was no lie, child. You are so upset you do not know what you are saying today. Be quiet now, Prudence, it’s nearly time for him to come.” “You are a dear good father,” she cried, kissing his hands passionately, “but it was a lie. I did know what I was saying. I did it on purpose," And Mr. Starr’s heart was heavy, for he knew that his fears were realized.

CHAPTER X. —— Roused From Her Slumber. At twenty minutes to four, the parsonage family clustered excitedly in the sitting room, which the sunshine flooded cheerily. They were waiting for the hero of Prudence’s romance. “Oh, Larkie, will you run upstairs and bring my lace handkerchief? Would you keep these pearls on, Fairy, or would you take them off?” “I would keep them on, Prue. You do look so sweet, but your face is very flushed. lam afraid you are feverish. Maybe we had better not let him see Prue today, father.” f ‘Fairy!” exclaimed Prudence, “Listen, listen, girls! Look, Fairy, and see if that is he! Yes, it is, I know—l can tell by his walk.” Warm rich color dyed her face and, throat, and she clasped her hands over her heart, wondering if Connie beside her could hear Its tumult. “I’ll go to the door,” said Father Starr, and Prudence looked at him beseechingly. “I —I am sure he is all right, father. I—you will be nice to him, won’t you?” Without answering, Mr. Starr left the room. He equid not trust his voice, “Listen, girls, I want to hear,” whispered Prudence. And she smiled as she heard her father’s cordial voice.

“You a,re Mr. Harmer, aren’t you? I am Prudence's father. Come right In. The whole family is assembled to do you honor. The girls have already made you a prince in disguise. Come back this way. Prudence is resting very nicely.” When the two men stepped Into the sitting room, Prudence, for once, quite 'overlooked her father. She lifted her eyes to Jerrold Harmer’s face, and waited, breathless. Nor was he long in finding her among the bevy of girls. He walked at once to the bed, and took her hand. “My little comrade of the road,” he said gayly, but with tenderness. “I’m afraid you are not feeling well enough for callers today.” “Oh, yes, I am," protested Prudence with strange shyness. He turned to the other girls, and greeted them easily. He w r as entirely self-possessed. “Miss Starr told me so much about you that I know you all to begin with.” He smiled at Fairy as he added, “In f act.slie-Drx;dlctedthat lam to fall in love with you. And so, very likely, I should, if I hadn’t met your sister first.” , They pll laughed at that, and then he walked backand stood by Prudence once more. “Was it a bad sprain? -Does -4t~j>ato--y<m~TCTy~"b&'gly ? look, tired. I am afraid it was an imposition for me to come this afternoon,” • “Oh, don’t worry about that,” put in Connie' anxiously. “She wanted you to come. She’s been getting us ready for you ever since the doctor left. I think it w’as kind of silly for me to wear my blue just for one caller.” The twins glared at her, realizing that she was discrediting the parsonage, but Jerrold Harmer laughed, and Prudence joined him. “It is quite true,” she admitted frankly. “The mule and I disgraced the, parsonage this morning, and I wanted the rest of you to redeem It this afternoon." She looked at him inquiringly. “Then you had another coat?"

“No, I didn’t. I saw this one in a window this morning, and couldn’t resist it. Was the ride very hard on your ankle?”"Mr. Starr was puzzled. Evidently it was not lack of funds which brought this man bnjltrot from Des Moines to Mount Mark, half-way across the state! He did not look like a man Seeing from justice. What, then, was -the explanation? “You must have found it rather a long walk,” he began tentatively, his eyes on the young man’s face. “Yes, I think my feet are a little blistered. I have walked farther than that many times, but I am out of practice now. Sometimes, however, walking is a painful necessity.” “How long did it take you coming from Des Moines to Mount Mark?” inquired Carol in a subdued and respectful votce,and curious, withal. “From Des Moines,’* he gasped. “Good heavens! I did not walk* from Des Moines! Did you—He turned to Prudence questioning!?, “Did you ’think I walked clear from Des Moinas?” “YeS.” And added hastily, "But I did not care if you .did. It did not make any difference how you came.” |

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN,’ RENSSELAER, tNl>.

For a moment he was puzzled. Then he burst out laughing. “I aln afraid we had too touch so talk about thfs morning. I thought I had my situation, but evidently I did no<. I drove flom Des Moines in the coa and—” ' “The automobile,” gasped Card, with a triumphant look at Lark. “Yes, just so. I stopped at several places on business as I catne through. I drove from Burlington this morning, but I got off the road. The car broke down on me, arid I couldn’t fix it—broke an axle. So I had to ‘walk in. That- is what I was seeing about today, sending a man out for the car and arranging about the repairs.” He smiled again. “What in the world did you think 1 would walk from Des Moines for?” he asked Prudence, more inquisitive than grammatical. “I did not think anything about it until they asked, and —I did not know about the car. You did not mention it.”

“No. I remember now. We were talking of other things all the time.” He turned frankly to Mr. Starr. “Perhaps . you have heard of the Harmer Automobile company of Des Moines. My father was Harvey Harmer. Two years ago, when I was running around in Europe, he died. It was his desire that I should personally take charge of the business. So I hurried home,* and have had charge of the company since then. We are establishing sales agencies here, and in Burlington, and several other towns. I came out for a little trip, and took advantage of the opportunity to discuss the business with our new men. That’s what brought me to Mount Mark.” For the first time In her life, Prudence distinctly triumphed over her father. She flashed him the glance of a conqueror, and he nodded, understandingly. He liked Jerrold Harmer, as much as he could like any man who stepped seriously into the life of Prudence. He was glad that things were well. But—they would excuse him, he must look after his Sunday’s sermons. A little later the twfns and Connie grew restless, and finally Connie blurted out, “Say, Prue, don’t you think we’ve upheld the . parsonage long enough? I want to get some fresh air.” The twins would never have been guilty of such social indiscretion

“My Little Comrade of the Road.”

as tills, but they gladly availed themselves of Connie’s “break,” and followed her out-of-doors. Then Fairy got up, laughing. “I have done my share, too. I think we’ll .leave the parsonage in your hands now, Prue. I want to write to Aunt Grace. I’ll be just at the head of the stairs, and if Prudence wants me, you will call, won’t you, Mr. Harmer? And won’t you stay for. dinner with us? I’m sure to disgrace the parsonage again, for I am no cook, but you can get along for once, surely. We spend more time laughing when the food is bad, and laughter is very healthful. You will stay, won’t you?” . Jerrold Harmer looked very eager, and yet he looked somewhat doubtfully at Prudence. Her eyes were eloquent with entreaties. Finally he o laughed, and said. “I should certainly like to stay, but you see I want to come back tomorrow. Now, will I dare to come back tomorrow if I stay for dinner tonight? Wouldn’t Connie say that was disgracing the parsonage?” Fairy laughed delightedly. “That is very good,” she said. “Then you will stay. I’ll try to fix it tip with Connie to save the reputation of the houge.” No, they did not quote poetry, they did not discuss the psychological inj tricacies of spontaneous attraction, they did not say anything deep, or wise, or learned. But they smiled at each other, with pleased investigating eyes. He put his hand on the coverlet, just near enough to touch the lace on the sleeve of her silk dressing gown. And together they found paradise in the shabby sitting room of the old Methodist parsonage that afternoon. -

Do you believe in long engagements between lovers? Aren’t engaged couples able to become well enough acquainted after six months to marry and. make aa much of a success of the partnership as if they had waited two or three years?

{•TO BB CONTINUED.)

PLANS FOR VAST ALLIED OFFENSIVE

Decisions of Incalculable Importance Arrived at During Rome Conference. BIG DRIVES ON ALL FRONTS Mare Vlflorous War to Be Wagcd In Macedonia —Enormous Quantities of Guns and Munitions Ready on Western Front. By C. F. BERTELLI. Paris. —Although they issued a public statement after their conference in Paris last March, the war chiefs of the entente powers remained completely silent following their Rome conferencethe other day. But I have learned on Indisputable authority that decisions of incalculable importance were arrived at. The principal subjects discussed w r ere: The Saloniki expedition. The relation between each nation’s resources and its effective contribution to the war, bearing particularly upon (a) effectives; (b) munitions; (c) finance. Preparation of offensives on all fronts for the coming spring. While for obvious reasons I am not permitted to give details of the decisions arrived at, I am able to state that as regards the Macedonian front the entente powers have at last been united by the French leaders and that at the chosen moment the > offensive will be delivered from the Saloniki base with an energy and force hitherto conspicuously lacking. At last Premier Briand, backed by General Sarrail, the commander of the entente forces in Macedonia —who is tremendously enthusiastic about the possibilities to be expected from his sphere of the hostilities—has brought England and Italy into line. The governments of both these countries, acting on the advice of their rhilitary counselors, have barely disguised their indifference to the Saloniki campaign, but since the Rome conference that feeling has been replaced by a united determination to wage more vigorous war in Macedonia, where of course, both countries will increase their effectives.

Have No Illusions. The after \yar problems Which the Rome conferees discussed were principally economic and social. None of the entente statesmen has any Illusions as to the question of monetary cctapensatlon for wqr expenditure and damage to be obtained from Germany. No one nation could possibly bear the burden of $150,000,000,000, which the war will have cost in actual expenditure for armies and navies between August, 1914, and the fall of 1917, to say nothing of the billions of dollars worth of property destroyed. The entente leaders were therefore faced with the necessity of establishing a plan that will not utterly crush the -present generation under an appalling overburden of taxation, and at the same time that will provide enough credit to enable each nation to'meet obligations. The principle has been adopted of postponing a final settlement of war debts to 100 years hence. In this way this generation, which has paid the awful blood price of the war, will not in addition be reduced to utter poverty. Generations still unborn will receive a heavy legacy of war bills as the price of national liberty and for the privilege of living under the institutions of their own country, however small the country be. ' European taxation will remain moderate for some years, until the ’revival In trade is complete, then will begin to be applied a gradually rising scale >f taxation, until, some fifty years hence, the statesmen of the day will be expected to begin the liquidation of the war liabilities in real earnest. Thus may default be avoided. A prosperous Europe, not the stricken and groaning Europe of today, will be looked to to honor all bills and keep the financial credit of the entente nations unstained. Will Work in Harmony. In this respect it is planned to have France, England, Italy and Russia work in harmony, the richer helping the poorer from generation to generation. This plan in Itself foreshadows a post-war quadruple alliance of a .more intimate and binding nature than has ever characterized other alliances in ■•the world’s history; and if Its purpose is to be fully fulfilled,‘its duration is expected to be at least 100 years. 1 A prominent politician who was in

UNITED STATES SUBMARINE M-l

Rome at the time of the conference, tells me that entente statesmen do not expect the German government to make a serious effort to meet the country’s financial liabilities toward its own people, and It is therefore not difficult to understand why ,the big business interests of Hamburg, Frankfort and Berlin have for long been clamoring for peace. If, as expected, Germany wipes off her liabilities and begins again with a clean sheet, she will obviously be in a position of economic superiority to the entente countries while the latter are struggling to devise ways and means of meeting their indebtedness. Social problems will be no less grave. Of all the entente countries, France will have suffered most heavily in men in relation to her population by the time the war is over. By the end of this year her deader permanently incapacitated may reach 5,000,000, and England, Italy and Russia will suffer after the same rate.* At the same time, Germany’s losses will be found to be superior, both relatively and absolutely, to those of any other country in the war.

Affects the United States. This means that in every town and village labor will be scarce. Emigration will be brought to a standstill for at least this generation, and perhaps for the next. The United States will thus be directly affected, while it is certain that the development of Cahkdif wlll be "set back for half a century. Proof that a great scarcity of labor is feared in Europe, and especially France, is given by the measures already prudently taken by the French government for the introduction of coolie labor. This movement began some months ago and will—be intensified this year. Already .thousands of Asiatics are employed for national purposes, and even when of Frenchmen are released from the colors it is anticipated that the employment of colored men will have to be continued to make a big trade revival possible. Therefore, In the opinion of European statesmen, America will be greatly disappointed if she expects the releasing of millions of men at present in the field to cause a stream of migration westward across the Atlantic owing to bad conditions in Europe. greatest and most pressing question dealt with by the Rome conference was, of course, that of the organization of huge united offensive strokes on the main fronts this year. The moment for delivering these simultaneous blows will be decided upon by the commanders in chief, but it is no secret that by next April the millions of men and women working in munition factories will have produced Sufficiently enormous quantities of guns and shells for the beginning of a continuous offensive that will break beyond repair the belt of iron laid by ( the Germanic invaders across Europe. Had not entente statesmen been sincerely convinced of their steadily increasing military superiority over Germany they would not have shut the door on Germany’s peace opening.

One Man in Chief Command. Real unity of army command is an immediate probability in the entente camp. It will very likely center in one man, supported by a small international ,*if<iffl - ;\ i In future entente offensives the weight of attack will be more fairly apportioned to the big nations in accordance, with their resources in man power than has been the Case hitherto. The British front is gradually lengthening; it will grow a lot longer before the war is over. In fact, the relative burden of united off ensl ves will be decided upon after a consideratlon of population, number of combatants. figure of losses and length of front, in the case of each entente nation. . * • Regarding munitions, no longer Win each country manufactuie merely for itself, with a view to various partial attacks fixed in advance. Hencefortn the —countries —will decide(l) the amount of defensive material necessary ftjr the whole front; (2) the material necessary for offensives on the quantity of raw material for munitions needed In every country.

Goose's Crop Held $10.27.

St. Louis, Mo—When John F. P. Ernst killed a gift gooke he found In its crop a half-dollar, 26 quarters, 26 dimes, 13 nickels and 2 pennies. This two-legged bank was a Christmas bonus given Ernst by the employees of a grocery store where he is chief clerk. There was no refund, as Ernst considers the gift of a goose includes the ballast. The total of the goose’s savings was $10.27-

WEAR ANTI-COLLISION SUITS

White Derbies and White Shoes Worn by Gentlemen Out at Night in London. London. —Some of the odd things “due to the war:” Gentlemen out at night are affect’ ing white derbies, white shoes and white gloves. “Anti collision” suits they are called and they prevent collisions between pedestrians in the darkened streets. The London boy and girl now have “Zepp” drill instead of fire drill in their schools. Children are taught to file quickly into places of safety. “Zepp” drills have also been inaugurated In many homes. Suburban railroad fares have doubled and tickets have grown smaller. To effect a saving on pasteboard, the long green ticket of pre-bellum days has been supplanted by a ticket hardly larger than a postage stamp. With railroad fares increasing, the government has not increased the “three-quarters’*- reduced rates to theatrical companies. Theatrical companies are not luxuries, according to rulings. Children in Eastbourne have been ordered to wear clogs because of the high prices of shoes.

PUTS BAN ON USELESS SPECS

Zion City Overseer Declares Some of His People Are Wearing Glasses Needlessly. ‘' ChicagO. Wllbur Glenn Voliva, overseer of Zion City, whose edicts concerning smoking, kissing and similar “frivolities’’ of humanity rule his followers, has put the “kibosh” on eyeglasses also. Voliva suspects that some of his people have been wearing specs when they don’t- need them, and his latest order sets a deadline for those who may purchase or use them. All persons under forty-five years of age must first obtain froHTilim a written order, “Some young man has a pain in his big toe, and he gets a pair of glasses,” says Voliva. “Some say they have astigmatization. All they have is a pigtail In their eye.” yoliva also has taken over the naming of babies born in Zion City. Parents who wish a hand in the matter must first submit their choices and get an “O. K.” And they have been tipped! off that “Algernon,” “Clarice” and similar names won’t go.

WAR NURSE TO WED

Miss Kelyngch of Crestwood, N. J., went to England last October as a volunteer Red Cross nurse. On the voyage over, She met Charles McDade, a Belfast merchant, and they became friends. After Miss Kelynach had served some time- hospital at Southampton Mr. McDade called to see her and proposed marriage. He accompanied her on her return to this country and the marriage will take place in April.

DAYLIGHT COAL MINING NOW

New Method to Be Undertaken on a Tremendous Scale in Pennsylvania District. Burgettstown, Pa. —Daylight mining of coal-is to be undertaken in this district on a tremendpus scale. Instead of digging shafts, entrances, runway* and tipples, now used in mining coal, a great battery of modern steam shovels will strip the coal veins, and specially constructed machinery wilt remove the “black diamonds." The method will enable the operators,to take out all of the coal and no expensive supports will be left iw> the earth. It 1» also expected that It will be easier to secure labor for the daylight opes* ations.