Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1917 — PRUDENCE OF THE PARSONAGE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PRUDENCE OF THE PARSONAGE

by ETHEL HUESTON

ILLUSTRATED BY W.C ,TANNHVc<

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,'

“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.” |

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

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. -

{•TO BB CONTINUED.)

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.

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?

(Copyright, by the Bobbs-Merril Company.)

“My Little Comrade of the Road.”