The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-29

lingshis oaes altogether, while he tried tt
lgeta glimpse Of the face hidden by thu
thathat, 5nbecause | meant to ask you tc
wear railways for my SAKE. ! meant tt
TASK VOID
"oa, Mr.. Wentwortb,o cried his list
ener here, sdo you see that lily ON your
left--won't you get it for me?
| Hpll get you that and twenty Others
If you'll listen to me first. Do you care
for me, Prudence? Will you marry me p
Prudence's lace was turned away and
her head bent lower. A crimson husE
stole oyer ears, neck and chin.
"Prudence!"
No answer. Her companion leaned
over and took her hand again, ven
turously.
"Prudence, will you wear the ring?'
| he questioned softly.
| But the hand was hastily drawn away
pair of saucy black eyes flashed into
his own, and Prudenee's merry laugt
rang over the water. 81
osps ps = q xranSRa PLEASE a.
know it's almost tea time.n
| Mr. Wentwerth put his ring in his
pocket and took up the. oars again ener
jgetically, without a word. He was fresh
from college, and had held the stroke
oar in many a race, hui he never made
better time than he made that afternoon
in rowing up the. river. The light boat
shot along with the rower's brows
knitted and his teeth set. Not once did
/ he look at Prudence, who sat in half
puzzled, halt-aiarmed silence, now and
then stealing sldeWise glances at the of
Tended young Hercules from under her
hat. Mr.. Wentworth drew a. breath OF
relief when the boat at last grated ON the
|aa n hoU vi oi iof =
land. and curtly offered to carry her lii
les, he shouldered the oars,and marched
grimly towards home by her side. PrL-
dence somewhat bewildefed and more
angry, made no effort TO break the ST.
lence, and studiopsly endeavorea to
keep from crying, When he at last lefr
her at the door, with q cool "Thank you,
Miss Prudence" and departed to carry
the oars to the barn, it was well he did
not look back. for Miss Prudence tossed
the lilies aside with a petulant gesture,
and had a fit Of crying with her head on
the kitchen table.
When Mr.. Wentworth returned from
the barn, half an hour later, he did see
a picture tnat comforted him little
through the hoop-wreathed pantry win
dow. 1t was Prudence with her sleeves
pinned up, molding biscuits in desper.
ate haste. while the tears tell thickly on
her high calico apron. Tnis picture SO
MIR. Wentworth that he re-.
treated hastily behind a lilac bush to
observe it, and fingered SO long that he
was late at tea. This was model
supper. There was the great dish OF
berries with snowy cream beside flankeu
by. cheese and raspberry jam. There
were two mountainous plates of snowy
biscuit, contrasting with the gold
sponge-cake and the richer gold of the
butter. Mr.. Wentworth, who had sup
posed he should never have an appetite
again, felt quite revived by the sight Of
this table and the memory of the picture.
The rest OF the boarders seemed to share
the sensation, for the group Of muslin
was very hilarious, and the eatables
disappeared rapidly. Prudence, presid-
ing between the pots, seemed rather out
Of spirits, but Farmer Holmes atoned
for silence by unusual jollity.
when the biscuits passed a. second
time to Mr.. Wentworth he saw that the
only one was lefteand would have re-
fused decorously, but the hospitable
farmer pressed it upon him. "Don't be
afraid OF it. There's plenty more in the
kitchen, amt there Prudence? Thus
pressed, Mr.. Wentworth accepted the
biscuit, and Prudence disappeared to
the plate. MIR. Wentworth
divided the biscuit, then dropped it sud-
denly with an exclamation that brought
every eye; upon him. There, imbedded
in the light white bread, lay Prudence's
ruby ring.
brought Prudence back from the Kitchen
in haste, just in time to see Mr.. Went
worth cooIly remove the ring from the
L. Dat hf .aI. a
drop it into his waistcoat pocket, to stbe
kept till called for" be said, with a sig-
nifcant glance at her scarlet face. Poor
Prudence! There was no peace for her
after that. An army OIL jokes quite over
whelmed her protestationsandd disclaim-
ings, and she was thankful to beat a
hasty retreat to the kitchen when the
meal was over. But even there she was
pursued by q laughing trio Of the ladies,
,harassed with questions, aud won
tderment and merrlment, until the last
dish was set away, and she had seized
her hat, with the excuse that she must
go to the village for letters. Instead Of
going to the village, however, she stole
along the hedge, climbed the wall, and
ran to the farthest end of the orchard,
where she flung herself on the ground
and cried as if her heart would break.
She had, perhaps, cried half an hour,
when step crushed the dry grass at
her side, reused her, and the very voice
she most dreaded to hear said:
'sPye come TO return your ring, Miss
Prudence"
Poor little Prudence sat up hastily,
and took the unfortunate ring. with tal-
tering "Thapk you," then immediately
hid her face again.
"Yon needn't thank me. / should have
brought it before, but couldn't find
you. / nope you're not troubled about
those ridiculous jokes" he added, dIgni-
fedly. .s. .sas....... ..
. "N-o," responded Prudence, misera-
bly,, between her sobs; ell thought
you'd think did it on purpose"
CHOW could have Thought SO? 1t was
mere accident my getting that partic.
ular biscuit. Pm very sorry you've been
50 annoyed in this way. Pm going away
tomorrow, Miss Prudence.v
The sobs partially ceased, and Miss
Prudence said, surprisingly, "Are
youW
: sWont you bid me good-by 2,
Prudence said "Yes," unsteadily, but
did not raise her head.
( "You wil shake hands, won't you,
Miss Prudence~
= No answer. si.- g,..i. H.. .i4tss
IL can't go away while you are offend-
ed with me. Won't you at least ten me
wtly YOU are crying?n