Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-11-13

stead" said the young man, daringly.s
Provoking Prudence looked at the
heavily chased gold ring he held out to
her, and then looked back at the water
with an innocent "Oh, I don't think it
would ft."
"Try il" suggested her companion,
softly.
Prudence shook her head, but finally
agreed, blushingly, that it would do no
harm to try, and slipped the ring on
her forefnger.
"Its q perfect ft," cried Mr.. Went
worth, delightedly. Nothing could
be better. Why, Miss Prudence, yon
surely don't mean to give it back ?"
"Of course I do" was tho saucy re-
joinder. "Why not p
Because" said Mr.. Wentworth,
speaking very earnestly and disregard
ing his oars altogether, while he trieb
to get glimpse of the face hidden by
the fiat hat, "because I ment to ask you
to wear it always for my sake. I meant
to ask you--"
ooh, Mr.. Wentworth" cried his list
ener here, edo You see that lily on your
lcft-won't you get it for me?
"I'll get you that and twenty others,
il you'll listen to me first. Do you care
for mo, Prudence Will you marry
mc?'
Prudence's face was turned away and
her head bent lower. A crimson flush
stole over her ears, neck and chin.
"Prudenco!"
No answer. Her companion leaned
over and took her hand, venturously.
prudence, will you wear tho ring?"
ho questioned, softly. ~ --
But the hand was hastily drawn away; :;
pair Of saucy black eyes flashed into
his own, and Prudence's merry laugh
rang over the water. ..... .'-
"I'd rather have grandma's please.
I ought to so home, Mr.. Wentworth,
for know it's almost tea time"
Mr.. Wentworth put his ring in his
pocket and took up the oar, again en-
orgetically, without word. He was
fresh from college and had held the
stroke oar in many race. but he mover
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. Net
once did he look at Prudence, who sat
in half-puzzled,o ~ half-alarmed silence,
now and then stealing sidewise glances
at the offended young Hercules from
under her hat.
Mr.. Wentworth drew breath of re-
lief when the boat at last grated on the
sand, and having assisted Prudence to
land, and curtly offered to carry her
lilies, he shouldered the oars and
marched grimly toward home by her
side. Prudence, somewhat bewildered
and more angry, made no effort to
break the silence, and studiously en-
deavored to keep. from crying. . When
at last he left her at the door, with q
cool "Thank you, Miss Prudence, >: and
departed to carry the oars to the barn,
it was we'll he did not look back. fer
Miss Prudence tossed the lilies aside
with a petulant gesture and had 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 that comforted him o little,
through the hop-wreathed pantry win
dow. It was Prudence with her sleeves
pinned up, molding biscuits with des-
perate haste, while the tears fell thickly
on her high calico apron. This picture
so amazed Mr.. Wentworth that no re-
treated hastily behind lilac bush to
observe it, and fingered SO long that he
was late at tea.
This was q model supper. There was
the great dish of berries with snowy
cream beside, fianked by choose and
raspberry jam. There were two plates
of snowy biscuit, contrasting with the
gold sponge cake and the richer gold of
tho butter. Mr.. Wentworth, who had
supposed he should never have ON ap-
petite 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
muslin was very hilarious, and eatables
disappeared very rapidly. Prudence
presiding between the pots, seemed
rather out OF spirits, but Farmer
Holmes atoned for her silence by nnus-
ual jollity.
When tho biscuits we're passed sec
ond time to Mr.. Wentworth no saw
that only one was left, and would have
refused decorously, but the hospitablo
farmer pressed it upon him.
"Don't be afraid Of it. There's plon-
ty more In. the htchen-aif't there.
PrudenceY'
Thus pressed Mr. Wentworth accept
cd the biscuit, and Prudence disap-
pearod to replenish the plate. Mr..
Wentworth divided the biscuit, then
dropped II suddenly with On exclaima-
tion that brought every eye upon him.
There, in the light white bread, laid
Prudenoe's ruby ring.
Such q shout Of laughter arose that
brought Prudence back from the kitch-
On in haste, just in time 10 SEQ Mr..
Wentworth coolly remove the ring from
the biscuit, amidst the merry chorus,