Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-04-14


no harm to try, and slipped the ring on
her fore-fnger.
"It'sa perfect fit !',ascried Mr.. SNEent-
worth delightedly. s'Nothing could be
better. Why, Miss Prudence, you surely
don't mean to give it back ?''
''Of course I do,'' was the saucy rejoin-
der. "Why not ?''
Because" said Mr.. Wentworth, speak
ing very earnestly and .disregarding his
oars altogether, while he tried to get a
glimpse of the face hidden by the fiat hat,
''because meant to ask you to wear it al
ways for my sake. l meant to ask
you-"
"Oh, Mr.. Wentworth" cried his listen
er here, 'do you see that lily ON your left
won't you get it for me %
s'I'll get you that and twenty others, if
you'll listen to me first. Do you care for
me, Prudence! Will you marry me ?''
Prudence's face was turned away and
her head bent lower. A crimson flush
stole over ears, neck and chin.
prudence ~
No answer. Her companion leaned
over and took her hand again, yenturous-
| ly.
But the hand was hastily drawn away );
a pair of slucy black eyes flashed into his
own. and Prudence's merry laugh rang
over the water.
cpd rather have grandma's please. 1
ought to go home, Mr., Wentworth, for
know it's almost tea time.''
Mr.. Wentworth put his ring in his pock-
ct and took up the oars again energeti cal
| ly, without word. He was fresh from
college. and had held the stroke oar in
many a race, but he never made better
time than he made that afternoon in row.
ing up the river. The light boat shot along
with the towers brow knitted and his
teeth set. Not once did he look at Pru-
dence, who sat in half-puzzled, half
alarmed silence, now and then stealing
sidewise glances at the offended young
Hercules from under her hat. Mr.. Went
worth drew breath of relief when the
J boat at last grated on the sand, and hav-
| ing assisted Prudence to land, and CURLY
! offered to carry her lilies, he shouldered
! the oars and marched grimly towards home
by her side. Prudence, somewhat be
wldered and more angry, made no effort
to break the silence, and studlously en-
/ deavored to keep from crying. When he
| at last left her at the door, with a cool
''Thank you, Miss Prudence and depar-
ted to carry the oars to the barn it was well
he did not look back, for Miss Prudence
tossed the lilies aside with appellant ges-
ture, 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 pic
| ture that comforted him q little through
the hoop-wreathed pantry window. 1t was
| Prudence with her sleeves pinned up,
molding biscuits in desperate haste, while
tears fell thickly on her high calico apron.
that he retreated hastily behind lilac
bush to observe it, and fingered so long
that he was late at tea. This was a model
supper. There was the great dish of ber-
ries with snowy cream beside fanked by
cheese and raspberry JAM. There were
contrasting with the gold sponge-cake and
the richer gold of the butter. Mr.. Went
worth, who had supposed 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 5oarders
seemed tc share the sensation, for the
group of muslin seemed very hilarious,
and the eatables disappeared rapidly
Prudence presiding between the pots,
seemed rather out of spirit but Farmer
Holmes atoned for silence by unusual jol-
lily.
When the biscuits pas ed second time
to Mr.. Wentworth he saw that only one
was left, and would have refused decorous-
ly, but the hospitable farmer pressed it
upon him. s'Don't he afraid of it, There's
plenty more in the kitchen, amt there,
Prudence ?" Thus pressed, Mr.. Went
worth accepted the biscuit, and Prudence
disappeared to replenish the plate. Mr.
ped it suddenly with an exclamation that
brought every eye upon him. There, i'm
bsdded in the light white bread, Prudence's
ruby ring.
Such shout of laughter arose that
brought Prudence back from the kitchen
in has tie, just in time to see Mr.. Went
worth coolly remove the ring from the bis.
cult, amidst the merry chorus, and drop
it into his waistcoat pocket. to s'be kept
till called for" he said, with a significant
glance at her scarlet face. Poor Prudence!
There was now no peace for her after that.
An army OF jokes quite overwhelmed her
protestatlons and disclaiming, and she was
thankful to beat hasty retreat to the
kitchen when the meal was over, But even
there she was pursued by a laughing trio
OF the ladies, harassed with questions, and
Wonderment and merriment, 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
furthest 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 a step crushed
the dry grass at her side, reused her, and
the very voice she most dreaded to hear,
said:
'I've come to return your ring, Miss
Prudence
Poor little Prudence sat up hastily, and
took the unfortunate ring with falter-
ing ssThank you," then Immediately hid
her face again.