, 1876-03-10

.
said the young man, daringly. Provok-
ing Prudence looked at the heavily
chased gold ring he held out to her, and
then looked back at the water with an
innocent "Oh, don't think it would fit."
Try it," 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.
"It's perfect fitr' cried Mr.. Went
worth, delightedly. "Nothing could he
better Why, Miss Prudence, you surely
don't mean to give it back2"
of course l do" was the saucy re-
joinder. "Why not2"
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 always for my sake. l meant to ask
"Oh, Mr.. Wentworth !" cried his listener
here "do you see that lily on your left
won't you get it for mel'
"I'll get you that and twenty others, if
you'll listen to me first. Do you care for
me, Prudencel Will you marry me2"
Prudence's face was turned away and
her head bent lower. A crimson flush
stole over her ears, neck and chin.
"Prudencep
No answer. Her companion leaned
over and took her hand again, ventur-
ously.
prudence, will you wear the ringl"
he 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. 1
ought to go home, Mr.. Wentworth, for l
know it's almost tea time"
Mr.. Wentworth put his ring in his
pocket, and took up his oars again ener-
getically, without a word. He was fresh
from college, and he held the stroke oar
in many 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 rOwer's brOws knitted and
his teeth set. Not once did he look at
Prudence, who sat in half-puzzled. half
alarmed silence, now and then stealing
sidewise glances at the offended Hercules
from under her hat. Mr.. Wentworth
drew breath of relief when the boat at
last grated on the sand, and, having as
sisted Prudence to land, and curtly Of
fered to carry her lilies he shouldered his
oars and marched grimly home by her
side. Prudence, somewhat bewildered,
and more angry, made no effort TO break
the silence, and studiously endeavored to
keep from crying. When he at last left
her at the door with a cool "Thank you,
Miss Prudence" and departed to carry the
oars to the barn, it is we'll he did not look
back, for Miss Prudence tossed the lilies
aside with petulant gesture and had
fit of crying with her head on the kitchen
table.
When Mr.. Wentworth returned to the
barn, half an hour later, he did see pic
ture that comforted him a little through
the hoop-wreathed pantry window. It
was Prudence with her sleeves pinned up,
molding biscuits in desperate haste,
while the tears fell thickly on her high
calico apron. This pictureso amazed Mr..
Wentworth that he retreated hastily be-
hind lilac-bush to observe it, and lin
gered so long that he was late at tea,
This was a model supper. There was
great dish Of berries with snowy cream
beside, fanked by the cheese and rasp-
berry 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
supposed he would never have an appe
tite again, felt quite revived by the pic
ture. The rest of the boarders seemed to
share the sensation, for the group of mus
lin was very hilarious, and the eatables
disappeared rapidly. Prudence, presid-
ing between the pots, seemed rather out of
spirits, but farmer Holmes atoned for her
silence by unusual jollity.
When the biscuits were passed sec
ond time to Mr.. Wentworth he saw that
only one was left, and would have refused
Ldecorously, but the hospitable farmer
pressed it upon him. "Don't be afraid
of it. There's plenty more in the kitchen,
amt there, Prudence2" Thus pressed,
Mr.. Wentworth accepted the biscuit, and
Prudence disappeared to replenish the
plate. Mr.. Wentworth divided the bis
cult and then dropped it suddenly with an
exclamation that brought every eye upon
him. There, imbedded in the light, white
bread, lay Prudence's ruby ring.
Such a shout of laughter arose that
brought Prudence back from the kitchen
in haste, Just in time to see Mr.. Went
worth coolly remove the ring from the
biscuit, amidst the merry chorus, and
drop it into his waistcoat pocket, "to be
kept till called for" he said, with signif-
cant glance at her scarlet face. Poor
| Prudence there was no peace for her
after that. An army of jokes quite over
whelmed her protestatiOns and disclaim-
ings, and she was thankful to beat a re-
treat to the kitchen when the meal was
over. But even there she was pursued by
laughing trio of the ladies, harassed
with questions, and wonderment and mer-
riment, until the last dish was set away,
and she had seized her hat with the excuse
that she must go to the village for let
tiers. 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 her
self on the ground and cried as if her
heart would break. She had, perhaps,
cried half an hour, when 4 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 aud
took the unfortunate ring with falter-
ing THANK you, " then Immediately hid
her face a0ain-