The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-10-11

top of her hat. but that was all the
same to him in that moment.
Heavy clouds were trailing in the
tops Of the trees, and a quick furry OF
rain tinkled in the dry leaves. They
were passing a rude arbor and Rowan
drew the girl into it. but the rain
ceased before they had fairly crossed
| the threshold.
| what shall we do?" whispered Pru.
dence. "I've got on my blue hat with
the chiffon bow. and If Ii gets wet Il
will be ruined"
Prudence put out her hand and felt
only a single small drop.
eff we only had an umbrella" she
began, ''for it may rain, you know,
when we're coming back"
"Wait here" he cried. "and I'll get
one"
'Wait while you go all the way
homer" she exclaimed. I'D be scared
out of my wits"
Then Wen have 10 risk it," he re
piled. "Our minister's there this even
ing. but he's going over to Allendale
tomorrow, to be gone the rest of the
week"
Prudence hesitated, standing in the
arbor door and trying to read the Sc
crets of the dull drifting clouds. There
was just light enough to see her up
turned face. and this time Rowan did
not waste kiss upon the blue hat.
Il left my umbrella in the library"
whispered Prudence. perhaps l could
run back
"Tll have it in three secondsv he
cried. And the girl stood alone in the
arbor.
The library was quite dark, as Row.
an had had every reason to believe
that it would be. He gained easy ac-
cess through a window, but it was a
rather more difficult matter to find the
umbrella. The young man stumbled
over chairs and knocked his elbows
against the corners of bookcases. He
had made three-quarteTs Of the circuit
of the room when a door opened. and
some one entered.
Rowan, crouching close to the wall,
crept softly toward a window. but he
had taken not more than half q dozen
steps when the room became in an in
slant dazzlingly light, and there stood
Judge Prior, with his hand upon the
electric button.
The young man was fortunate enough
to be one of those persons for whom
time moves slowly in emergencies. He
seemed to have hours for reflection
while the judge was turning around.
Judge Prior" he said in a singularly
calm voice.
The venerable jurist was naturally
startled. but Immediately regained his
self control.
81 was waiting for you. sir" contin-
ued Rowan. II supposed that you
would come here after dinner, and
wished to speak with you a moment in
private"
BE seated. SIR" said Prior courteous
ly. And they took chairs upon oppo-
site sides of the big table in the center
of the room.
AS Rowan sat down there came a
sudden shock of rain against the east
ern windows. The sweat of agony
broke out upon him as he thought of
prudence In the arbor, and he rose
from the chair Involuntary.
81 have but single word to say" he
began. without a notion as to what that |
word might be. ITO say more would |
be to waste your time as well as my |
own
Il would willingly grant you the en-
tire evening" said the judge urbanely. |
pray resume your seat and speak |
without haste"
He waved his hand with gesture of |
firm but gentle authority that had |
quelled a thousand lawyers in the |
courts. Rowan subsidized. with the SEN
sations OF little dog doing n trick
He strove to think of what he should |
say to the judge, but his mind would
consider nothing except the roof of