The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-12
TIE EVENING STORY
Testing Prudence.


Berkeley Marshall leaned luxuriously
back in the shady chair, hoisted his
smoke ceilingward from his cigar. ITO
smoke celingward from his cigar. ITO
recapitulate" he began, directing his
remarks to the calendar which hung
on the wall. and from which stared
back at him the face of a supposedly
beautiful young woman with a fixed
and sugary smile, your left ear is con-
foundedly out Of drawing I beg your
pardon; I'm not an artist. I'm a civil
enEineer-or VIII be next June. And
mark.
TO recapitulate; I have peddled
maps over three states, and the net
profits Of these adventures are five
hundred and thirty-one dollars and
slxty-two cents I have a steady job
during the college year waiting on Ia
bic at three per and found. Further
more, 1 have a dress suit and clothes
and ties and things. Further yet, I
nave an invitation from my cousin Tor
renee Marshall to spend a, week with
him at Sylvan Cove, the SWEETEST resort
on this little old ocean. It is now Sat
urday night, September Is, and college
opens up the 25th.
The question seems to be shall go
on peddling maps and accommodating
more filthy lucre which I may possibly
need; shall go home, which is three
hundred miles away; to college, which
IS four hundred and fifty. or to Sylvan
cove. which is under a hundred and
where pretty young women, it is pre-
sumed. abound?''
In due parliamentary form, the Syl-
van Cove question was put and car
rled unanimously; Whereupon the boy
he was little more-bowed graveIy to
the calendared lady and thanked her
for her kindness in voting with him.
Then he ran down the stairs of the
country hotel to consult the time table.
for he was in a hurry to be off.
Marshall found Sylvan Cove in the
deliberately simplicity stage of summer
resort development. Everything was
costly but very plain, for the Cove was
inhabited each season mainly by
wealthy people who had become accus-
toned to their money.
On the first day of his stay Marshall
naively conf1ded to his cousin that he
believed Prudence Fairchild to be the
prettiest girl at the Cove, whereupon
Terrence grinned and replied, eStung,
are you2" On the second day he learn
ed that she could swim like a seal and
golf like Scot. That evening" by vir-
tue of four dances which she generously
gave him at the pavilion party his
stock of knowledge was augmented by
the fact that Miss Prudence danced like
a fairy.
His approval of the tanned, ed-lipped
and wholesome young woman, deepened
when he discovered that her taste in
books and tennis rackets was identical
with his own. When Terrence informed
him later, however, that her father,
Rufus Fairchild was credited with
more millions than there were letters to
his name the young man experienced q
novel and entirely unpleasant sinking
of the heart
His own financial situation did not
trouble Marshall; in fact, he found hui
NOR in his poverty. Marshalls father
had been rich until an industrial furry
had left him broken and penniless.
Berkeley himself, a natural engineer
and in love with the profession he had
chosen, felt the prescient stir of genius
within him. vague but real. His teach
ers predicted great things of him. and
with the knowledge Of his own powers
and his burning desire to achieve, fame
and wealth were merely around the next
corner.
Yet the fact of Miss Fairchild's wealth
depressed him. I've almost monopo-
lized her since I've been here" he told
himself, land she'll think it's the
blooming money. 1 suppose half this
bunch that's hanging around her would
marry Digger Indian for the old mans
pile. I wish she were poor!' The latter
aggrieved and sincere remark revealed
to Marshall that he wa dangerously
near being in love-
A certain sensitive pride. for he had
a morbid fear that his attitude might
be rnisconstrued, kept Marshall out of
the girls presence most of the time
thereafter. Maybe she understood, for
the possession of much money often
brings a woman bitter wisdom; maybe
it was feminine desire TO repay him
for his aloofness; at any rate Miss
F'airchild contrived to give Marshall
glance at parting, as he held her cool
little hand, that thrilled his every
pulse. 1t was like the song OF night
- Tn, r~Nc nd
the memory moved him again and
again that winter, as he built theoreti-
cal bridges in the class room or deliv
cred vegetable soup in the hotel din
ing room.
Now a look such as that from a girl
who is not a fiirt dwells in her mem
DRY, too. Miss Fairchild's cheeks were
hot, sometimes, when she thought OF
it, and of the answering glance of be-
Wildered ioy that flashed from Mar
shall's blue eyes HE might take adj
vantage of it, she said to herself in
brief, delicious panic when the invita-
ton of a chum, Nell Burrows. to come
for the January hop of the seniors at
Marshalfs college reached her. But
she went. nevertheless.
The assurance with which he con-
hscated five of the dances on her card
al the ball showed that Marshall re-
membered- They sat out two, winch
was delightful, but dangerous; there
was little said. and the silence between
them was intimate and significant.
Removed from the glamour of the
lights and the music. from the half
shielded promise of her eyes and the
intoxication of her beauty, Marshall
was not satisfied. IF she only were
poorl" he repeated to himself How
can she know that it's she I want. and
not the money? Suppose that she
thinks I'm a fortune hunter? And if
the money makes any difference with
her. then she doesn't care for me- I
wish I knew. If you only could give
me a sign. sweetheart, that you had
faith IN my love-
It was lunch time, and Marshall was
at his accustomed table in the hotel.
His musings were broken by the open
ing of the door. Miss Fairchild and
Miss Burrows came in. They were ac-
companied by Bronson and Carrfck.