Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-07-13
Costing
Prudence
BY N. J. PHILLIPS
Copyright, 1905, by Beatrix Reade

Berkeley Marshall leaned luxurious
ly back in the shady chair, hoisted his
feet to the bed and blew ring OF
smoke celingward from his cigar. "Tt
recapituate,' he began. directing bis
remarks TO the calendar which hung
Oh 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. | beg your
pardon, I'm not an artist I'm a civil
engineer-or will be next June. Ano
that isn't what | started out to re
mark.
ITO recapitulatc, | have peddled
maps over three states, and the net
profits of these adventures are S531 60
l have a steady job during the college
year waiting on table at three per and
found. Furthermore, | have Il dress
suit and clothes and ties and things
Further yet, | have an invitation from
my cousin, Terrence Marshall, to spend
week with him at Sylvan Cove, the
SWEETEST resort on this little old ocean.
1t is now Saturday night, Sept 10, and
college opens up the 25th.
THE question seems to be shall | 90
on peddllng maps and accommodating
more filthy lucre. which may possibly
need; shall I go home which is 300
miles away; to college, which Is 450, OF
to Sylvan Cove, which is under a hun.
dred and where pretty young women,
1t is presumed, abound?"
In due parliamentary form the Syl.
van Cove question was put and carried
unanimously, whereupon the boy-he
was little more-bowed gravely to the
calendar lady and thanked her for her
kindness in voting with him. Then he
ran down the stairs of the country ho-
tel to consult the time table, for he
was in hurry to be off.
Marshall found Sylvan Cove in the
elaborate 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 ac-
customed to their money.
On the first day of his stay Marshall
naively contided to his cousin that he
believed Prudence Fairchild to be the
prettiest girl at the Cove, whereupon
Terrence grinned and replied, "Stung,
are you?" On the second day he learn
ed that she could swim like q seal and
golf like Scot. That evening, by vir-
tue of four dances which she generous
ly gave him at the pavilion party his
stock of knowledge was augmented by
the fact that Miss Prudence danced
like fairy.
His approval of the tanned, red lip
ped and wholesome young woman deep
ened during long sail the next morn
ing when he discovered that her taste
in books and tennis rackets was iden-
teal with his own. When Terrence in
formed him later, however, that her ia
Their, Rufus Fairchild, was credited
with more millions than there were
letters to his name the young man ex-
perienced a novel and entirely unpleas-
ant sinking of the heart
His own financial situation did not
trouble Marshall-in fact, he found hui
NOR in his poverty. Marshall's father
had been rich until an industrial furry
had left him broken and pennless.
Berkeley himself, a natural engineer
and in love with the profession he had
chosen, felt the president 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
OF fbn Af
wealth depressed him. "I've almost
monopolized her since I've been here"
he told himself, land she'll think it's
the blooming money. l suppose half
this bunch that's hanging around her
would marry Digger Indian for the
old mans pile. wish she were poor"
The latter aggrleved and sincere re-
mark revealed to Marshall that he was
dangerously near being in love.
A certain sensitive pride, for he had
a morbid fear that his attitude might
be misconstrued, 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
ii was a feminine desire to repay him
for his aloOfness; at any rate, Miss
Fairchild 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 a nightingale
or the scent of June roses. And the
memory moved him again and again
that winter as he built theoretical
bridges in the class room or delivered
vegetable soup in the hotel dining
room.
Now, look such as that from girl
who is not flirt dwells in her memory
too Miss Fairchild's cheeks were hot
sometimes when she thought OF it and
OF the answering glance of bewlldered
JOY that flashed from Marshalls blue
eyes. HE might take advantage of it,"
she said to herself in brief. delicious
panic when the invitation of chum,
Nell Burrows, to come for the January
hop of the seniors at Marshalls col
lege reached har Rut aha want navar