Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-07-17
Testlng
Prudence
.....By N. J. PHILLIPS

" back in the shady chair, hoisted his
feet to the bed and blew a ring of
smoke caiIingward from his cigar. ITO
recapituiate," 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. | beg your
pardon, I'm not an artist. I'm civil
engineer--or win be next June And
that isn't what | started out to re-
mark.
ITO recapitulate, | have peddled
maps over three states, and the net
profits of these adventures are 1881 So.
/ have a steady job during the college
year waiting on table at three per and
found. Furthermore, | have a dress
suit and clothes and ties and things.
Further yet, | have an invitation from
my cousin, Terrence Marshall, TO spend
a 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 10Th.
"The question seems to be shall | GO
on peddling maps and accommodating
more filthy lucre, which | may possibly
need; shall | go home, which is BOG
miles away: to college, which is 450, or
to Sylvan Cove, which is under hun
dred and where pretty young women,
it is presumed, aboundw
In due parliamentary form the Syi-
van Cove question was put and carried
unanimously whereupon the boyle
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 no
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 &C
customed to their money.
On the first day of his stay Marshall
naively confided to his cousin that he
believed Prudence Fairchild to be the
prettiest girl at the Cove, whereupon
florence grinned and replied, "Stung
| are you?" On the second day he learn
ed that she could swim like Il seal and
golf like a Scot That evening, by vir
tue of four dances which she generous
~ 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. red lip
ped and wholesome young woman deep
ened during a 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 q novel and entirely unpleas
ant sinking of the heart.
His own financial situation did no
trouble Marshall-in fact, he found hu
had been rich until an industrial furry
had left him broken and penniless
| Berkeley himself, natural engineer
and in love with the profession he hat
| chosen, felt the president stir of genius
| within him, vague but real. His teach
ers predicted great things of him, ant
with the knowledge of his own powers
| and his burning desire to achieve, fam.
| and wealth were merely around th'
| next corner.
Yet the fact of Miss Fairchild'i
wealth depressed him. 1--WE almos
monopolized her since I've been here,
| he told himself, "and she'll think til
the blooming money. l suppose hal
this bunch that's hanging around he
would marry Digger Indian for tn
old mans pile. | wish she were poor9
| The latter aggrieyed and sincere re
mark revealed to Marshall that he wa
| dangerously near being in love.
A certain sensitive pride, for he hai
a morbid fear that his attitude Nigh
be misconstrued, kept Marshall out O
the girls presence most of the tim
thereafter. Maybe she understood, TO
the possession of much money oftel
brings woman bitter wisdom; mayb
it was a feminine desire to repay hiI
for his aloofness; at any rate, Mis-
Eairchild contrived to give Marshall
glance at parting. as he held her COG
little hand, that thrilled his every pulse
| t. ho Of ferftf fr,rr II
or the scent of June roses. And tn
memory moved him again and agai
that winter as he built theoretics
bridges in the class room or delivere
vegetable soup in the hotel dinin
room.
Now, look such as that from a gil
who is not a flirt dwells in her memor
too Miss Fairchild's cheeks were ht
sometimes when she thought of it an
of the answering glance Of bewildere
joy that flashed from MarshaIrs blu
eyes. He might take advantage Of it
she said to herself in brief, delicior
panic when the invitation Of chun
Nell Burrows. to come for the Januar
hop of the seniors at MarshalTs CO
lege reached her. But she went neve
theless.
The assurance with which he conf
Gated five of the dances on her card ;
the ball showed that Marshall reIner
bered They sat out two, which WI
delightful. but dangerous. There Wi
, little said, and the silence betwee
! them was intimate and significant.
Removed from the glamour Of Il
.. lights and the music, from the ha
: ! shielded promise of her eyes and Il