The Press., 1906-10-17
Cestlng
prudence
..... BY NJ. J. PHILLIPS

1908. by Beatrix Reade

| ly back In the Shady cna1r, nOlSteQ MS
feet to the bed and blew a ring of
smoke ceilingward 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. beg your
pardon, I'm not an artist. I'm a civil
engineer-or will 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 $531 go.
l 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
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. ....~s
1.-The question seems to be shall go
on peddling maps and accommodating
more filthy lucre, which may possibly
need; shall 1 go home, which Is 300
miles away; to college, which Is $50, or
to Sylvan Cove, which Is under hun
dred and where pretty young women,
1t is presumed, aboundp"
In due parliamentary form the Syl-
van Cove question was put and carried
unanimously, whereupon the hoy-he
was little more--bowed gravely to the
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 a 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 contided to his cousin that he
believed Prudence Fairchild to be the
prettiest girl at the Cove, whereupon
Terrence grinned and replied, "Stung,
are your" On the second day he learn
ed that she could swim Ikea 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 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 a novel and entirely unpleas-
ant sinking of the heart.
His own financial situation did not
trouble Marshall-in fact, he found hu-
NOR in his poverty. Marshal's father
had been rich until aR Industrial furry
had left him broken and penniless.
Berkeley himself, a natural engineer
and in love with the profession he had
chosen, felt the president stir of genius
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. 1--WE almost
monopolized her since I've been here"
he told himself, land she'll think it's
the blooming money. suppose half
this bunch that's hanging around her
would marry a Digger Indian for the
old mans pile. 1 wish she were poor?'
The latter aggrieved 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
It was a feminine desire to repay him
for his aloofness; at any rate, Miss
glance at parting, as he held her cool
little hand, that thrilled his every pulse.
1t was like the song Of 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 a girl
1H0f c V,<Nk AfVk IN hoV.
too. Miss Fairchild's cheeks were hot
sometimes when she thought Of it apd
Of the answering glance Of bewildered
Joy that flashed from Marshalps blue
eyes. HE might take advantage Of it,
she said to herself in brief, delicious
panic when the invitation Of a chum,
Nell Burrows, to come for the January
hop of the seniors at Marshall's col
lege reached her. But she went never
theless.
The assurance with which he confls-
Gated five Of the dances on her card at
the ball showed that Marshall remem-
bered. They sat out two, which 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 i
shielded promise of her eyes and the
intoxication Of her beauty, Marshall
was not satisfied. IF she were only
poor!' he repeated to himself How
can she know that it's she l want and L
not the money? Suppose that she
thinks I'Dr fortune hunter2 And If |
the money makes any difference with
her, then she doesn't care for me. I'll
wish knew. If you only could give
me a sign, sweetheart, that you had
faith in my love-
1t was lunchtime, 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