The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-04-05

Jimmy, I'm almost twenty-one ana
have never had real business beau.
Isn't it shameful when Aunty Prue is
going to will me all her pretty dishes
and the Heathcote silver? Fancy an
heiress without sweetheart"
such restitution is painful-so pain
full | hardly believe 1t exists" Jimmy
said. turning away his head, then
breaking inconsequently Into talk Of
something else.
Miss Prudence. watching him, saw
that his teeth had set before he could
speak. OF the seeing came enlighten-
ment in part She meant to make it
whole before she was much older So
ais soon as dinner was over she sent
Margaret upon an errand and herself
drew Jimmy on to the barn with pre-
text of wanting his advice as to the
new hayloft and stalls. She was
straight speaking person, womanly,
wthal courageous. So as soon as they
were inside The stall space she wheeled
upon Jimmy. asking plumply, What
cock and bull story has Della Bane
told your"
who said she had told me any
thlng?" Jimmy retorted. Besides she
didn't need to. My eyes are fairly
trustworthy
Sure of it, Miss Prudence asked.
"If you are please to tell me what
they have told you about my Peggy
! know you think you've got griev-
ance-no, not exactly a grievance, but
a hurt"
1T is a hurt, but l don't blame her
for 1t. | cant-she-she must have met
the other fellow first" Jimmy said.
turning away his head Miss Prudence
stamped her foot What other fel.
low" she demanded
Jimmy answered miserably:
The one | saw her kissing and hug
ging Saturday out under the chest
nut trees. She was all dressed up, in
white and low necked, and they were
carrying on like mad, else shouldn't
have seen them. II started to go up
when | heard her talking, but after |
caught a word or two sneaked away.
like n whipped hound"
mo doubt" Miss Prudence said
angrily, but tell me ELSEWHERE did
you sneak to? Went straight home
reckon. and after supper over to the
Baneses That rightY Jimmy nodded.
Now tell me straight what Miss Del
la told you and how she came to do it.
II won't" Jimmy said stoutIy. I'm
no telltale I'd seen enough. and Della
saw 1t had made me mighty miserable
All she did WAS to set me right-let me
know Margaret was"-
Playing, play acting with herr
Miss Prudence broke In. did she tell
you that-tel you how the girls have
been practlcing against the church
sociable? Della was dressed up In
mans clothes and my Peggy playing
sweetheart to her l know. was
there up on the big dead trunk, hold
ing the play book and laughing At to
kill. Now, don't you wish you had
sncaked the other way?'
"You-you don't mean there isn't any
other follow" Jimmy cried lncredu
lousy
Miss Prudence shifted "Of course
don't mean any such thing. There are
twenty other felows-bound to be
with a girl like Margaret-bnt l don't
believe she likes any of them best I'M
less it is the very chueklehead I'm talk
ing to right now"
Miss Prudence" Jimmy calculated,
then caught her tight in his arms. He
was shaking like a leaf, as near 10
laughing as to crying.
Thus Margaret came upon them and
called out rogushly: rs it to be real
ly Uncle Jimmy? Well, l don't mind
50 long as we have you in the family
It's to he anything In the world you
say" Jimmy said darling to her. Then
as he caught both her hands and laid
them against bis breast he turned a
beamlng face upon Miss Prudence,
saying: Peggy is sweet enough, pref
ty enough, for anything, but when it
comes TO looking like an angel to
man in trouble why, she'll never be In
1t with our Aunty Prue."