Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-08-26
IaE PRODIGAl
BUTTERFLY,
She Played Her Part to Good
Purpose, as Ii Proved.
BY MARIE pENsMoRE.

Pryor was forced to sit down and take
stock If herself. her requirements and
her future. The money her father had
left her, which she had foolishIy be-
lieved would last forever, was gone
with the exception OF FEY hundred
dollars.
She had had q good time with 1t. "A
she looked back over recent years
she had 10 admit that she had had a
very good time with 1t. First she
had had four years In the best college
in the country; she had had year Of
foreign travel; she had been much
about her own country; she had had
seasons I'm the mountains, seasons at
the seashore, seasons In the city; she
had heard the best music, seen the
best plays and studied the best pic
lures I'm the world. And. as for clothes.
she had worn right and left the finest
productions Of the shops and expert
enced nodiStcs.
Now all OF this WAS at an end sud
denly She had had last interview
with her fathers old attorney, and he
had told her the truth. She had used
up her means. The past summer had
written tinis to che story OF her prodl-
gallty. Only few hundred remained.
What was she to do?
or course there was Aunt Bess. for
whom she had been named-Aunt Bess,
under whose wing she had gayly
squandcrcd her substance I'm riotous
living.
She knew very well why Aunt Bess
had allowed her TO 20 on as she had.
She had expected her to make nota-
bic match. But fate would have 1t
otherwise. There had been men
enough, but only one for whom she
had cared. and he would have none OF
hef And so she had come to twenty
nine and at the end OF her fortune
without the slightest claim upon her
freedom.
She could live with Aunt Bess, but
Aunt Bcss had girls of her own, who
were just coming out, one after the
other. at enormous expense And
Uncle Ed wasn't the richest man In
the world
II can't live on them" the girl
thought They'd take me In and do
their best by me. but I'd be burden.
Alas and alack. IL oniy l had learned
some useful craft! And only 500 re-
manning. II appears the only thing
left for me IL to be yender of old
clothes. I've got enough Of them.
goodness knows"
She laughed little TREMENDOUSLY.
but. dear me. / can't sell my clothes.
l shall have to wear them Well, II
stands like this: | can't live with Aunt
Bess-pride forbids." She checked Off
one finger II can't teach: ! can't
sew: | can't--I can't do anything"
She dropped her head In her hands
an Instant. then raised II resolutely.
"Bcss Pryor, you're a chicken hearted
thing. Put on your things and take
a walk. You VIII be crying next thing
you know"
She sprang up, donncd hat and furs
and few moments later was leaving
the house Of the elderly friend with
whom she was stopping during this
urgent business quest of hers 10 the
city.
At the very first corner. as she was
walking brlskly along trying to get
the better Of her feelings, She met
plainly dressed girl who was walking
just as hriskly.
Why. MIadge Whitew Boss ex-
claimed. holding out her hand eagerly
Il haven't seen YOU in years. Whore
In the world do YOU come from"
The other girl laughed.
why, don't YOU know? I'm here
taking course in the business col
lege I'm learning shorthand and type.
writing. You see"-her voice dropped
there's been hard times at home. ana
I'm getting ont by myself to ease The
burden u | can. | always did love 10
tinker with typewriter. even when
l didn't have to, and hope | Shant
like II any the less now that shah
have 20 look to IT as a means of sun.
port.
"TypewritIng and shorthand" Bcss
unused. 'NIadgc." she spoke earnestly.
Edo YOU suppose / know enough to
manipulate the keys ana make those
pochooli things with a pcncilg"
do YOU: And you a college girl!
You certainly know enough, Bess. The
trouble Is You don't have to learn"
"Ah, but ! do" BeSs said sobcrly
Let me walk with YOU ana ten you
all about It,"
And as they went slowly up the
street together She Told her story. She
had not cared much for Madge In col
lcEe, for NIadge was IN different set
from her own, but she saw now thar
She had missed good deal by NOT
making friends with this very sensible.
capable, warm hearted girl
When nc last they parted Madgc had
helped her 90 make plan for The
present SIN was 70 enter the business
school, board where Mudge ana ana
share her room and she was o. toll |
HE friend With whom she was s,av.
ing and Aunt BesS and her fathers ola
attorney that she had started III ta
earn living for herself.