Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-01-15
PRUDENCE RIDING
Observation-Disclosures
By cIcELY WEBB.

nc came forward to resent the intrusion
Of Hilda Hoover and her band OF en-
thusiasts. you zee, we want to learn
more about Prudence Riding. We
have taken her as our patroness. We
have named our organization after her.
We are making the name of Riding
famous"
This with a flourish and a mock ora.
tory that drew a smile even from Mr..
Rulings vexed face. Hilda knew she
was gaining ground. She laughed one
Of her famous disarming, teasing
laughs--it was that more than any.
thing else that made the district lead
er of her ward in the city come
across" with his signature on the suf-
frage petition-and Robert felt the
ground slipping beneath his feet He
actually invited her to continue the
conversation on the veranda, provid-
ing, Of course. she would not invite the
rest of the pilgrims to join her.
you see," said Hilda, settling her
self gracefully in one of Roberts most
comfortable chairs, Il know that in.
side that dark, interesting old house of
yours / could find some papers, per.
haps diaries, that would tell me more
| about Prudence. You know that you
are very seldom here at Riding Hall,
and all the rest of the time this won
derful old place is closed. Well, don't.
you think you could let us, the suf-
fragists of our organization, | mean,
have the privilege of visiting the house
say one day a week? You know it is
sort of shrine to us. II is where our
patroness lived and died and it was
from this very house that she started
out on her memorable trip to the leg
islature. And another thing want to
ask, Mr.. Riding-when we get our lit
tie life of Prudence Riding ready,
won't you let us have your photograph
as a picture Of the only living de-
scendant of our illustrious heroine?"
Robert gasped and jumped to his
feet in amazement.
Now, please, Mr.. Riding" Hilda
Hoover soothed. Il was almost sure
you wouldn't. l could tell that you
thought you opposed the suffrage just
to look at you" Here again Hilda
laughed her contagious laugh.
I'D like to know how you could
tell" he said.
'In the first place. you are a bach
eior past thirty and every bachelor
past thirty thinks that woman's place
is in the home. That's because he
hasn't any woman in his home and
doesn't ever expect to have. But Just
wait. One Of these days, Mr.. Riding,
you are going to come around just as
easily as that" Here, by a graceful
gesture, Hilda Hoover expressed the
case with which a man could be mold
ed into a thoroughgoing suffragist in
the hands of suffragist wife.
At that time Robert didn't under
stand why he did it. He didn't even
remember that he did it, But the fact
remains that he consented to having
Hilda Hoover examine the papers of
The Riding family in search Of tho
data needed for her life of Prudence
Riding. And a good half hour before
the time set for the first visit he found
himself pacing the veranda, watch in
hand. 1t was true, he had to admit
It to himself, that there was something
about Hilda Hoover-the contagious
laugh and the teasing smile-and the
eyes that looked at you one minute as
straight and calm as you please and
the next minute possessed the witch
cry of a coquette.
Don't you think" said Hilda, when
she arrived and had taken her place |
in the old library in front of a chest |
of papers and documents that Robert |
had opened for heT, don't you think |
that you can take time to go over these |
with me? / don't feel that | am re- |
sponsible alone. They must be very |
precious to you"
In spite of the fact that he had prom
ised to play a round of golf with a
neighbor that afternoon. Robert re-
manned at home. When, after a week |
OF visits, Hilda Hoover expressed her
desire to continue her investigation |
during another week Robert actually |
cancelled some important business en-
gagements in the city in order not to
miss her daily visits.
Anyway" said Robert. after they
had turned the last page of the old /
records that proved that Mistress Pru-
dence Riding actually did batter down
the doors and that she was indeed a
very militant woman, Il don't blame
her. / should think that this world |
would be better of today If there we're
few more women like her l don't
mean TO boast, but I'm glad to have her
for an ancestress. like a woman
with a mind of her own"
Robert looked eagerly at the face of
Hilda Hoover and then gazed up quick
ly TO the faded old portrait of Pra-
dence above the mantlepiece.
DO you know, he said, Il think you
look a good deal like Prudence. You