Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-08
PRUDENCE
OF THE PARSONAGE
THE FAMOUS STORY OFAHAPPY FAMILY
~ EzbeIM<esfou ,

twins books make me nervous.
won't do 1t. You can just tell him
don't feel qualified to CO."
you've got to co." said Fairy
sternly, for I said you would, and
he's counting on it. He's going to
phone you this afternoon and ask you
himself. You've got to co."
At that instant, the telephone rang.
There's professor!" cried Fairy
you tell him you are just delighted
to go, and that you are so interested
in bugs!"
With flushed face, Prudence took
down the receiver. Hello she said,
this is the parsonage"
And then, a second later, she said,
Eyes, this is Prudence"
After that she stood silent for some
little time, with Fairy crouched beside
! her, trying to hear.
Then spoke Prudence. Yes, Fairy
has been telling me. And it's very
kind of you. indeed, and I know I
would enjoy it. But as l was telling
Fairy, I don't know thing about
bugs and don't like them anyhow,
so I'm afraid you would find me rather
stupid"
Fairy was striving to get hand
over her sisters lips to stem the
words, but Prudence eluded her.
They were both somewhat astounded
at the great peal of laughter which
came over the telephone. &.
Good! That's just what I was hop
ing for! You couldn't have said any.
thing that would give me greater
pleasure. Then shall I come around
with Babler, for you and your sister,
about 1 o'clock?-Oh, that is very
kind of you, Miss Starr. Good.by!
Don't cultivate an interest in bugs be-
tween now and tomorrow. for my
sake!"
The girls looked at each other
doubtfully when the receiver was once
more on it's hook.
I'm afraid he's laughing at me-"
said Prudence questioningly.
81 should hope So" cried Fairy
what in the world did you say that
for? Couldn't you have pretended to
be interested? Professor likes wom-
en- to be dignitied and intellectual and
weep, and"
Then why on earth did he ask me
to go?' demanded Prudence. Amy
one could tell to look at me that I'm
not dignified and intellectual and
deep, and"
And l know he admired you, for
he was so eager when he asked about
you. Think how grand it would be
to speak Of my sister, Mrs. Professor
Rayburn,' and"
Don't be, silly, Fairy. If l was 60
ing to marry anybody, which l am
not, hope you do not think for one
minute that I'd marry a buggist!
Gracious! Goodness! I've notion not
to go a step! I'll call him up and"
But Fairy only laughed.
And after all, Prudence looked for
ward to the little outing in the glori-
Gus October woods with eager antici-
patton. It was seldom indeed that
she INDUCED in merSy-making away
from the parsonage. Yet she was
fond of gaiety. Long before l o'clock
on that eventful day she was ready.
And her face was so bright and her
eyes so starry that placid self-satis-
fed Fairy felt twinge of something
like envy.
You look like a creature from an
other world, Prue," she said. 1T Pro-
lessor Rayburn has any sense in his
bones he will fall dead in love with
you--bugs or no bugs!"
People do not have sense in their
bones, Fairy. and-and-shall l say
professor, or just plain Mister?"
"Professor, I suppose-every one
calls him professor"
Then shall say Mister" said Pru-
dence. 1T will be so hard to enjoy
myself If l keep remembering that he
teaches bugs! l might as we'll be at
school. I shall say Mister"
And she did say Mister" and she
said it SO sweetly and looked up into
Professor Rayburn's face so brightly,
and with happiness so evident and so
girlish, that the staid professor felt
quick unaccountable throbbing down
somewhere beneath his coat. He did