Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-24
PrudenceSaysSo
By Ethel Hueston,
Author of Prudence of the Parsonage
The BobbsMernl Publishers indianapolis

By Ethel Huest0,,,
CHAPTER XII. (Continued)


CHAPTER NJ. (ContinuedO
"All right, i will. 1t is well have
4 some one to steer me along the prop.
or road" He looked regretfully out
Of the window. Il ought to be able to
see these things for myself, but the
girls seem perfectly all right to me.
They always have. suppose It's be-
cause they're nine"
Aunt Grace looked at him affection
ately. ITS because they're the fin
est girls on EARTH she declared.
why. But we want to be ready
10 help them if they need it, just be-
cause they are so fine. They Will
Z every enc be splendid if we give them
the right kind of chance"
He sat silent moment. fTve al
\ ways wanted one of them to marry
B preacher" he said laughing apologet-
q ic|ally. 1T is very narrow minded, OF
X course. but man does make hobby
of his own profession. always hoped
Prudence would. l thought she was
born FOR it. Then looked to Fairy
and she turned me down. l guess III
have to give up the notion now
She looked at him queerly. May
4 be not.
Connie might, l suppose.
Connie she contradicted promptly,
..will probably marry genius, or
rascal, or a millionaire"
He looked dazed at that.
She leaned forward little. Carol
might
Carol
she might" She watched him
a oy,oilo In hor pvpS
Carols too worldly
you don't believe that"
mo. not really Carol-she-why,
you know when think of it, Carol
\ wouldn't be half bad for minister's
L wife. She has a sense of humor, that
Is very important. She's generous,
Il she's patient, she's unselfish, good
4 mixer-some of the ladies might think
her complexion wasn't real, but
Grace, Carol wouldn't be half bad!"
"Oh, William" she sighed, cant
you remember that you are Metho-
J dist minister, and grandfather, and
grow up little ??
81 After that Mr.. Starr returned to nor
{ NAL again, only many times ne and
Connie had little outings together and
talked a great deal. And Aunt Grace,
seeing it. smiled with satisfaction.
But the twins and Fairy settled 1t in
their own minds by saying. Father
vas Just little jealous OF all the
Is 1Daux. He was looking for pal and
us found Connie"
\ \ But in spite of his new devotion to
Connie, Mr.. Starr also spent great
deal Of time with Fairy. I'VE must
ret fast chums, Fairy he often said
& to her. This Is our last chance. We
have to get cemented for lifetime,
you know"
And Fairy, when he said so, caught
i his hand and laughed little tremu-
lousy.
Indeed, he was right when he said it
was his last chance with Fairy in the
Il parsonage. Two weeks before her
!: commencement she had slipped into
the library and closed the door eau
I tiously behind her.
Father" she said. would you be
verv sorry if l didn't teach school
after all?"
mot bit" came the ready answer
II mean II I--you see. father, since
you sent me to college feel as II
ought TO work and-help out
THAT'S nonsense, Ac Sdiu, oi o"inS
1Ffhe tall girl down to his knees. II can
take care of my own family, thanks.
Il Are you trying to run me out OF my
4 lob? II you want to work, all right, do
II. but for yourself, not for us. Or
you want to do anything else he did
mot meet her eyes. IF you want to
!; stay at home year or so before you
ret married, it would please us better
than anything else. And when you
want to marry Gene. we're expecting
1t, you know"
Yes, l know" she fingered the lap.
81 Of his coat uneasily. do you care
how soon get married.
''Are you still sure it is Gene?'
Eyes, I'm sure"
''Then l think you should choose
your own time. am in no hurry. But
any stime-it's for you and Gene to
decide"
q 'Then you haven't set your heart on
my teaching"
II set my heart on giving you the
best chance possible. And have done
it. For the rest, it depends on you.
You may work, or you may stay at
home a while. only want you to be
happy, Fairy"
But doesn't it seem foolish to go
clear through college. and spend the