The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-28
BY cIcELy. WEBB.

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 l 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 sui.
fragists of our organization, / mean,
have the privilege of visiting the house
say one day a week? You know it is
q sort of shrine to us. 1t 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 l 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.
Nov, please, Mr.. Riding" Hilda
Hoover soothed. Il was almost sure
you wouldn't. I could tell that you
thought you opposed the suffrage just
to look at you" Here again Hilda
Ioa,uhn1 ho~ n0vatn~S4,,c 1n,,~h
I'D like to know how you could
TELL" he said.
I'm the first place, you are a bach.
elor 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 a 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 the
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 a.
straight and calm a 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 rapers and documents that Robert
had opened for her, don't you think
that you can take time to 60 over these
with me? l don't feel that I am re-
sponsible alone. They must be very
precious to you"
In spite Of the fact that he had prom
ised to play q round of golf with q
neighbor that afternoon. Robert re.
manned at home. When, after q week
of visits. Hilda Hoover expressed her
desire to continue her investigation
during another week Robert actually
cancelled m important business m
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 tnat Mistress Pru.
dence Riding actually did batter down
the doors and that she was indeed a
very militant woman: II don't blame
her. I should think that this world
would be better on today II there we're
q few more women like her. I don't
mean to boast. but I'm glad to have her
tor an ancestress. / like q woman
with q MUD Of her own."
Robert looked eagerly at the face Of
EIilda Hoover and then gazed up quick
" to the faded old portrait of rru.
dence above the mantlepiece.
do you know he said, Il think you
look q good deal like Prudence. You
are both women after my heart.
And do yop know, IIilda Hoover, / am
not going to promise to let you have
my picture In your book because I
don't think It would help the cause
But any time you want to have your
picture In that book with the words
Mrs. Robert Riding. the present mis-
tress Of Riding Hall.' written under it,
its Q 60"
Copyright, lSl5. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicnte.)
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