The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-04-15
PRUDENCE Riding
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES !
BY CICELY WEBB.


have taken her as our patroness. We
have named our organization after her.
We are making the name of Riding
famous"
This with flourish and a mock ora
tory that drew 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 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 suf-
/ fragists Of our organization, I mean, |
/ have the privilege of visiting the house |
/ say one day 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 / 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 irustrious heroine?"
Robert gasped and jumped to his
feet in amaZement
Now. please, Mr. Riding" Hilda
Hoover soothed. I 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
elOr past thirty, and every bachelor
past thirty thinks that wOmans 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
lie Hilda Hoover examine the papers OF
d 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 il
hand. Ii was true, he had to admi
&C it to himself, that there was something
about Hilda HoOver-the cOntagiou
laugh and the teasing smile-and tn
- eyes that looked at you one minute a
- straight and calm as you please an,
=, the next minute possessed the witch
cry of a soquette.
90 Don't you think said HiIda, whe
nd she arrived and had taken her plac
- in the old library in front of ches
Ill of papers and documents that Robel
Se had opened for her, don't you thin
- that you can take time to go over thes
with me? l don't feel that l am r.
.cc sponsible alone. They must be yer
ed precious to you
he In spite of the fact that he had prom
he ised to play a round of golf with
neighbor that afternoon, Robert r
, manned at home. When, after a wee
ne Of visits, Hilda Hoover expressed h
nt desire to continue her investigate
,oo during another week Robert actual
MS Cancelled some important business e
s. gagements in the city in order not
- miss her daily visits.
Anyway" said Robert, after tn
had turned the last page of the o
records that proved that Mistress Pr
dence Riding actually did batter dov
5 the doors and that she was indeed
llSn very militant woman. Il don't blan
her. / should think that this wo1
mr. would be better off today if there we
arm q few more women like her. l do
red mean to boast, but I'm glad to have h
eds for an ancestress. | like WON
.eat with mind of her own.
IN Robert looked eagerly at the face
pF Hilda Hoover and then gazed up quiz
IN ly to the faded old portrait of P
st;r dence above the mantlepiece.
o+ic DO you know he said, Il think y
tbe look good deal like Prudence. \
peo- are both women after my own hee
lake And do you know, Hilda Hoover,
last not going to promise to let you hs
Ugh my picture in your book because
no don't think it would help the eau
aIIn But any time you want to have y,
cool, ~ 'iia1 ooo4N 80 !"
lives MIS-. reopeIL fsldIAS' TIE pAo00ht