Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-05
CHAPTER XII.


At twenty minutes to four, the par
sonage family clustered excitedly in
the sitting room, which the sunshine
flooded cheerily. They were waiting
tor the hero of Prudence's romance.
ooh, Larkie, will you run upstairs
and bring my lace handkerchief? It's
on our dresser, In the burnt wood
box And after Lark had departed,
she went on, THE flowers are not
quite in the center Of the table, Fairy
"a little to the right.-If you would
move the curtains the least little bit,
those torn places would not show"
Then She sighed How nice you all
look. oh, Connie, won't you turn the
clock little this way, so can see It.?
That's better, thank you, precious.
Thank you, Lark-isn't 1t a pretty
handkerchief? I've only carried 1t
three times, and have never really
used 1t. Would you keep these pearls
on, Fairy, or would you take them
or"
Il would keep them on, Prue-they
catch the color of the gown little and
are Just beautiful, You do look so
sweet but your face is very flushed.
I am afraid you are feverish. Maybe
We had better not let him see Prue
today, father. Perhaps he can come
back tomorrow" .....
Fairy" exclaimed Prudence. BE.
sides, he must come in to get his
coat. We can't expect him to go
coatless over Sunday. Listen-listen,
girls! Look, Fairy, and see if that is
he! Yes. it Is. Know can tell by
his walk Warm rich color dyed her
face and throat and she clasped her
hands over her heart, wondering II
Connie beside her could hear its tu-
multi.
''Tll 60 to the door," said Father
Starr, and Prudence loked at him be-
.seechingly.
I'll am sure he Is all right, father.
you will be nice to him, won't you?"
Without answering, Mr.. Starr left
the room, He could not trust his
voice.
Listen, girls, I want to hear whis-
pered Prudence. And she smiled as
she heard her fathers cordial voice.
"You are Mr. Hammer. aren't you? I
am Prudence's father. Come right in.
The whole family is assembled to do
you honor. The girls have already
made you prince in disguise. Come
back this way. Prudence Is resting
very nicely"
When the two men stepped into the
sitting room, Prudence, for once, quite
overlooked her father. She lifted her
eyes to Jerrold Harmer's face, and
waited, GREATNESS. Nor was he long
IN finding her among the -bevy of
- o% fo h1 I'D
ond took her hand.
My little comrade of the road" he
aid gaily, but with tenderness, ~ am
afraid you are not feeling we'll enough
Tor callers today"
"Oh, yes, am protested Prudence
with strange shyness.
He turned to the other girls and
greeted them easily. He was entirely
self possessed. Miss Starr told me
30 much about you that I know you
all to begin with" He smiled at Fairy
as he added, "In fact, she predicted
that am to fall in love with you. And
30, very likely, should-if I hadn't
met your sister first"
They all laughed at that and then
he walked back and stood by Pru-
dence once more. WAS it a bad
sprain? DoeJ it pain you very badly?
You look tired. I am afraid it was an
imposition for me to come this after
NOON
4 "Oh, don't worry about that" put
IA Connie anxiously. "She wanted you
10 come. She's been getting us ready
for you ever since the doctor left.
think it was kind of silly for me to
~,a~r WV h1uo j,,et for ono co1larD
The twins glared at her, realizing
that she was discrediting the parson-
age, but Jerrold Harmer laughed and
Prudence joined him.
"It is quite true" she admitted
frankly. "The mule and disgraced
the parsonage this morning and
wanted the rest Of you to REDEEM it
this afternoon" She looked at him