The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-04-13
PRUDENCE RIDING
BY CICELY WEBB.


more ABOUT prudence R1Q1nB. we
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 a 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, q know that in
side that dark, interesting old house Of
yours / could find some papers, per-
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, | mean,
have the privilege Of visiting the house
say one day week? You know it is
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
j. 'ture. 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 illustrious heroine?'
Robert gasped and jumped to his
feet in amazement.
Now, please, Mr.. Riding" Hilda
Hoover soothed 81 was almost sure
you wouldn't. | 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 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 man could be mold
ed into a thoroughgoing suffragist in
the hands Of a suifragst 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
himself pacing the veranda, watch il
hand 1t was true, he had to admit
ii TO himself, that there was something
about Hilda Hooyer-the contagiou!
laugh and the teasing smle-and thu
eyes that looked at you one minute al
straight and calm as you please ant
the next minute possessed the witch
cry of a coquctte
Don't you think" said Hilda, whei
she arrived and had taken her plac,
in the old library in front of ches
of papers and documents that Rober
had opened for her, don't you thin
that you can take time to go over thes
with me? don't feel that | am re
sponsible alone. They must be yer
precious to you"
In spite OF the fact that he had prom
Used to play a round of golf with
ncighbor that afternoon, Robert re
} manned at home. When, after a wee
Of visits, Hida Hoover expressed he
, desire TO continue her investigator
during another week Robert actual
cancelled some important business Ell
gagements in the city in order not /
miss her daily visits.
Anyway" said Robert, after the
had turned the last page of the oil
records that proved that Mistress Pr
dcnce Riding actually did batter dow
) the doors and that she was indeed
very militant woman, II don't blam
her. ! should think that this worl
would be better off today If there wei
few more women like her. | don
| mean TO boast, but I'm glad TO have h,
+ FOR an ancestress. | like a woma
4 with a mind of her own
r Robert looked eagerly at the face I
il Hilda Hoover and then gazed up quic
: ly to the faded old portrait of Pr
f, deuco above the mantlepiece.
40 you know he said, Il think "
look q good deal like Prudence W
arc both women after my own hear
And do you know, linda Hoover, a
not going to promise to let you ha'
my picture in your book because
don't think it would help the caus
= But any time you want to have 20
T. picture in that book with the wor
y Mrs, Robert Riding, the present III
)I 'ress Of Riding Han written under
IN It's 50"
1, Copyright 1916. hy Mcclure Newspar