The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1916-03-10

conversation on the veranda, provid-
ing, Of course, she would not invite the
rest Of the pilgrims to join her.
you see,F 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 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. mean
have the privilege OF visiting the house.
say one day q week? You know It IL
q sort Of shrine to us. II 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 illustrious heroine?y
Robert gasped and jumped to his
feet in amazement
Now, please, Mr.. Riding" Hilda
Hoover soothed. Il was almost surS
you wouldn't. could tell that you
thought you opposed the suffrage just
to look at you" Here again Eilda
laughed her contagious laugh.
"Id like to know how you could
tell,' he said.
"In the first place, you are 2 back
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.. hiding,
you are going to come around Just -
easily as that" Here, by a graceful
gesture, Hilda Hoover expressed the
case with which man could be mold
ed into thoroughgoing suffrsgist in
the hands Of suffragist wife.
At that time Robert didn't under;
stand why he did it, He didn't eRen
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 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 AZ
straight and calm as 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 q chest
of papers and documents that Robert
: had opened for her, don't you thiDk
that you can take time to go over these
with me? / don't feel that am re-
5 sponsible alone They must be very
I precious to you"
In spite Of the fact that he had prom
ised to play a round OF golf with q
neighbor that afternoon, Robert re-
nained at home. When, after q week
: OF visits, Hilda Hoover expressed her
desire to continue her investigation
7. during another week Robert actually
! cancelled some important business en-
> gagements in the city in order not ts
e miss her daily visits.
Anyway said Robert, after they
L had turned the last page Of the old
i records that proved that Mistress Pru
, dence Riding actually did batter dowH
the doors and that she was indeed .
; very militant woman, Il don't blams
8 her. should think that this worlc
ir would be better of today II there were
!. a few more women like her. ] dom
p mean to boast, but I'm glad TO have hel
y for an ancestress. like a womaI
with a mind OF her own"
Robert looked eagerly at the face o
= EiIda Hoover and then gazed up quick
II ly to the faded old portrait OF Pru
n dence above the mantleDiece.
do you know" he said, i think yo'
II look a good deal like Prudence. fol
le are both women after my own heart
~ And do you know, Hilda Hoover, / an
not going to promise to let you hav
- my picture in your book because
GO don't think it would help the caus'
But any time you want to have you
picture In that book with the word
~ Mrs. Robert Riding, the present mi
10 tress OF Riding Hail. written under
tffo an -