The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-01-19

Dule, waving Wildly at MIN small
gloved hand. When the train stopped
she leaped lightly from the steps.
"Fatheri" she cried excitedly, and,
small and slight as she was, she ell
bowed her way swiftly through the
gaping crowd. "Oh, fatherl' And she
flung her arms about him joyously, un-
conscious of admiring eyes. Her father
kissed her warmly. "Where is your
baggage?" he asked, hand held out
to relieve her.
'Here!" And with a radiant smile
she thrust upon him a box of candy
and gaudy-covered magazine.
"Your suitcase" he explained pa
tiently.
"Ohl" she gasped. run, father
runI I left 1t on the train!'
Father did run; but Prudence. fleeter-
footed, outdistanced him and clam
bered on board. painting.
When she rejoined her father her
face was flushed. "Oh, father" she
said quite snappily, isn't that just like
meY
"Yes, very like" he agreed, and he
smiled.
"And so this is Mount Mark! Isn't
it a funny name, father? Why do they
call it Mount Mark?"
II don't know. I hadn't thought to
inquire. We turn here, Prudence. This
! is Main street. The city part of the
town-the business parts to the
SOUTH"
Its pretty street, isn't itT' she
cried. "Such nice big naples, and such
shady, porchy houses. l love houses
with porches, don't you? Has the par
sonage a porch?"
"Yes, big one on the south, and a
tiny one in front. We have the house
fixed up pretty well, Prudence, but of
course you'll have to go over it your
self and arrange it as you like. I must
go to a trustees meeting at two
o'clock, but we can get a good deal
done before then. Mrs. Adams is COM
ing to help you this afternoon. She
is one of our Ladies, and very kind.
There. that is the parsonagew
Prudence gazed in silence. Many
would not have considered it a beauti-
full dwelling, but to Prudence it was
heavenly. Fortunately the wide, grassy,
shaded lawn greeted one first. Great,
spreading naples bordered the street,
and clustering rosebushes lined the
walk leading up to the house. The par
, sonage, to Prudence's gratified eyes,
: looked honey, and big, and inviting.
There were many windows, and the
! well-known lace curtains looked down
upon Prudence tripping happily up the
little board walk-or so it seemed to
/ her.
i 1.-TWO whole stories, and an attic be.
J sides Not to mention the bathroom
: Oh, father, the night after you wrote
there was a bathroom, Constance
thanked God for it when she said he1
: prayers. And a furnace, too! And
) electric lights Oh, we have waited
a long time for it, and we've been very
! patient indeed, but, between you anG
: me, father, I am most nightly glat
l we've hit the luxury land at last. Tn
a sure We'll all feel much more religious
in a parsonage that has a bathroom
: and electric lightsl Oh, father!"
: He had thrown open the door, an(
Prudence stood upon the threshold O.
] her new home. Together she and he
father went from room to room, up
g stairs and down, moving a table to tn
q left, bed to the notwithstanding {,
i, her own good pleasure. Afterwar'
Il they had a cozy luncheon for two Il
n the dining ROOM
"Oh, it is so elegant to have din
ing ROOM" breathed Prudence happily
81 always pretended it was rather fur
and great saving of work, to eat an
cook and study and live in one room
but inwardly the idea always outrage
me. Is that the school over there?
4 "Yes, that's where Connie will sc
There is only one high school in Noun
Mark, so the twins will have to go t
the other side of town-a long wall
but in good weather they can com
S home for dinner
"Oh, that's a lovely place over Their,
4 father!" exclaimed Prudence, lookin
Il from che living room windows towar
N the south. isn't it beautiful"
NJ Yes. The Avery family lives there
N The parents are very old and feeble
NJ and the daughters are all-elderly-
II and all schoolteachers. There are fou
N of them, and the youngest is forty-si1
II Dear ME, it is two o'clock already, an
n must go at once. Mrs. Adams wi
4 be here in few minutes, and you wi
81 not be lonely"
Il But when Mrs. Adams arrived at tn
parsonage she knocked repeatedly, an
in vain. Finally she gathered her robe
| about her and went into the back yar'
= She peered into the woodshed, and sa'
no one She went into the barn 10
and found it empty. In despair, sh
10 plunged into the barnard stoppe
lg abruptly.
a In shadowy corner was a slende
Mt figure kneeling beside an overture
l., naiILap her faea hurled in her hand