The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-02-08

Prudence Dropped Her Head on the
Table and wept.
bers lust knew how such things hurt,
maybe they'd pay up little better.
How do they expect parsonage people
TO keep up appearances when thes
haven't any moneyf"
ooh, now. Prue, you're worse than
Connie There's no use to cry about
IL. Parsonage people have TO find hap
piness In spite Of financial misery.
Money isn't the FIRST thing with folks
like US"
"Poor little ConnIel n she mad
.ried about IL. I wouldn't have cared so
much. But she looked so-heartsick.
ildn't she. Fairyf"
! Connie certainly was heartsick. More
than that. she was little disguised.
She felt herself aroused to take action.
rhlDgs had gone too far Go To church
m her fathers coat she could not She
walked sturdily down the street toward
the "city"-ironically so called. Her
face was stony. her hands were
clenched. But finally she frightened.
Her tagging steps quickened. She
skipped along quite cheerfully. She
turned westward us she reached the
corner of the square. and walked along
that business street with shining eyes.
/. In front of the First National bank she
paused. hut after a few seconds she
passed by. On the opposite corner was
another bank. When she reached II,
she walked Ia without pausing. and the
massive door swung behind her.
The four older girls were at the
table when Connie came home. She
rxhaled quiet satisfaction from every
pore. Prudence glanced at her once.
and then lookeS away again. "She has
reconciled herself" she thought. Din
ner was half over before Constance
burst her bomb.
"Are you going to be busy this after
noon, Prudencef" she asked quietly.
ave are going to sew a little" said
Prudence. "WhyT
II wanted you to go downtown with
me after school"
"Well, perhaps can do that. Fairy
will be able TO finish the coat alone"
"You needn't finish the coat-I can't
wear fathers coat 20 church, Pru-
dence. It's Ats a-physical impos-
siblllty."
The twins laughed. Fairy smiled, but
Prudence gazed ut "the baby" with
tender pity.
I'm SO sorry, dearest, but we haven't
the money TO buy one now"
"WIll FIVE dollars be enoughf" in
quired Connie. and she placed a crisp
new bill beside her plate. The twins
gaspedl They gazed at Connie with
new respect. They were just wishing
they could handle fve-dollar bills SO
recklessly.
"Will you loan me twenty dollars I'M
Ill after Christmas. CONNER queried
Fairy.
But Prudence asked, where did you
get this money, Connie?"
IL borrowed it-from the bank" Con
ME replied with proper gravity. II
have two years to pay II back. Mr..
Harold says they are proud to have my
trade"
Prudence was silent for several long
seconds. Then she inquired In a low
voice, did you tell him why you want
ed III"
"Yes, l explained the whole situa-
ton"
what did he sayf"
"lIe said he knew Just how / felt,
because he knew he couldn't go to
church In his wife's coat.-NO, l said
that myself. but he agreed with me. He
did not say very much, but he looked
sympathetic. He said he anticipated
great pleasure In seeing me in my new
coat at church next Sunday"
go on with your luncheon, twins"
said Prudence sternly. you'll be late
to school. Wen see about going down
town when you get home tonight. Con
ME. Now. eat your luncheon, and
don't talk about coats any more"
When Connie had gone back to
school, Prudence went straight TO Mr..
Harold's bank. Flushed and embar-
raised. she explained the situation
frankly. my sympathies are all with
Connie" she said candidly. "But am
afraid father would not like II. We are
dead set against borrowing. After