The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-02-23

baggage" he asked, hand held out
to relieve her.
"Herew And with a radiant smile
she thrust upon him box Of candy
and gaudy-cOyered magazine.
"Your suitcase" he explained pa
tiently.
"Ohw she gasped. run, father
run! left IL on the train"
Father did run, but Prudence, feeter-
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
me"
Yes, very like" he agreed, and he
smiled.
"And so this is Mount Mark! Isn't
it funny name, father? Why do they
call it Mount Mark?"
"I don't know. / 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 it?' she
cried. "Such nice big naples, and such
shady, porchy houses. l love houses
with porches, don't you? Has the par
sOnage a pOrch7"
"Yes, a big one on the south, and
tiny one in front. We have the house
fixed up pretty well, Prudence, but of
course you'll have to go over it your
| nd .
go to a trustees meeting at two
o'clock, but we can get 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 parsonage"
Prudence gazed in silence. Many
would not have considered 1t beauti-
full dwelling, but to Prudence 1t 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 1t seemed to
her.
1.-TWO whole stories, and an attic be-
Sides Not to mention the bathroom
Oh, father, the night after you wrote
there was bathroom, Constance
| thanked God for ii when she said her
prayers. And a furnace, too! And
electric lights! Oh, we have waited
long time for 1t, and we've been very
patient indeed. but, between you and
me, father, l am most nightly glad
we've hit the luxury land at last. I'm
sure Wen all feel much more religious
in a parsonage that has n bathroom
and electric lights Oh, father!"
He had thrown open the door, and
Prudence stood upon the threshold of
her new home. Together she and her
stairs and down. moving a table to the
left, a bed to the right-according to
her own good pleasure. Afterward
they had cozy luncheon for two In
the dining ROOM"
"Oh. 1t is so elegant to have a din
ing room," breathed Prudence happily.
81 always pretended IL was rather fun,
and great saving of work, to eat and
cook and study and live In one room,
but inwardly the idea always outraged
me. Is that the school over thereW
"Yes, that's where Connie will go.
There is only one high school In Mount
Mark, so the twins will have to go to
the other side of town-a long walk,
but in good weather they can come
home for dinner"
"Oh. that's n lovely place over there,
fatherl" exclaimed Prudence, looking
from the living room windows toward
the south. isn't IL beautiful?"
"Yes. The Avery family lives there.
The parents are very old and feeble,
and the daughters are all-elderly-
and all schoolteachers. There are four
of them. and the youngest Is forty-six.
Dear me, IL is two o'clock already. aud
must 60 at once. Mrs. Adams will
be here in n few minutes, and you will
not be lonely"
| bul Nntu MES. auulliS uiAiNtu " Nhe
parsonage she knocked repeatedly, and
in vain. Finally she gathered her robes
about her and went into the back yard
She peered into the woodshed, and saw
no one. She went into the barn lot
and found IL empty. In despair. she
, plunged into the barn-and stopped
, abruptly.
In shadowy corner was a slender
/ figure kneellng beside an overturned
, nailkeg, her face buried In her hands
: Evidently this was Prudence engaged
, In prayer-and In the barn, OF oil places
1 In the world
"A-a-a-hem stammered Mrs
Adams inqulringly.