Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-04-17
CHAPTER VIII-continued.

made me unwilling TO ride during ue-
cent hours. What a Ounce L was-as
usual"
He looked at her curiously. This was
beyond his comprehension. She ex-
planned and then was silent a while.
"Fairy'll have to get breakfast, and
she always gets fathers eggs too
hard" Silence again. Maybe papall
worry. But then. they know by this
sIme that something always does hap
pen to me, so they'll be prepared"
She turned gravely to the young
man beside her. He was looking down
at her. too. And as their eyes met,
and chung for an instant, a slow, dark
color rose in his face. Prudence felt
curious breathlessness-ca by her
hurting ankle, undoubtedly.
my name is Prudence Start am
the Methodist minister's oldest daugh-
ter"
"And my name is Jerrold Harmer."
He was looking away into the hickory
grove now. MY home is In Des
Boines"
"Oh, DeS MOines is quite a city,
isn't it? I've heard quite a lot about
1t. You might tell me about Des
Moines. Is it very nice? Are there
lots of rich people there? OF course,
/ do not really care any more about
rich people than the others, but 1t al
ways makes a city seem grand to have
a lot of rich citizens, l think. Don't
your"
So he told her about Des MOines,
and Prudence lay with her eyes half
closed, listening, and wondering why
there was more music in his voice than
in most voices. Her ankle did not
hurt very badly. She did not mind it
at all. In fact, she never gave it a
thought. From beneath her lids, she
kept her eyes fastened on Jerrold
Harmers long brown hands, clasped
loosely about his knees. And when
ever she could, she looked up into his
face. And always there was that Gu
riOuS catching in her breath, and she
looked away again quickly, feeling
that to look too long was dangerous.
81 have talked my share now" he
was saying, 'tell me all about your
self, and the parsonage, and your fam
lily. And who is Fairy? And do you
attend the college at Mount Mark?
You look like a college girl"
''Oh, am not" said Prudence, re-
luctant to make the admission for the
first time in her life. 81 am too stupid
to be q college girl. left high school
five years ago and have been keeping
house for my father and sisters since
then. l am twenty years old. How
old are your"
az am twenty-seven," and he smiled.
"Jerrold Harmer," she said slowly
and very unsteady. ut is such nice
name. Do your friends call you
-Jerry?"
"The boys at school called me Rol-
die, and sometimes Hammie. But my
mother always called me Jerry. She
isn't living now. either. You call me
Jerry, will yOu?"
ayes, 1 will, but it won't be proper.
But that never makes any difference
to me, except when it might shock
the members. You want me to call
you Jerry. don't yOu?"
eyes, | do. And when we are better
acquainted, will you let me call you
-Prudence?"
"Call me that now. l can't be too
particular, you see, when l am lying
on your coat and pillowed with your
belongings. You might get cross, and
take them away from me. Did you
go to cOliegeT
'YeS, to Harvard, but I was not
much of a student. Then 7 knocked
around while, looking at the world.
and two years ago 1 went home to
Des MoineS. have been there ever
since except for little runs once in a
while"
Prudence sighed. MY sister Fairy
is going TO college now. She's very
'clever-Oh. very. You'll like her, am
sure-much better than you do me, of
course" Prudence was strangely
downcaSt.
Il am sure 1 won't" said Jerrold
Harmer, with unnecessary vehemence.
Il don't care thing for college girls.
like home girls" JerrOld tipped
over abruptly, and lay on the grass,
MS face on his arms turned toward
her face. They were quiet for while,
but their glanceS were clInging.
} did you play football at eolIege2
You are so tall Fairy's tall, too.
Eairy'S very grand looking. I've tried
my best to eat lots, and exercise, and
make myself bigger, butt am a
Tizzle."
"Yes, I played football. But girls
do not need to be so tall as men. Don't
you remember what Orlando said
about RoSalind-.juSt as tall as my
hearth 1 imagine you come about to
my shoulder. Wen measure as soon
as you are on your feet again"
Are you going TO live in Mount
Mark now? Are you coming TO Stay?"
Prudence was almost Quiveriug as she
asked this. II was Of vital impor.
tance.
mo, will only be there q few days,
but 1 shall probably be back every
week or so. Is your father very strict?
Maybe he would object TO your writing
10 me-"
"Oh. he isn't strict at ALL And he
will be glad for me TO write to you. l
know. Is Des Moines just fun of beau
tiful girls?"
II should say not. l never saw
real beautiful girl in Des Moines in
my life. Or any place else. for that
matter, until / came You know when
you come right down to it, there are
mighty few girls that look-just the
way you want them TO look"