The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-02-01


"Father" 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
baggageT" he asked, hand held out
to relieve her.
"Here" And with a radiant smile
she thrust upon him a box of candy
and n gaudy-covered magazine.
"Your suitcase" he explained pa-
! tlently.
"Ohl" she gasped. "Run, father
| run / left II on the train I"
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
raid quite snapplly, isn't that just like
me?"
"Yes, very like" he agreed, and he
smiled.
"And so this is Mount Mark Isn't
|
call it Mount Mark?"
81 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"
IT'S a pretty street isn't it7' she
cried. "Such nice big naples, and such
/ Ul I
with porches, don't you? Has the par
sonage n porchT
"Yes, big one on the south, and n
Tiny one In front. We have the house
fixed up pretty well, Prudence, but of
course you'll have to go over 1t your
self and arrange 1t as you like. l must
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 Ii a beauti-
full dwelling, but to Prudence It was
heavenly. Fortunately the wide, grassy.
.
spreading naples bordered the street,
and clustering rosebushes lined the
walk leading up TO the house. The par
sonage, TO Prudences 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 waik-or so it 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 a bathroom, Constance
thanked God for 1t when she said her
prayers. And a furnace, tool And
electric lights! Oh, we have waited
long time for II, and we've been very
patient indeed, but. between you and
me, father, am most nightly glad
we've hit the luxury land at last. I'm
sure well all feel much more religious
in a parsonage that has a bathroom
and electric lightsi Oh, father!'
lie had thrown open the door, and
Prudence stood upon the threshold OF
|
father went from room to room, up
stairs and down, moving table to the
left, a bed to the rlght-accordlng 10
her own good pleasure. Afterward
they had a cozy luncheon for two In
the "dining ROOM"
"Oh, 1t is so elegant to have a din.
ing room," breathed Prudence happily
IL always pretended 1t 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 there?'
"Yes, that's where Connie will go
There is only one high school In Mount
Mark, so the twins will have to go ia
the other side of town-a long walk
but In good weather they can come
home for dinner"
"Oh, that's lovely place over there
father!" exclaimed Prudence, looking
from the living room windows toward
the south. isn't 1t beautifully"
"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, 1t is two o'clock already. and
l must go at once. Mrs. Adams will
be here in few minutes, and you will
not be lonely"
But when Mrs. Adams arrived at the
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 1t empty. In despair, she
plunged into the barn-and stopped
abruptly.
In shadowy corner was slender
figure kneeling beside an overturned
nailkeg, her face buried In her hands.
Evidently this was Prudence engaged