The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-13
CHAPTER x--contInued.

Must you prepare meat for bread
Ing half an hour before cooking, or
wheng" demanded Fairy, from the din
ing room door.
.What7-Ohi-Fifteen minutes be-
fore. Don't forget TO salt and pepper
the crumbs. Fairy"
perhaps come time your father will
let you and a couple of the others
come to Dies Moines with me i'm the ear.
You would enjoy a few days there, /
know. / live with my aunt. a dear,
mofherly little old soul. She win adore
y0u, Prudence. and you Will like her.
too. Would your father let you spend
q week2 We can easily drive back
and forth In the car
aMaybe he viii, but who viii keep
the parsonage while | am away7"
sFaIry, 10 be sure. She must be a
good fairy once In a while. We can
take the twins with us. Connie. too,
If sou like. and Fairy viii only have to
mother your father"
prudence, shall we have tea or cot
fee7" This was Lark from the door
way. "FaIry wants TO know"
"Whatf-0h Which do you want,
jerry"
(which does your father prefer"
'I1e doesn't drink either except for
breakfast"
Il generally drink coffee, but l do
not care much for it, 50 do not both
er-"
Coffee. Lark
Did you ever have a lover, Pru-
deneef A real lover, | mean.n
mo. | never did"
sim awfully glad OF that. Tll~-"
prudence, do you use half milk md
half water for creamed tomato soup,
or all milk r.
"WhatF-Oh i-Ali milk, Connie. and
tell Fairy not TO salt II until 1t Is en-.
tirely done, or II may curdle."
"What In the world would they eve
do without you, prudence7 You art
the soul Of the parsonage, aren't your
mo. | am just the cook and the
chambermaid." she answered, laugh
Ing. @But don't you see how hard II
will be for me to go away7"
"But 1t isn't falrl Vacation is com.
Ing nov, and Fairy ought TO take a
turn. What will they do when You get
marriedYf
= have always said l would not get
married"
@But don't you want to get married,
some timer"
ooh. that isn't II. I just can't be-
cause ! must take care of the parson-
age. aud raise the girls. / can't"
but you will" he whispered, and
his hand touched hers for just a see
ond. Prudence did not answer. She
lifted her eyes to his face, and caught
In her breath once more.
A little later he said. "Do you mind
II / go upstairs and talk to your father
a few minutes2 Maybe I'd better"
"But do not stay very long" sh,
urged. and she wondered why the
brightness and sunshine vanished from
the room when he went out. 'Firs
door to the right" she called afte
him.
SIR. Starr arose to greet him. an'
welcomed him to his combination stud.
and bedroom with great friendliness
But Jerrold went straight 10 the polni
"Mr. Starr. it's very kind Of you I
receive a perfect stranger as you hay
me. But l understand that with a gil
like Prudence. you viii want to b
careful. | can give you the names {
several prominent men In Des Moline
Christians, who know me well. an
can tell you all about me-"
ut isn't necessary. We are parsol
age people, inc are accustomed to +
ceiving men and women as worthy
our trust, until we find them differen
We are glad to count you among OF
Friends"
saThank you, but-you see, Mr.. Star
this Is a little different. Some da
Prudence and / will want to be ms
ried. and you will wish to be su
about me"
Does Prudence know about that
mo" with a smile, 1--WE haven't 6
that far yet. But ! am sure she fe.
1t. She hasn't-well, you know VIII
/ mean. She has been asleep, but
believe she is waking up now"
Yes, I think so. Do you mind Il
ask you a few questionsT"
mo, indeed. Anything you like
swell. first, are you a ChristianT'
@Not the kind you are, Mr.. Starr.
go to church, and / believe the Bill
though I seldom read it. But I'll
busy now, if you like. l know P
dence would make me do that" A
he smiled again.
"Do you drink?"
81 did a little, but l promised T
dence this morning I would quit it
smoke, too. Prudence knows it,