The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-03-16
CHAPTER VlII-cOntInued.

"Oh-whatever will Matte Moore
say to met It's borrowed. Oh, see
now. that 1t was just foolish pride that
made me unwilling to ride during de-
cent hours. What a Ounce was-as
usual"
He looked at her curlously. This was
beyond his comprehension. She ex-
plnined and then was silent a while.
"Fairy'n have to get breakfast ana
she always gets fathers eggs TOO
hard" Silence again. maybe papa II
worry. But then, they know by TINS
time 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 clung for an instant, slow, dark
color rose in his face. Prudence felt
curious hlessness-caused 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
MOines."
"Oh, Des Moines is quite city,
isn't it2 I've heard quite a lot about
1t. You might tell me about Des
Molnes. Is it very nice? Are there
lots of rich people there? OF course,
i 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
Harmer's 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 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 a college girl. l left high school
five years ago and have been keeping
house for my father and sisters since
then. / am twenty years old. How
old are your"
81 am twenty-seven," and he smiled.
"Jerrold Harmer," she said slowly
and very musically. "It is such nice
name. Do your friends call you
JerryT
"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 your"
"Yes, l 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 your"
"Yes, do. And when we are better
acquainted, will you let me call you
PrudenceY
"Call me that now. 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 collegeT
"Yes, to Harvard, but l was not
much of a student. Then l knocked
around while, looking at the world,
and two years ago l 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.
II am sure won't" said Jerrold
Harmer, with unnecessary vehemence.
II don't care thing for college girls.
l like home girls" Jerrold tipped
over abruptly, and lay on the grass,
his face on his arms turned toward
her face. They were quiet for while,
but their glances were elinging.
did you play football at college?
You are so tall. Fairy's tall, too.
Eralry's very grand looking. I've tried
my best to eat lots, and exercise, and
make myself bigger, butt am
fizzle."
"Yes, l 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 l 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 quivering as she
asked this. 1t was Of vital impor-