Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-05-01
CHAPTER x-centinued.

the crumbs, Fairy.
Perhaps some time your father will
let you and a couple of the others
come to Des Moines with me in the car.
You would enjoy a few days there, l
know. 1 live with my aunt, dear,
motherly little old soul She will adore
you, Prudence, and you will like her,
too. Would your father let you spend
a week?, We can easily drive back
and forth In the car"
Maybe he will, but who will keep
the parsonage while am away?"
"Fairy, to be sure. She must be a
good fairy once in a while. We can
take the twins with us, Connie, too,
if you like, and Fairy will only have to
mother your father"
prudence, shall we have tea or cof-
fee?" This was Lark from the door
way. Fairy wants to know"
"What oh (which do you want,
JerryT"
(Which does your father preferT
HE doesn't drink either except for
breakfast"
Il generally drink coffee, but 1 do
not care much for it, so do not both
err"
Coffee. Lark"
did you ever have a lover, Pru-
dence? A real lover, 1 mean"
mo, never did"
I'm awfully glad of that. I'll"
Prudence. do you use half milk and
half water for creamed tomato soup,
or all miIk?"
"What?-Oh!-All milk, Connie, and
tell Fairy not to salt it until it Is en-
tirely done, or 1t may curdle."
What in the world would they ever
do without you, Prudence? You are
the soul Of the parsonage, aren't your
mo. l am just the cook and the
chambermaid," she answered, laugh
ing. But don't you see how hard 1t
will be for me to go away"
But 1t isn't fair! Vacation is COM
ing now, and Fairy ought to take n
turn. What will they do when you get
married?"
81 have always said would not get
married"
But don't you want to get married,
some timer"
''Oh, that isn't it. 1 just can't be-
cause / must take care of the parson-
age, and raise the girls. 1 can't"
but you WILL" he whispered, and
his hand touched hers for just a sec
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
If l so upstairs and talk to your father
a few minutes? Maybe I'd better"
But do not stay very long," she
urged, and she wondered why the
brightness and sunshine vanished from
the room when he went out. First
door to the right" she called after
him.
Mr.. Starr arose to greet him, and
welcomed him to his combination study
and bedroom with great friendliness.
But Jerrold went straight to the point.
"AIr. Starr. it's very kind of you to
receive a perfect stranger as you have
me. But | understand that with girl
like Prudence, you will want to be
careful. 1 can give you the names of
several prominent men in Des MoineS,
Christians, who know me well. and
can tell you all about me-"
1T isn't necessary. We are parson-
age people. and are accustomed to re-
ceiving men and women as worthy of
our trust, until we find them different.
We are glad TO count you among our
friends"
Thank you, but-you see, Mr.. Starr,
this is little different. Some day,
Prudence and I will want to be mar
ried. and you will wish to be sure
about me-"
"DOes Prudence know about that?'
NO." with a smile, I'VE haven't got
that far yet. But l am sure she feels
It. She hasn't-well, you know what
mean. She has been asleep. but l
believe she is waking up now"
'Yes, think so. Do you mind if /
ask you a few Questions2"
mo, indeed. Anything you like"
well. first, are YOU a Christian?"
"NOt the kind you are, Mr.. Starr. 1
go 10 church. and 1 believe the Bible,
though l seldom read II. But I'll get
busy now, If you like. 1 know Pru-
dence would make me do that" And
he smiled again.
do you drinkT
Il did a little. but / promised Pru-
dence this morning would quit Il. |
smoke, too. Prudence knows II, but
she did not make me promise TO quit
thatf" His voice was raised. inQuir-
ingly.
Would You have promised. il she
had asked itT'
Il suppose l. would" He flushed a
little. II know was pretty hard hit.
and 1t was such a new experience that
l would have promised anything she
asked. But l Ike smoking"
"Neyer mind the smoking. l only
asked that question out of curiosity.
Tell me abort your relations with
your mother when she was living"
'She has been dead four years -
Jerrold spoke with some emotion. I'VE
were great chums. though her health
was always poor. When was in
school. l spent all my vacations ar
home 10 be with her. And / never
went abroad until after her death be-
cause she did not like the idea of my
going so far from her"
-Jerrold. my boy. do not want TO
seem too severe but-tell me, has
there been anything in your life. about
women that could come out and hurt
Prudence later ons"
Jerrol1 hesitated. MFR. Starr. have
been young. and headstrOng. and i'm
puEsive. / have done some things I
wish now hadn't. But believe there
is nothing that l could not explain to
Prudence SO she would understand"