The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-30

brought downstairs, and Prudence de-
posted upon it. There's no use to
put me upstairs she assured them.
II won't stay there. / want to be down
here where / can boss the girls"
The doctor anne in, and bandaged
the swollen purple ankle. Then they
had dinner-they tried to remember
to call it luncheon, but never succeed
ed After that, the whole parsonage
family grouped about the little single
bed in the CHEEKY sitting room.
"Whose coat is this, Prudence?'
asked Connie.
"And where in the world did you
get these towels and silk Shirts" add
ed Fairy.
Prudence bIushed most exquisitely.
"They are Mr.. Harmer's," she said,
and glanced nervously at her father.
"Whose?" chorused the family.
"If you will sit down and keep still.
I will tell you all about it. But you
must not interrupt me. What time is
it, Fairy?"
Two o'clock"
"Oh, two. Then I have plenty of
time" and in her own frank way, she
told the story.
"Then Mr.. Davis came along with
his cart" she concluded, and Jerry
er-Harmer, you know, helped put me
in, and the cart was so small they both
had to walk"
"Where is he now?" SIS he young?"
SIS he handsome?" did he look rich?"
; "Don't be silly, girls. He went to
!, the hotel. / suppose. Anyhow, he left
us as soon as we reached town. He
, said he was in a hurry, and had some
thing to look after. His coat was I'M
: derneath me in he wagon, and he
! wouldn't take it out for fear of hurt
ing my ankle, so the poor soul is prob
ably wandering around this town in his
a shirt sleeves"
II Already, in the eyes of the girls, this
u Jerry-er-Harmer, had taken unto
u himself all the interest of the affair.
Hell have to come for his coat
ie said Lark. "We're bound to see him.
'Where does he live2 What was h,
~ doing in the hickory grove?" inquiries
Mr.. Starr with a strangely sinkin
:, heart, for her eyes were alight wit
new auQ WONDERFUL TdulduG6.
she lives in Des Moines. He wa
Just walking into town, and took
short cut through the grove"
"Walkingl From Des Moines?"
Prudence flushed uncomfortably. :
didn't think of that" she said. "BI
do not see why he should not wal
if he likes. He's strong and athlete
a on5 F0rI of axaroica 7 u11aSc ba
plenty able to walk if ne wants tt
I'm sure he's no tramp, father, if tina
is what you are thinking"
80 az am not thinking anything of tn
kind, Prudence" he said with dignity
: 'But / dc think it rather strange tina
=. q young man should set out to wall
Il, from Des Moines to Mount Mark. AnC
why should he be at it so early in thu
m morning? Doesn't he require sleep, as
III the rest of us do?"
I'M slow should l know? I guess if he
MI likes to be out in the morning when il
"A is fresh and sweet, it is all right.
M like the morning myself. He had as
Nh much right out early as / had. His
IA clothes were nice, and he is a Harvard
III graduate, and his shoes were dusty,
u but not soiled or worn. Anyhow, he
is coming at four o'clock. If you want
"A to ask if he is a tramp, you can do it.
a And Prudence burst into tears.
. Dramatic silence in the cheerful sit
ting room Then Fairy began busting
about to battle the face and throat o.
"a poor little Prudence" and her fatheI
al said sympathetically:
VA "You're all nervous and wrought up
II with the pain and excitement, Pru
n dence. I'm glad he is coming so W,
II can thank him for his kindness. |
. was mighty lucky he happened along
wasn't it? A Harvard graduate! Yes
they are pretty strong on athletics a
Harvard. You'd better straighten thi
room a little and have things lookin
nice when he gets here" said Fathe
n Starr, with great diplomacy. And h
II was rewarded, and startled, by obserN
. ing that Prudence frightened wonder
II fully at his words.
"Yes, do" she urged eagerly. "Ge
some of the roses from the corne
" bush, and put them on the table ther,
And when you go upstairs, Fairy, you
better bring down that little Lac
= spread in the bottom drawer OF OF
dresser. It'll look very nice on tn
-. - bed. Work hard, girls, and get ever.
thing looking fine. He'll be here {
four, he said. You twins may wed
: Z your white dresses, and Connie mus
I'VE put on her blue and wear her blu
he al n,oh+ 60 ~ - vear vour ell
ME, anos.e of oo,rsa tba s;lr a. roth,
= grand for home, but you do look
beautiful in it. Father, will you pl
on your black suit, or are you too busy
And don't forget to wear the pearl Gu
buttons Aunt Grace ent you"
sn't r.