The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-03-01

ing In a brightness leaped into his
eyes, A slender girl stood in the vesti-
bule, waving wildly at him a small
gloved hand. When the train stopped
she leaped lightly from the steps.
Father" she cried excitedly. and,
small and slight as she was. she ell
bowed her way swiftly through the
gaping crowd. "Oh, father" And she
flung her arms about him joyously. un-
conscious of admiring eyes. Her father
kissed her warmly. "Where is your
baggage?" he asked, a hand held out
to relieve her.
"Here!" And with a radiant smile
she thrust upon him a box Of candy
and gaudy-covered magazine.
"Your suitcase" he explained pa
tiently.
"Oh!" she gasped. Run, father
run! left 1t on the train!"
Father did run, but Prudence, fieeter-
footed, outdistanced him and clam
bered on board, painting.
When she rejoined her father her
face was flushed. "Oh. father" she
said quite snappily, isn't that just like
met"
Eyes. very like" he agreed, and he
smiled.
"And SO this is Mount Mark! Isn't
1t funny name, father? Why do they
call 1t Mount Mark?"
II don't know. 1 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"
Its pretty street, isn't it7' she
cried. "Such nice big naples, and such
shady, porchy houses. I love houses
with porches, don't you? Has the par
sonage a porchT'
Eyes, big one on the south, and a
tiny one In front. We have the house
fixed up pretty well, Prudence. but of
course you'll have to go over it your
self and arrange it as you like. l must
go to trustees meeting at two
o'clock, but we can get a 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 1t beauti-
full dwelling, but to Prudence 1t was
heavenly. Fortunately the wide, grassy,
shaded lawn greeted one first. Great,
spreading naples bordered the street,
and clustering rosebushes lined the
walk leading up to the house. The par
sonage, to Prudence's 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 walk-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 bathroom, Constance
thanked God for it when she said her
prayers. And a furnace, too! And
electric lights! Oh, we have waited
a long time for 1t, and wo'ss been vary
patient indeed, but, between you and
me, father, 1 am most nightly glad
we've hit the luxury land at last. I'm
sure we'll all feel much more religious
in a parsonage that has a bathroom
and electric lights! Oh, father!"
He had thrown open the door, and
Prudence stood upon the threshold Of
her new home. Together she and her
father went from room to room, up
stairs and down, moving a table to the
left, a bed to the right-according to
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.
II always pretended it was rather fun,
and great saving Of work, to eat aud
cook and study and live in one room,
but inwardly the idea always outraged
me. Is that the school over there"
eyes, that's where Connie will 60.
There Is only one high school in Mount
Mark, so the twins will have to go to
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 it beautiful"
Eyes. The Avery family lives there.
The parents are very old and feeble,
and the daughters are all-elderly-
and all schoolteacbers. There are four
of them, and the youngest is forty-six.
Dear me, 1t is two o'clock already, and
I must 60 at once. Mrs. Adams will
be here In a few minutes, and you will
not be lonely"
But when Mrs. Adams arrived at the
- -
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 barnard stopped
abruptly.