The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-05-24
CHAPTER x-Continued.


-13-
Must you prepare meat for bread
ing half an hour before cooking, or
when?" demanded Fairy, from the din
Ing room door.
"What?-Oh Fifteen minutes be-
fore. Don't forget to salt and pepper
the crumbs, Fairy"
Perhaps some time your father will
let you and couple of the others
come to Des Moines with me in the car.
You would enjoy few days there l
know. l live with my aunt, a dear,
motherly little old soul. She will adore
you, Prudence, and you will like her,
too. Would your father let you spend
week? We can easily drive back
and forth in the car"
Maybe he will, but who will keen
the parsonage while l am awayY"
FAIRY, to be sure. She must be
good fairy once in 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,
Jerry?'
(which does your father prefer7"
"He doesn't drink either except for
breakfast"
Il generally drink coffee, but I do
not care much for it, so do not both
~ err
Coffee. Lark"
ibid you ever have a lover, Pru-
dence? A real lover. mean"
mo, 1 never did"
"Tm awfully glad of. that. III"
prudence. do you use half milk and
half water for creamed tomato soup,
or all milk?"
"What ?-Oh ALI milk, Connie, and
tell Fairy not to salt it until 1t Is en-
tirely done, or it may curdle."
"What in the world would they ever
do without you, Prudence? You are
the soul of the parsonage, aren't you"
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 it isn't fair! Vacation is COM
ing now. and Fairy ought to take
turn. What will they do when you get
married?"
II have always said 1 would not get
married."
But don't you want to get married,
some timer
"Oh, that isn't it. l just can't be-
cause ! must take care of the parson-
age, and raise the girls. l 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 go upstairs and talk to your father
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.
mfr. Starr, It's very kind of you to
receive a perfect stranger as you have
the. But understand that with girl
ike ITuuenCey you Will whit " pc
careful. l can give you the names of
several prominent men in Des Moines,
Christians, who know me well, and
can tell you all about me-"
ut isn't necessary. We are parsOn-
age people, and are accustomed 10 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 a little different. Some day,
Prudence and l will want to be mar
ried, and you will wish to be sure
about me-
Does Prudence know about thatT"
NO" with q smile, I'VE haven't got
that far yet. But am sure she feels
1t. She hasn't-well, you know what
I mean. She has been asleep, but l
believe she is waking up now"
YES, think so. Do you mind II I
ask you a few questions"
mo, indeed. Anything you like"
.Well, first, are you a Christian
aNot the kind you are Mr.. Starr. I
70 to church, and l believe the Bible,
though / seldom read 1t. But I'll get
busy now, ii you like. know Pru-
dence would make me do that" And
be smiled again.
do you drinkT
II did a little, but promised Pru-
dence this morning would quit 1t.
~r,,or. tn prs,dAoce knows II but