The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-19
MARRYING JASPER
BY AGNES G. BROGAN.

opened. His impatience changed to
mild resignation as he perceived the
tall figure Of his elder sister enter the
room.
yes, Hephzibah," he meekly In.
CURED.
Jasper" she said, "the time has
come when l must relieve myself of
the care of your household. i am grow
Ing too old for the responsibility"
Professor Carleton ran his fingers
perplexedly through his thick craving
hair, beneath 1t his still young eyes
gazed back distressed.
well, Hephzibah,' he said at last,
you are justified In your determina-
ton. Martha will have to look after
me as best she can"
Martha" his sister explained, ais
going with me. She is used to my
ways and will need no training You
must make other plans for yourself"
"Plans !" gasped her brother. what
plans can I make concerning "a house
hold, Hephzibah, when l have always
depended upon you?"
That's just the trouble" his sister
remarked, "you have depended too
long. There is but one solution, you
must find you a wife"
"A wife?" The professor blinked;
If he had not been always absorbed in
books he might have realized that dis.
couragement Of this very possibility
had always been his sisters purpose.
At last to Hephzibah had come the
solution: Prudence Winters, daughter
of Professor Winters, deceased, should
be chosen as the fortunate oma
True, Prudence was by several years
Jasper's senior, but did not Jasper's
advanced brain fit him to be suitably
the companion of an older woman?
And In Prudence the sister found all
those virtues desired. So quietly she
answered her brothers question.
"A wife certainly is the solution
Of your problem, and because your
mind has been occupied with other
matters, Jasper, I have thought the
thing out for you. You must pay re-
spectful attention to Prudence Win
tiers. She is a who would
make you entirely happy"
as not Prudence" the professor
asked disapprovingly, "that thin wom-
an with the tired-looking face?"
Faces" his sister severely remark
ed, should no longer influence your
choice. Practical worth is now your
necessary consideration"
"But I'm not so DID," Jasper de-
INJURED. II have still a good many
years before fifty"
Hephzibah fixed her cold eyes upon
him.
"You have my suggestion" she said,
and arose.
what do you wish me to do?' the
brother asked uneasily.
"For the sake of your own future
comfort 1 advise you to pay your adj
dresses as soon as possible to Pru-
dence Winters" Hephzibah said, and
passed from the room.
UDdecidedly the professor fingered
his hat. His sister had spoken; soon
she and Martha would leave him alone
In his helplessness; perhaps after all
her plans might be worth considera-
ton. Jasper had learned to have con-
idence in Hephzibah's judgment. Slow
ly he passed down the street TO Pru-
dence Winters home, but when he re-
turned his face was gloomy.
H~ephzibal's lips twisted In the near
est approach 10 a smile.
"WeIl?" she asked, you found Pru-
dence at homeland a worthy person."
"As a housekeeper," her brother
dryly replied, Prudence is doubtless
u~nexcelled."
you must GO again" his sister adj
vised. Next time you will also dis
cover that she has brains"
And obediently Jasper went the sec
ond time. His counteDance upon IS
return seemed somewhat brighter.
"You stayed longer this evening"
Hephzibah said hopefully. "you dis
| covered the brains"
"She has her interesting side" the
brother admitted, but thereafter he APP
peared to need no further urging.
Jasper now often sat smiling fatu-
ously into vacancy-and to fancy ones
self in love with a Prudence Writers
Hephzibah thought-must take mag
ination indeed! She was interrupted
in her reflections by the unexpected
appearance of a young woman in the
doorway.
"How de do" remarked the young
woman breezily. II rang, but no n
answering, and the door being open, l
walked down through the hall.
"You are Hephzibah, aren't you? I'd
know It," The young woman smiled
and dimpled.
"Jazz sent me in for his cap" she
said, "the wind blows his hat so in
the car. And he said I'd better intro
duce myself-you'l have to know me
better later. We are on our way to be
married"
Hephzibah arose dazedly.
AN